When Avowed was first revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase in 2020, many assumed it would be Obsidian Entertainment’s take on Skyrim. But instead of a massive open world RPG like Skyrim, Obsidian decided to dial things back a bit with Avowed, creating a more focused experience. Anyone worried that this change in direction means Avowed is going to feel “small” should rest easy. I recently spent about two hours hands-on with a beta build of Avowed that starts with a tutorial dungeon before opening up to a large explorable zone big enough to still scratch the open world itch, even if the game is not technically a full-blown open world experience.
Avowed starts by letting players create their character, and as is the norm for RPGs these days, players are given plenty of options. Players can spend a lot of time tweaking their Avowed character’s appearance, but they also have important decisions to make about the character’s backstory. I chose the War Hero background, which gave me unique dialogue options as I ventured into the world and started interacting with its characters.
Once players have their character made, they find themselves in the tutorial dungeon and are taught the basics of Avowed as they move through it. The dungeon outfits players with healing potions, armor, a spear, a bow, and a book of spells by the end of it, giving players the full breadth of what Avowed‘s combat has to offer.
Avowed‘s combat is punchy and fun. Players are able to have two weapon sets equipped at a time and can easily switch between them, allowing for more variety in any given combat encounter. Players have to choose what they equip in each hand, which also impacts how they approach each fight. For example, players can choose to have the spellbook equipped in their left hand and a spear in their right, but then that means no shield, which makes blocking enemy attacks more difficult.
Managing stamina, building stagger bars, and choosing the right tool for each scenario is crucial for success, especially against tougher enemies. There is also a stealth element at play, with players able to hit enemies with surprise attacks while hiding in tall grass. With all these options at my disposal, I found the combat to be a lot more entertaining than I expected from the trailers, and I think a lot of people are going to come away pleasantly surprised. Avowed does nothing terribly new when it comes to its combat, but what it does do, it does extremely well.
Avowed Is All About Player Choice
Avowed‘s combat should only become more interesting as the game goes on and players gain access to new kinds of weapons and abilities. But there’s a lot more to Obsidian RPGs than fighting. Player choice is integral to Obsidian RPGs, and the same holds true for Avowed. In the tutorial dungeon, there was one interesting scenario where I came across a prisoner named Ilora. I was given the choice to save Ilora or leave her jailed, and I decided to save her, despite the concerns raised by my companion Garryck. Saving Ilora seemed like the right move, as going out of my way to find the key to her cell and then bringing her along with me to the end of the dungeon meant I had extra help in the area’s final boss fight.
I have no idea if saving Ilora will have greater consequences later in the game, but I am definitely excited to see what happens. I’m also greatly looking forward to exploring more of Avowed‘s larger world. After completing the tutorial dungeon, I was brought to a large open zone that I could explore more or less at will. This included a small town where an NPC had a side quest for me to complete. This side quest led me to a cabin filled with enemies and included an interesting development that I won’t spoil here, but it sets the tone that Avowed‘s side quests are definitely going to be worth doing.
Joining me on my adventures outside the tutorial dungeon was a companion named Kai, a fish-like man who has his own personality, goals, ambitions, and helpful abilities. Players can call on companion abilities in fights for an extra edge over their opponents, and they can also chat with their friends at camp to get their perspective on the events so far and learn more about them. Avowed doesn’t have romance options, which is a little disappointing, but that doesn’t mean players won’t still grow attached to companions like Kai as they play through the game.
Avowed will launch on February 18, 2025 for PC and Xbox Series X/S. Avowed’s $90 Premium Edition includes five days early access. Those willing to wait will be able to play through the entirety of Avowed with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscription.
With Kai at my side, I began tackling Avowed‘s main quest. Avowed takes place in the Living Lands as it’s dealing with the Dream Scourge plague. This mysterious plague causes the main character to be hounded by a mysterious voice, and it infects unlucky citizens and creatures with a strange fungi that makes them crazed. I didn’t learn a lot about the Dream Scourge in my time with Avowed, but I am interested to see where the story is going. I did think that some of the conversations were long-winded and that the information could be delivered in a more interesting way than info dumps, but what’s here still lays the groundwork for an intriguing mystery.
Eventually, Avowed‘s main quest led me to the city of Paradis, where I was immediately shot in the gut with an arrow upon entering, leaving my adventure on an agonizing cliffhanger. The time I spent with the game barely scratched the surface, but as someone who was somewhat skeptical about Avowed, it’s now one of my most highly-anticipated games of 2025. Assuming the rest of the game is as fun as its earliest hours, Obsidian fans should have yet another great RPG from the studio on their hands.
Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger. Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.
You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague throughout the Living Lands – an island full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, and choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness. You discover a personal connection to the Living Lands and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save this unknown frontier and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder?
- Franchise
- Pillars of Eternity
- Released
- February 18, 2025
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
