Review: Avowed - A Magical Journey

Obsidian Entertainment, known for titles such as Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds, brings its narrative expertise to Avowed.

Published by Xbox Game Studios, the game is the studio's first major release of 2025 and an expansion of the Pillars of Eternity universe. The team prioritized the integration of modern mechanics with classic RPG elements, resulting in a product that pays homage to its roots while innovating.

In this review, we explore every aspect of the title, from its construction to its philosophical undertones.

The main character is a Deiform, anEnvoy of the Aedyr Empire, marked by an unknown deity, which adds layers of mystery and impact to interactions. With mystical powers, he is sent to the Living Lands to investigate the Dreamscourge, an epidemic that corrupts minds and bodies, transforming victims into Dreamthralls.

The journey, however, gets more complex as the protagonist discovers an ancient connection with the land and a mysterious entity that inhabits his mind, questioning his loyalty to the Empire and his very nature. This is just the beginning of a huge plot filled with all kinds of twists and dilemmas. The game delivers a narrative that mixes the epic with the personal, while allowing the player's choices to shape the fate of factions and companions.

Between Gods and Political Conflicts

Avowed tackles themes around faith and sense of self-consciousness. Despite a generic start, the story gains depth as we progress, especially in the well-crafted side quests, which often rival the main campaign in emotional impact.

Imperialism, Colonialism and Power

The relationship between the Aedyr Empire and the Living Lands reflects colonial tensions, with local factions resisting outside domination. The player is constantly forced to balance Imperial orders with the needs of the inhabitants. The plot is thick with political conflicts, such as the tension between the Empire and the fanatical Steel Garrot faction, led by the ruthless Inquisitor Lödwyn.

Meanwhile, the main character's divine connection serves as a metaphor for the quest for purpose and the cost of authority. "Will you be a savior or a tyrant?" is a recurring question, with choices that even affect the perception of companions.

Corruption and Redemption

The Dreamscourge symbolizes both environmental degradation and moral corruption, questioning whether destruction is inevitable or reversible through ethical choices.

Narrative Structure

The story is divided into chapters that explore conflicts between factions such as the Steel Garrote (extremist paladins) and anti-imperialism rebels. Decisions such as sparing a rebel leader or siding with inquisitors have long-term consequences, including alternate endings to side quests and even the fate of entire cities.

Companions are well-written characters with personal stories that intertwine with the main plot. Up to four allies will accompany the player, each with unique abilities:

Kai, the sarcastic warrior, taunts enemies and regenerates health.

Yatzli, the sorceress with area-of-effect and crowd-control magic.

Marius, the marksman, specializes in stealth and ranged attacks.

They steal the show with sharp dialogue and missions that explore their traumas and reasons. The player's choices affect their loyalties, which can lead to confrontations or permanent alliances.

Visually, Avowed is a feast of colors and details. The use of Unreal Engine 5 bringing dynamic lighting, combined with the High Fantasy aesthetic, with bioluminescent fungi and ancient ruins, creates a unique contrast as we explore the world.

Obsidian also gets accessibility right: light items do not overload the inventory, ammunition is infinite, and a contextual lore guide helps newcomers navigate the rich universe of Pillars of Eternity while avoiding flooding players into too much lore.

An important tip is to play with low ambient light, which will help you better perceive not only the details of the game, but also find items amidst illuminated paths and dark caves. After a good adaptation and ambient light, the game becomes more enjoyable and in this regard, accessibility has hit the nail on the head.

The world is divided into a semi-open map, with parkour to climb structures and discover secrets. Labyrinthine caves and destructible walls reward the most curious players with rare equipment. This part really caught my attention, as it’s a game to be played calmly, searching every corner of the place where we are. Many items will be found, however, it’s important to know how to use the first and third-person view to locate them and not miss anything.

Maps and Missions

The game is divided into four main regions (Dawnshore, Emerald Stair, Shatterscarp and Fangs of Galawain), each with a central city and wilderness areas full of points of interest. Side quests range from treasure hunts (e.g. Treasure Map – Spoils of Captain Henqua) to moral dilemmas, such as deciding the fate of rebel leaders.

From enchanted forests to volcanic deserts, the regions of the map are laboratories of discovery. I spent much of my time simply exploring these places, and I was surprised by the amount of detail and items I found. The level design is very clever and rewards curiosity with secrets, such as chests hidden in caves or puzzles that require skill combinations. The lack of respawning enemies may seem like a limitation, but it avoids repetition and maintains the feeling of progress, which I really liked.

The combat system is one of the highlights: fast, fluid and highly customizable. Players can combine physical weapons and magic (such as flaming swords and ice grimoires) without class restrictions, encouraging experimentation. The feeling of impact is visceral, and magic such as black holes and lightning storms offer a visual and strategic spectacle. The verticality of the scenarios and the parkour system add tactical layers, allowing for creative approaches to battles.

All of this combined gives us a good feeling of freedom in combat, allowing the class and customization system to make the game easy once we understand all the available mechanics.

Combining Weapons

The player can combine physical weapons (swords, bows) with elemental magic (ice, fire, electricity) in real time. For example, freezing enemies with one hand and crushing them with a hammer in the other.

There are two sets of weapons that can be alternated during combat (e.g.: sword/shield + pistol/grimoire), encouraging tactical adaptation.

The special magics are a show in themselves, combining abilities such as Black Holes (grouping enemies) and Lightning Storms stand out for their visual and strategic impact.

Game Pass: Available from launch to subscribers.

Frame Rate

PC: Up to 120 FPS (depending on configuration), with DLSS 3.5 and FSR 3 support.

Game Time and Content

Replayability: High, due to multiple endings and alternative builds (e.g. pure mage vs. hybrid).

Pros and Cons

Pros

Semi-Open Maps: Four main regions (forests, deserts, caves) encourage the discovery of secrets through parkour and wall-breaking. Rewards include rare equipment and lore journals.

Cons

Lack of Polish: Some animations may be somewhat stiff, although this doesn't hinder much. Some persistent bugs have been reported by the fan community.

Gameplay Tips

Side Quests: Prioritize quests like Battle Scars (companions) to unlock exclusive abilities.

Developer’s Tips

Obsidian developer Berto Ritger posted on Twitter/X essential tips for playing Avowed.

Exploration and Resources

- Always buy lockpicks when you find them!

- Cook food and eat outside of combat to save potions.

- Dismantle unique items to obtain adra and combine smaller adras at camp.

Bonuses and Quality of Life

- Eat chocolate chip cookies and drink fresh water to run like crazy.

- Use the chest to store items or sell them directly from the merchants (toggle the option on!).

- When fast traveling to camp, you can go straight back to where you came from.

Secrets and Improvements

- Search for Divine Totem pieces – the buffs are INSANE!

- Talk to your campmates… you might get a surprise.

- Want to test an enchantment? Save first! It cannot be undone.

- Strangled Adra always gives you adra – take advantage of it!

Extra Tips

- If your spellcasting is interrupted, rely on the Arcane Veil.

- Enable the option to display Divine Totems on the radar if you need help finding them.

Wrapping Up

Avowed is a solid and engaging RPG that honors Obsidian's legacy of complex narratives and rich worlds. With rewarding exploration, dynamic combat, impactful choices, and captivating characters, the game is a must-play for fantasy fans.

Although it suffers from enemy repetition and superficial consequences in the world, explore every corner, experiment with creative builds, and engage in the side stories – these are where the game really shines.

Avowed doesn't reinvent the RPG genre, but it does cement Obsidian as an expert in branching narratives. The combination of combat, challenging moral choices, and a richly detailed world makes up for technical flaws.

For fans of games like Pillars of Eternity, Skyrim, Dragon Age, and The Outer Worlds, even if it's not perfect, the game is a must-play.