Avowed
Release Date: February 18, 2025
RPG, FPP, TPP, fantasy, Xbox exclusive, Game Pass, singleplayer
An action RPG developed by Obsidian Entertainment, taking place in the Pillars of Eternity universe. Avowed is set in the world of Eora, in a realm known as the Living Lands. We play as an envoy of the Aedyr Empire, tasked with investigating a mysterious plague. The game features open locations, character development and leading a team of companions.
Avowed is an action RPG developed by Obsidian Entertainment studio. This team's portfolio includes projects such as Pillars of Eternity and The Outer Worlds series.
Avowed and Pillars of Eternity
Avowed takes us on a journey to the fantasy world of Eora, known from the Pillars of Eternity series, or more precisely – to the wild and largely alien land known as the Living Lands. Although there are some references to the Pillars of Eternity games (fans will recognize some of the locations, characters and factions), knowledge of them is not necessary to enjoy the story.
Plot
During the game we take on the role of a character who, as an envoy of the Aedyr Empire, arrives in the Living Lands to investigate the case of a mysterious plague. It turns out that the majority of residents do not like this visit. Fortunately, not everyone feels the same, and Kai is among those friendly to us. He is a representative of the Aumaua race, as well as a former soldier who currently works as a mercenary.
Gameplay
Open missions instead of an open world
In Avowed we view the action from a first-person perspective (FPP) or a third-person perspective (TPP). We start by creating our character, and then we dive into a whirlwind of adventures. The game does not provide us with a fully open world. Instead, we get a number of diverse locations with an open structure that we can freely explore. The core of the game are quests pushing the plot forward, accompanied by various side tasks and activities.
Combat system
Traveling through port cities and vast, plant-covered landscapes of the Living Lands, we often come face to face with adversaries. On our path, we encounter both intelligent, hostile beings, and representatives of the local fauna. Some species of plants can also pose a danger. The battles with them are dynamic, and during them we make use not only of magic and melee weapons (led by the sword and shield), but also of ranged weapons, such as bows or guns.
Companions and character development
Along the way, we meet a few potential companions who can join us. One of them is the aforementioned Kai, whose idealistic and pragmatic temperament does not prevent him from making specific jokes. As we progress, we develop the character, unlocking various skills and improving the ones we already have. Thanks to this, over time we can face increasingly greater challenges.
Game Pass
Avowed was made available on launch day as part of Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass subscription services.
Last updated on February 8, 2025
Last Update: February 20, 2025
Avowed Guide
Avowed guide and maps is the best tips for begginer's, classes, combat, character development, romance. We describe the character creator, companions, important choices, secrets, missions, map, system requirements, game length, trophies.
Shortcuts:
- Quests and important choices, How to open the warehouse?
- Exploration, Can you pet animals?
- Inventory, How long do consumables work?
- Basics, Difficulty levels
- Character development and team management, How to change the appearance?
- Technical issues, Is there level scaling?
- Appendix, System requirements
Dawnshore
Avowed Dawnshore map - Quests, Bounties, Fast Travel, Party Camps, Merchants, Points of Interest, Treasure Maps, Totem Fragments, Documents, Bosses, Companions, NPCs, Lockpicks, Dungeons, Chests, Unique Items and Puzzles. Main areas: Claviger's Landing, Southern Paradis, Paradis Hightown, Shantytown.
February 13, 2025
Avowed review: Obsidian sets a new standard
Avowed is a new fantasy RPG from Obsidian Entertainment. Explore the vibrant Living Lands and investigate the Dreamscourge, a mysterious plague that is sweeping over the continent.
Videos and Screens
[1:00] Avowed - Accolades Trailer
[2:03] Avowed - Launch Trailer
Gamepressure Review
Avowed
Avowed is so much more than Obsidian’s take on Skyrim. This game sets the standard for what future Western RPGs should strive for. Nearly every option in combat is worth exploring, the companions are fully fleshed out with backstories that beg to be uncovered, and the anti-imperialist message at the center of the larger narrative is full of thoughtful nuance and intrigue. Obsidian has created a wonderful adventure that I can’t wait to start playing again.
OpenCritic Rating
Game is Recomended by 83% of Critics. There are 164 Critic Reviews.
VGC: 4 / 5 by Chris Scullion
Avowed is a solid action RPG with an entertaining script, satisfying combat and impressively detailed environments. The inability to clean up side quests after the main story is beaten can be frustrating, but take your time with it and enjoy everything it has to offer, and you'll find plenty of memorable moments.
VG247: 5 / 5 by Alex Donaldson
In that sense, Avowed is perfect proof of a great proof in all game design and in the execution of all art: you sometimes don’t need to pitch a revolution. Instead, you just need to have something to say, and then use the established tools and concepts to say it well.
Gaming Age: 8 / 10 by Matthew Pollesel
I’m not sure that Avowed needs to feel weighty and meaningful to be fun. In fact, I’d say that it’s better because it’s not trying to make itself into a grand statement. Avowed is, as I noted above, exactly what you’d imagine a fantasy epic to be – and it’s all the better for it.
The main pros of the game
- Graphics and World Design: Many players appreciate the vibrant and beautiful graphics, with a well-crafted world that encourages exploration.
- Combat System: The combat is generally seen as engaging and satisfying, with a blend of melee and magic that feels impactful.
- Exploration Rewards: The game encourages players to explore, with hidden treasures and side quests that reward curiosity.
- Quality of Life Features: Players can respec their characters easily, and there are no weight limits on inventory items, which enhances the gameplay experience.
- Voice Acting and Story Elements: Some dialogue and character interactions are well-received, contributing to the overall narrative.
The main cons of the game
- Limited RPG Elements: Many reviews highlight the lack of depth in RPG mechanics, such as a weak morality system and limited character customization options. The game feels more action-oriented than RPG-focused.
- Static World and NPCs: The game world is criticized for feeling lifeless, with NPCs that do not interact meaningfully or react to player actions, leading to a lack of immersion.
- Repetitive Combat and Enemy Variety: Combat can become monotonous due to a lack of enemy variety, with many players noting that encounters feel similar.
- Writing Quality: The dialogue is often described as bland or juvenile, detracting from the overall storytelling experience.
- Technical Issues: Some players have experienced bugs and performance problems, including crashes and poor optimization, especially on certain hardware setups.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- More Interactive Environment: Players express a desire for a more interactive world where they can engage with more objects and NPCs, rather than just those marked as quest-related.
- Greater Character Customization: There is a call for more diverse character creation options, including more races and classes, as well as deeper skill trees.
- Dynamic NPC Behavior: Users want NPCs to have more life and routine behavior, making the world feel more alive and reactive to the player's actions.
- Improved Dialogue and Choices: Many reviews mention the need for more meaningful dialogue choices that can lead to significant variations in outcomes, similar to earlier Obsidian titles.
- Enhanced Loot and Gear Systems: Players are looking for a more rewarding loot system that offers unique and meaningful gear rather than relying heavily on crafting materials.
Summary
- Overall, while Avowed has its strengths, particularly in graphics and combat, it falls short in delivering a deeply engaging RPG experience, leading many players to recommend waiting for a sale or exploring other titles in the genre.
Summary generated on:
January 30, 2025
Games of February 2025 - So few days, so many hot games to play
This month is packed to the brim with high-profile games. Will this be the best month of 2025, or is it just the beginning of the gaming frenzy?
November 21, 2024
Avowed Hands-On - After 4 Hours This RPG Bought Me with Its Story and Dialogues. Obsidian Knows What It's Doing
It seems that Obsidian is on the right path to give us a really solid RPG. A few hours with Avowed has already made me look forward to the release.
August 23, 2024
Avowed Hands-on - Obsidian Didn’t Forget How to Make Great RPG
At gamescom, I was able to play an hour-long demo of Avowed and talk with Carrie Patel, the game's director. I bring news - this is a real RPG! Seems that Obsidian really knows what they're doing.
Avowed Summary
Early Access:February 13, 2025
Platforms:
PC / Windows
Xbox Series X/S
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios / Microsoft Studios
Age restrictions: 16+
Avowed System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 8 GB GeForce GTX 1070 / Radeon RX 5700, 75 GB HDD, Windows 10/11
Recommended: Intel Core i7-10700K / AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 10 GB GeForce RTX 3080 / 16 GB Radeon RX 6800 XT, 75 GB HDD, Windows 10/11
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Does Kai's voice actor in Avowed sound familiar? That's because it's an old friend
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February 19, 2025
Avowed's mushroom madness. Character customization has never been this fun
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This option is critical if you want to play Avowed in first person perspective. Be sure to check the game settings
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February 14, 2025
Avowed's strong release on Steam. Players paying for early access praise Obsidian studio's new RPG
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Fans are confused by HDR in Avowed and it's hard to tell who is right
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Keybindings not working in Avowed? Keyboard settings keep resetting each time you enter the game
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February 13, 2025
Don't panic when Avowed shaders compilation causes Fatal Error crash. It's common
Does it happen to you that when you launch Avowed you get a Fatal Error crash message related to shader compilation? You can learn more about it in our guide.
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February 17, 2025
Avowed Game Director Talks About Uncertain Physical Edition and More
In a rapid-fire interview, Avowed Game Director Carrie Patel covered many topics. An Avowed physical release is uncertain and will it come to PS5?
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February 5, 2025