Avowed

Avowed will definitely not revolutionize the RPG genre, but still represents a competent title in its category that does clearly not lack of interest and depth. Its exciting story dictated by our choices is indeed in line with the true “role-playing games” so dear to Obsidian, with superb artistic direction, and its gameplay is as dynamic as it is satisfying. However, several points may be off-putting. We can indeed blame its lifeless NPCs, a shaky balancing of difficulty in the face of a bestiary which quickly falls short in terms of diversity, like the exploration of these famous Living Lands, certainly very beautiful to contemplate, but a bit redundant in the long run.

Despite expectations, Avowed is not able to compete with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Baldur's Gate 3. It is a very average work in terms of the quality of execution.

Avowed presents itself as a deliberately traditional RPG that, although it doesn't risk innovating, offers a well-executed experience. Its strengths - engaging characters, satisfying exploration and accessible mechanics - make up for its lack of originality and technical limitations. It's the kind of game that, without pretending to be more than it is, manages to provide dozens of hours of fun for fans of the genre looking for something familiar and comfortable.

Despite an inviting, off-kilter world and quality writing, Avowed abides by an almost arcane dedication to process and formula that drains it of its weird, compelling marrow. It's good, easygoing fun, though it won't linger long in the mind beyond the credits.

Avowed excels in its good pacing, vibrant zones and dynamic combat, but is ultimately let down by a weak immersive world and the illusion of choice.

You will have understood from the extra-large size of this review: Avowed has an incredible charm that deserves discussion. Obsidian delivers a beautiful fantasy epic, with a delightful troupe of companions, which does not reach the studio's peaks but still makes you want to return after the end credits to continue exploring the Living Lands. Those looking for an anti-colonialist political manifesto or a new sacred monster of Western RPGs will be left wanting, of course, as it lacks a radical idea to transcend the whole. However, Avowed remains a very solid offering that would deserve a direct sequel to go beyond its classicism. Let’s hope so.

While Avowed's successes should not be overlooked, its shortcomings highlight the need for refinement later on. If nothing else, Obsidian has something worthwhile here that might actually reach its full potential if it were given a sequel. As it stands currently, however, it is a game that will likely resonate most with dedicated RPG fans who appreciate the weight of moral decision-making but may leave others feeling like their journey through the Living Lands was cut short just as it was beginning to hit its stride.

Unfortunately, Avowed isn't that famous new Skyrim made-in-2025, with its vast, intoxicating universe, updated gameplay and narration worthy of the greatest games. The result is rather mediocre and dated, both visually and in terms of gameplay, taking us back a decade, and not for the right reasons.A disappointment considering the game's potential and the solid foundations on which it could have been built, and which is one of those games where you think “with X more months of development, maybe we've got something solid”. In any case, the PC version of Avowed is currently a failure, and fortunately the game is available on Game Pass day1, which we strongly advise you to take advantage of if you want to make up your own mind.

Avowed kinda works. The story is bland, but at least dialogue doesn’t make you cringe every time someone opens their mouth. Combat... exists. And level design is actually good: it looks quite nice, and offers interesting exploration opportunities. But it’s definitely not worth the asking price of $70. [Issue#266]

Avowed is an RPG that impresses with its freedom and diverse combat strategies but falls short in technical and artistic execution, failing to live up to the 'next Elder Scrolls' expectations set by fans of the genre. With questionable art direction, shallow puzzles, linear dungeons, and inconsistent AI, the game stumbles—yet redeems itself through a robust character creator, a captivating world, memorable companions, satisfying combat, and solid playtime. Despite its flaws, it’s a fun pick for players who prioritize choice-driven exploration over deep storytelling.

Despite a very engaging first part, Avowed disappoints and will never completely satisfy RPG fans or action-adventure fans. For a title that lasts between 30 and 40 hours, the writing is not provided enough and the action and exploration phases struggle to renew themselves. It's frankly a shame, because in the first hours, we feel that Obsidian was on to something. The adventure is still worth the detour for certain plot twists, the pleasure of seeing one's curiosity rewarded and the adversaries fly away with ragoll, and the artistic direction, capable of beautiful flashes of brilliance.

Although the land of Eora is colorful and large, it doesn't quite fulfill what many of us were looking for: a modernized Skyrim. Even with its unique mechanics and richness of characters, it fails to keep the player fully captivated like other similar titles do. When it comes to entertainment, it delivers, but without that extra element that makes us stay for more hours, as happens in other memorable RPGs.

Avowed is a weak RPG focused on monotonous action. It's hard to take it seriously after the excellent Pillars of Eternity 1 & 2.

Like poking a dream-plagued bear, not everything here is a sensible idea, but at least there's always a chance something interesting will happen. [Issue#408, p.104]

A more compact RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity universe never quite shakes off its sense of genericness. While the dynamic combat system is intriguing, it's held back by an equipment upgrade system that stifles experimentation. The storytelling lacks depth, emotion, or even a hint of epic grandeur. Deep within The Living Lands, there’s a promise of something greater—but it never fully blossoms into a truly exceptional experience.

On multiple fronts, Avowed holds so much promise that it struggles to follow through on. While its combat feels impactful and gives you options to experiment with, it's hamstrung by an overall reliance on gear upgrades and scarce resources that prevent you from fully enjoying the creative freedom it initially advertises. Its world is fun to explore and navigate, but its story fails to wrap this in a captivating tale with a satisfying conclusion. It's an experience that routinely swaps between exhilarating moments and frustrating slogs, and often leans towards the latter the closer you get to the game's climax. Avowed might present itself as the new age of the fantasy role-playing games that it borrows so much from, but it's unlikely to have the same lasting impact.

Avowed moves Obsidian Entertainment even further toward the action side of Action-RPG with a satisfying combat system and vibrant world stapled to an unengaging narrative and surface level roleplaying systems. Despite its initially promising setup, Avowed never rises above a binge and forget experience.

Beneath Avowed’s mycelium-covered surface lurks a good RPG stifled by a lack of real stakes. The Living Lands feel anything but alive, and while the combat strikes the right balance between fun and challenge, it doesn't offer anything new. If you’re looking for a comfort-food fantasy RPG, then Avowed’s got you covered, but you need to set your expectations accordingly.