Avowed review

• Available on Xbox Series X/S and PC
• Released on 13 February 2025
• Developed by Obsidian Entertainment

With The Elder Scrolls VI still a distant dream, Obsidian’s Avowed offers a solid alternative for players craving a sprawling fantasy world to explore. Set in the richly detailed world of Eora, known to fans of Pillars of Eternity, Avowed drops you into the Living Lands as an envoy sent to investigate a mysterious affliction known as the Dreamscourge. Things quickly get personal when people start noticing you bear an eerie resemblance to the infected.

You play as a godlike, a character whose appearance is permanently marked by fungal growths. While there’s an option to hide this cosmetic detail during gameplay, NPCs still react to it, so embracing the look tends to make more sense. Beyond the unique character design, though, Avowed mostly plays it safe as an open-world RPG. It sticks closely to genre conventions, with the exception of its fluid, fast-paced combat that helps it stand out.

At the start, you pick from one of three base classes: fighter, ranger, or mage. But once you’re in, you’re free to shape your character however you like. Want to dual-wield swords and also use an arquebus? Go for it. Skills from all three classes can be mixed and matched, and respeccing is easy and inexpensive. This freedom allows for a range of builds and playstyles, making combat feel customizable and fun.

You won’t be going it alone. Up to two companions can join you at any time, chosen from a group of four you meet along the way. They each bring something useful to the table, both in and out of combat, and you can trigger their abilities through a command wheel. While you can’t change their gear, you can level up their skills, which adds some level of progression.

Story-wise, Avowed gets off to a slow start, but eventually settles into a rhythm. Choices matter, with quests that evolve based on your decisions, and while not everything has weight (stealing is oddly consequence-free), it’s refreshing to see some genuine branching outcomes. Romance options are missing, despite some flirtatious dialogue, which may be a letdown for players hoping to build deeper relationships.

The game’s design leans toward accessibility. There’s a fast-travel system, multiple difficulty options, and quality-of-life features like remote inventory stashing. Players who love looting everything in sight will appreciate not having to manage encumbrance constantly. These thoughtful inclusions make the game more approachable without diluting its RPG depth.

Visually, Avowed is attractive in places, but the performance trade-offs are noticeable. Playing on a 120Hz TV unlocks a balanced mode that offers the best overall experience. Otherwise, you’ll need to choose between better visuals at 30fps or smoother action at 60fps, with some shadow rendering issues cropping up in performance mode. A few bugs still linger, such as a broken bounty quest where a critical item fails to spawn.

Despite a handful of rough edges, Avowed succeeds where it matters. The combat is responsive and varied, the world is expansive and filled with lore, and the systems in place make exploring and upgrading your character enjoyable. It might not break much new ground, but it’s a polished and engaging RPG experience that fills a noticeable gap in the current landscape.