Avowed – A Stunning Fantasy World With Flawed Execution
Alright, let’s talk about Avowed , Obsidian Entertainment’s ambitious new RPG set in the world of Pillars of Eternity . If you’re into deep lore, expansive storytelling, and a world packed with fascinating details, this game delivers. But does it hold up when it comes to combat and exploration? Well, that’s where things get a bit more complicated.
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Visually, Avowed is striking—it’s got that Annihilation -meets- Oblivion aesthetic, filled with lush, fungal landscapes and eerie, corrupted environments. The game’s world, The Lands Between, is being consumed by a bizarre plague that drives people mad before covering them in strange mushroom-like growths. You step into the role of an envoy from a distant empire, a godlike being touched by immortals, investigating this mysterious crisis. Sounds incredible, right? And for the first 15 hours or so, it really is.
Obsidian has crafted a vast and intricate world where choice and player agency are at the forefront. Conversations feel natural, decisions have weight, and the writing avoids the tired good guy/bad guy/joker trope we’ve seen in so many RPGs. The characters you meet are engaging, the lore is rich, and for those who love to get lost in world-building, Avowed respects your intelligence.
But here’s the catch: while the story and exploration shine, the actual gameplay doesn’t always hold up. Combat, for instance, feels underwhelming. You have access to a variety of weapons—grimoire magic, massive axes, bows, pistols, and more—but no matter what you use, fights tend to feel imprecise and repetitive. Enemies are often just damage sponges, and your success is mostly determined by invisible stats rather than player skill. If you’re facing a stronger opponent, dodging and tactical play won’t save you—your gear level dictates everything. And let’s be real, no one enjoys mindlessly hacking away at an enemy for minutes at a time.
Then there’s the pacing issue. The game starts strong, but over time, a familiar open-world problem creeps in. Each new area starts off feeling a little too difficult. Then, after some questing and upgrades, you hit a sweet spot where everything feels balanced and fun. But before long, you become so overpowered that fights lose all tension. This cycle repeats throughout the game, which can make progression feel more like a checklist than an adventure.
From a technical standpoint, Avowed has its ups and downs. Built in Unreal Engine 5, it looks fantastic at times but struggles with optimization. Some areas perform smoothly, while others dip unexpectedly. Pop-in issues are noticeable, and while the game offers ray tracing, its implementation isn’t particularly impressive. Upscaling options like FSR and DLSS are there, but their effectiveness varies depending on your hardware. If you’re playing on PC, expect some inconsistency in performance.
Ultimately, Avowed has moments of brilliance but struggles with repetition and a lack of gameplay depth. It captures that Elder Scrolls -like sense of discovery, yet its combat and progression systems hold it back. If you love world-building and storytelling, there’s a lot to appreciate here. But if you’re looking for satisfying, skill-based combat, you might find yourself getting frustrated. It’s a good game, just not a great one.
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