Avowed RPG Review

Avowed RPG Review Obsidian Entertainment has officially launched Avowed, its ambitious first-person fantasy RPG set in the beloved world of Pillars of Eternity. In this Avowed RPG review, we explore what makes this 2025 release one of the most anticipated RPGs in recent memory.

Whether you’re a hardcore Obsidian fan or a casual gamer curious about a new fantasy universe, this review breaks down the gameplay mechanics, story, characters, graphics, and more.

Story and Setting: Welcome to the Living Lands

What Is the Setting of Avowed?

Set in Eora’s Living Lands, Avowed takes players to a mysterious, untamed region filled with magical corruption, rival factions, and ancient mysteries. Unlike the CRPG-style of Pillars of Eternity, this game is a first-person action RPG, which gives a more immersive feel to the world around you.

Lore-Driven Worldbuilding

The game world is filled with details that fans of deep fantasy will love—ancient ruins, enchanted forests, and hints of soul magic lurking beneath the surface.

Gameplay Mechanics – Action, Magic, and Customization

Classless Character Building

One of the major features in this Avowed RPG review is the flexible progression system. There’s no rigid class structure. Instead, you’re given freedom to mix and match abilities across magic, melee, and ranged disciplines.

Player Freedom

Obsidian leans into player agency: you can stealth your way through an entire zone or go full spell-slinger. Your build is what you make of it.

Combat System—How Avowed Modernizes RPG Fights

First-Person Fluidity

Combat in Avowed is fast, reactive, and satisfying. Dual-wielding magic, throwing fireballs while blocking with a magical shield, or switching between bows and swords on the fly—it’s all here.

Real-Time Combat Meets Tactical Depth

You won’t find pause-and-play battles here, but there’s still depth: elemental weaknesses, terrain advantages, and AI-based companion tactics give you reasons to plan.

World Exploration—A Semi-Open World Done Right

Semi-Open Regions

Instead of one massive open world, Avowed is divided into interconnected hubs, similar to The Outer Worlds. This gives it a curated feel without sacrificing exploration.

Environmental Interactions

You’ll encounter dynamic weather, hidden pathways, and lore-based puzzles throughout the Living Lands. Exploration is often tied to quests and character backstories.

Character Creation and Progression

You begin by customizing your character’s background and appearance. While race and origin influence dialogue options and faction reputation, they don’t lock you out of any gameplay styles.

Skill Trees: Divided into magic, combat, and utility.
Soul Powers: Unique abilities tied to lore-based “soul anchors” you uncover during the game.

Dialogue, Choices, and Factions

One of Obsidian’s trademarks is meaningful choice, and Avowed doesn’t disappoint.

Factions in Avowed

You’ll interact with and influence:

The Dyrwoodan Expeditionary Force
The Soulbound Conclave
The Eorlan Dissidents

Choices made early on can ripple into major plot shifts later, including alternate endings.

Companions—Who Joins You on Your Quest?

Companions bring both firepower and narrative weight. Each has unique side quests and morality preferences.

Kaii—A stoic battlemage with loyalty to an old regime
Elyra—A rogue archaeologist with ties to forbidden magic
Toven—A mercenary with a secret past

You can build rapport through dialogue, gift-giving, and how you behave during quests.

Visuals and Graphics—Built in Unreal Engine 5

Built in Unreal Engine 5, Avowed is one of the most visually striking RPGs of the year. Highlights include:

Lumen lighting system for natural illumination
Nanite geometry for high-detail environments
Fluid character animation and magic effects

It balances stylized aesthetics with realistic shading and weather systems, offering a fantasy world that feels alive without going photorealistic.

Sound Design and Voice Acting

Immersive Audio

Ambient effects change by zone, from forest whispers to echoing ruins. The orchestral score is both majestic and ominous.

Full Voice Cast

Every major line of dialogue is voiced, with talent from shows like The Witcher and Castlevania. Strong performances bring gravitas to pivotal moments.

System Requirements and Performance

Minimum:

CPU: Intel i5-7600 / Ryzen 5 1400
GPU: GTX 1060 / RX 580
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 70GB SSD

Early Reviews and Player Reactions

Reviewers are generally positive:

SiteScoreIGN8.5/10GamesRadar9/10PC Gamer82/100Metacritic84 (as of May 25, 2025)

Common praise includes strong storytelling, excellent companions, and smooth combat. Criticisms include some UI clunkiness and a rushed ending sequence.

Comparison to Skyrim, Dragon Age, and Pillars of Eternity

While comparisons to Skyrim are inevitable, Avowed is more focused and narratively dense. It blends the faction politics of Dragon Age, the magic system of Pillars, and the moment-to-moment combat of modern action RPGs.

Avowed RPG Review Playing?

Yes—especially if you enjoy games where story meets gameplay freedom. Obsidian continues to prove it understands what RPG fans want: deep systems, reactive narratives, and worlds worth getting lost in.

Whether you’re casting spells from afar or slicing through enemies up close, Avowed delivers a fantasy experience that feels both nostalgic and new.

FAQ About Avowed RPG Review

Is Avowed connected to Pillars of Eternity?

Yes, it’s set in the same universe but in a new region with a standalone story.

Is Avowed an open-world game?

No, it uses semi-open world hubs similar to The Outer Worlds.

How long is Avowed?

The main story takes ~25–30 hours, with 50+ hours for completionists.

Best Places to Download Games (Legit & Safe)

For PC Gamers

Steam
- URL: https://store.steampowered.com
- The largest digital game platform for PC/Mac/Linux.
- Huge library, regular sales, user reviews, cloud saves, mods.
- Trusted by major and indie developers.
Epic Games Store
- URL: https://www.epicgames.com/store
- Known for giving away free games every week.
- Exclusive titles like Fortnite, Alan Wake II, and The Witcher 3.
- Supports cloud saves and refunds.
GOG (Good Old Games)
- URL: https://www.gog.com
- DRM-free games — you own your downloads forever.
- Great for classic games and RPGs (Baldur’s Gate, Planescape: Torment).
- Owned by CD Projekt (the studio behind Cyberpunk 2077).
Humble Store
- URL: https://www.humblebundle.com/store
- Buy games, support charity, and get Steam keys.
- Frequent bundles and massive discounts.
Itch.io
- URL: https://itch.io
- Indie-focused store with experimental, low-cost, and free games.
- Excellent for finding hidden gems or uploading your own games.

For Console Gamers

PlayStation Store
- URL: https://store.playstation.com
- Official platform for PlayStation 4 and 5.
- Includes exclusives like God of War Ragnarök, Spider-Man 2.
Xbox Store / Microsoft Store
- URL: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games
- For Xbox Series X|S and PC Game Pass users.
- Game Pass offers 100+ titles for a monthly fee.
Nintendo eShop
- URL: https://www.nintendo.com/eshop/
- For Nintendo Switch owners.
- Find first-party exclusives like Zelda, Metroid, Mario Kart.

For Mobile Gamers

Google Play Store
- URL: https://play.google.com
- Android’s primary app store.
- Includes both premium and free-to-play games.
Apple App Store
- URL: https://www.apple.com/app-store/
- For iPhones and iPads.
- Offers Apple Arcade subscription for premium games without ads.