Obsidian Entertainment’s Avowed has quickly risen to the forefront of anticipated game releases for 2025, driven by its ambitious vision and the studio’s celebrated history with titles like The Outer Worlds. Unveiled as a romantic homage to the fantasy RPG genre, Avowed draws inspiration from the intricate storytelling of Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity series. Players are introduced to a vibrant and engaging world, rich with character and fast-paced combat, as they step into the Living Lands of Eora to investigate a terrifying plague.
After investing dozens of hours into the game, it’s evident that Avowed possesses the components needed for an enthralling fantasy RPG brimming with depth and charm. Nevertheless, the overall experience may feel somewhat rushed, as if the game needed more time in development. While the potential is palpable, the execution falls short of fully meeting the high expectations set from the beginning.Avowed does offer a rewarding journey, but it often resembles a one-way street that might not encourage players to return once completed.
Narrative Depth: Avowed’s Choice-Driven Journey
Lore as the Foundation of Avowed’s Universe
The marketing campaign leading up to Avowed‘s release has offered only a glimpse of its narrative. Initially, players may view themselves merely as a venturous envoy tasked with investigating a land ravaged by disease. However, the game’s storyline delves into more intricate themes, firmly rooted in the established lore of Pillars of Eternity. A standout feature of Avowed is the emphasis on player choices, resulting in a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is engaging.
The premise holds true — players embody an envoy from the Aedyran Empire on a mission to unveil the mystery behind the Dreamscourge plague. Yet, the unfolding story thrusts them into the chaos of political warfare within the Living Lands, revealing complex power dynamics as the plot unfolds.
While Avowed aims to provide a standalone experience, those unfamiliar with Pillars of Eternity may find the initial terminology somewhat overwhelming. Once the game embraces its unique storyline and identity, the narrative becomes more accessible, even for newcomers.
The Essence of Choice in Avowed’s Story
Although entrenched in rich lore, Avowed thrives on the player’s ability to steer the plot. The game deftly avoids defining a “right” choice, emphasizing the notion that what truly matters is the player’s confidence in their decisions.
Traditional choice-driven RPGs often succumb to presenting clear-cut options, prompting players to favor certain paths. In contrast, Avowed offers morally ambiguous choices that can leave players uncertain, compounded by the plethora of dialogue options available in conversations.
This complexity can be a double-edged sword— while it enriches player engagement, those seeking more guidance may find it frustrating. However, the flexibility of Avowed’s system allows players to choose their moral path, where consequences feel tangible and impactful.
Moreover, the companion system ensures that dissatisfaction with choices doesn’t lead to negative gameplay repercussions. Players will undoubtedly disappoint companions at key moments, but these disappointments won’t snowball into game-ending conflicts, allowing companions to enrich the narrative rather than serve merely as statistical assets.
An Unsatisfying Conclusion
A game centered around story and choices needs a satisfying conclusion to tie everything together, yet Avowed‘s ending disappoints. Regardless of player decisions, the climax feels underwhelming, lacking the depth needed to address the built-up moral and political tensions effectively.
Rather than providing a narrative resolution, players are met with a simplistic summary of outcomes through a slideshow format, detracting from the experience. A more interactive portrayal of these consequences, perhaps through cutscenes or gameplay, would have significantly enhanced immersion.
Although player choices do indeed have consequences, the presentation lacks the depth and engagement expected from a title with lofty storytelling aspirations. Furthermore, the absence of a New Game Plus feature or further endgame content feels like a missed opportunity, especially considering the variety of characters and choices.
Moreover, Avowed may benefit from extending its gameplay length. Although a satisfying 50-hour playthrough is feasible, it feels relatively short compared to other AAA RPGs. The narrative could have fostered deeper emotional connections with companions through more extensive interactions, enriching the overall experience.
Gameplay Mechanics: A Mixed Bag
Dynamic Combat for a First-Person RPG
Despite initial criticism regarding its combat system, Avowed has turned out to have one of its strongest features. The game presents a fast-paced, engaging combat experience rarely seen in first-person RPGs, especially in terms of melee interactions. Obsidian emphasizes “situational combat, ”which encourages players to maintain varied playstyles for maximum effectiveness.
Enemies in Avowed engage aggressively, demanding that players adapt quickly. Although ranged weaponry might pose initial challenges, as the game progresses, a variety of playstyles, including firearms and magical spells, become increasingly effective.
Every combat encounter is impactful, with both player and enemy attacks feeling weighty, reinforcing the need for strategic gameplay regardless of preferred styles.
Skill System: Potential Unfulfilled
The allure of Avowed lies in its purported degree of build diversity among its skill systems. Players can draw from three archetypes: Fighter, Ranger, and Wizard, without restriction. While this structure holds, there are systemic issues that limit the experience, the primary concern being the leveling speed.
Leveling starts off rewarding but slows dramatically, creating a disconnect between progression and narrative pacing. By the time players confront the final boss, they may find themselves lacking skills despite extensive efforts to explore the game’s content. Given the large skill pool available and the subsequent need for many skill points, players are often left with limited choices regarding character specialization.
Respec options exist but incur financial costs, further complicating players’ chances of experimenting with different builds. A feature like New Game Plus could provide opportunities for players to try out different builds, enhancing replayability.
Stunning Yet Monotonous World Design
One of the most striking features of Avowed is its beautiful graphics, highlighted in the expansive but defined open areas. Each of the five sizable regions invites exploration, demanding players’ curiosity as they uncover hidden secrets and quests.
However, despite their allure, gameplay within these regions tends to become repetitive, leading to a sense of fatigue as players progress. While side quests add depth to the story, the core experience often revolves around crafting material collection, which can become monotonous.
Avowed employs audio cues for collectibles instead of marking them on maps, creating a more interactive experience. Additionally, a responsive parkour system allows for fluid movement throughout the environment, enabling players to approach challenges in multiple ways.
Charming Yet Frustrating Jank
Like many RPGs, Avowed comes with its quirks—some endearing and others infuriating. Players may find charm in exploring areas beyond their intended paths, thanks to the agile parkour mechanics. Yet, immersion can shatter with various bugs and glitches, ranging from enemy teleportation to dialogue interruptions.
In one instance, I encountered a quest where I became permanently locked out of a chest, resulting in a humorous yet disappointing interaction. Such bugs can detract from the overall experience and leave completionists feeling frustrated.
It is anticipated that many of these issues will be addressed during Avowed‘s early access phase, commencing February 13. Obsidian acknowledges that quirks are inherent to games like Avowed, yet players tend to be forgiving of such issues as long as they don’t detract from the overall design.
A Potential-Laden Future for Avowed
Avowed harbors considerable potential but struggles to harness it fully. The solid groundwork, characterized by an engrossing world, complex moral landscapes, and thrilling combat, sets it apart as an ambitious RPG. However, for every strength showcased, there exists a corresponding challenge that prevents the game from truly shining. The drive for player agency is commendable, yet the narrative resolution falls short, and while the world dazzles with lore, its repetitive exploration detracts from player engagement.
These contradictions lead to an experience that, while intriguing, feels inconsistent—more a steppingstone towards greater achievements than a standalone triumph. Though Avowed has notable successes, its shortcomings underscore the need for refinement. With a sequel, Obsidian could truly unlock the game’s potential. Currently, Avowed appeals primarily to dedicated RPG enthusiasts who value moral agency, while casual players may feel their adventure in the Living Lands was prematurely curtailed.
Avowed will be available on February 18 for PC and Xbox Series X|S, with a Premium Edition providing early access on February 13. Game Rant received a PC code for this review.
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