Avowed

About

Avowed is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Obsidian Entertainment and was released on February 18, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Premium Edition includes: - Avowed base game - Up to 5 days early access - Two Premium Skin Packs - Access to Avowed Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+33

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78%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,123 reviews

story2k positive mentions

optimization175 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and vibrant world design that enhances exploration.
Engaging combat system that allows for diverse playstyles and character builds.
Interesting story with meaningful choices that impact the game.

Frequent performance issues and crashes, especially after updates.
Limited enemy variety and repetitive combat encounters that can become tedious.
Dialogue and character interactions often feel shallow and lack depth.

story
6,000 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
61%
5%
The story of "Avowed" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its engaging narrative and character interactions, while others criticize it for being predictable and lacking depth compared to previous titles in the "Pillars of Eternity" series. The game features a blend of main quests and side missions that can significantly impact the story, but some players feel that the overall plot is generic and that the dialogue can be tedious. Despite these criticisms, the exploration and world-building elements are often highlighted as strong points, making the game enjoyable for those who appreciate a rich fantasy setting.
- “The story is immersive, the world is beautiful, and there is a lot of character interaction, something I feared the game might be missing.”
- “The game makes so many things right, no huge hassle with inventory management, very little bugs, a good story with interesting characters, and exploring is really rewarding in a fantastic world.”
- “The story is engaging, your companions feel like fully fleshed-out individuals who had lives before you walked into them... honestly, this is one of my favorite RPGs to come out of recent years.”
- “The story feels extremely generic, especially the dialogue, which seems to be added just to increase playtime. It's beyond boring.”
- “The main story is dull and uninspired, with a predictable plot that fails to engage the player.”
- “The story is forgettable and lacks meaningful depth, making it hard to stay invested.”
gameplay
1,665 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
59%
6%
The gameplay of "Avowed" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its engaging combat mechanics and fluid movement, particularly in first-person mode. However, criticisms highlight a lack of depth in RPG elements, repetitive gameplay loops, and a limited variety of enemies and mechanics, leading to a feeling of stagnation over time. While the game excels in exploration and offers a visually stunning world, some players feel it falls short in providing a rich, immersive RPG experience compared to its predecessors.
- “The game has its issues, that is true, but by and large the performance, gameplay, itemization, and character customization throughout the game have been very well done.”
- “Really enjoyable gameplay, engrossing story, exciting exploration all within an interesting and beautiful setting.”
- “The gameplay is fun, the story is mid, and it’s the right length where I didn’t feel burnt out.”
- “Performance or gameplay falls significantly below the passing mark.”
- “The gameplay loop barely evolves and a playthrough is too long to keep it engaging throughout.”
- “The gameplay is incredibly dull and shallow, the story is bland, tropey and forgettable, and the game's interface and menu systems are insipid, if not outright useless.”
graphics
1,320 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
3%
The graphics in "Avowed" receive a mixed reception from players, with many praising the vibrant art style and stunning environmental visuals, particularly in terms of color and detail. However, some users report performance issues, including stuttering and graphical glitches, especially on lower-end systems, which detracts from the overall experience. While the game showcases impressive graphics that enhance exploration, there are criticisms regarding character animations and optimization, leading to a somewhat polarized view on its visual quality.
- “The graphics are stunning and the storytelling is beautiful too.”
- “The world is beautifully crafted with a unique visual aesthetic, supported by lore that is both incredibly rich and expertly communicated.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous, the gameplay is fun and engaging, and the story is good (if a bit overdone in the fantasy genre).”
- “I don't know if this game was budget-starved and they figured they could make a profit on visuals and reputation, but it's borderline horrible.”
- “The graphics are fuzzy/blurry at times and the optimization is.. bad.”
- “The story feels uninspired, the graphics are underwhelming, and exploration lacks any real reward or purpose.”
optimization
685 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
52%
26%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, particularly in busy areas or during combat. While some users with high-end systems experienced smoother gameplay, others found the game poorly optimized even on capable hardware, leading to frustration and requests for refunds. Overall, the consensus indicates that while the game has potential, it requires substantial optimization improvements to enhance the player experience.
- “The game runs smoothly and I haven't encountered any bugs, which is a huge plus for those considering playing it on the go.”
- “The graphics look great, optimization is perfect, and it easily runs at 120 fps.”
- “The game is beautiful to look at and plays very well; it's also surprisingly well optimized.”
- “The graphics are fuzzy/blurry at times and the optimization is... bad.”
- “There's a serious performance issue here that Obsidian needs to address.”
- “Even on a very powerful system, I experienced frequent stuttering and inconsistent frame rates, which seriously detracted from the experience.”
music
257 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
48%
5%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance exploration, while others find it repetitive and forgettable. Many noted that while the soundtrack complements the visuals well, it lacks memorable tracks and emotional depth compared to previous titles from the developer. Overall, the music is described as decent but not particularly standout, often blending into the background rather than leaving a lasting impression.
- “The music remains a weak point.”
- “The music, while not bad, is not up to the standard set by the first two Pillars games.”
- “The music and sound of the game perfectly complement the beautiful world.”
- “The soundtrack is dull and has no noteworthy tracks, which is a must for an open world game like this.”
- “The music is very poor and sounds AI-generated; it never catches me like the other Pillars games did.”
- “Music - nothing worth remembering, there's literally 0 songs I remember from this game; music that just goes into one ear and leaves in another.”
stability
194 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
1%
78%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent glitches, lag, and crashes, particularly in busy areas like cities. While some users experienced a relatively smooth gameplay with minor issues, others faced significant performance problems, including long freezes and game-breaking bugs that required extensive troubleshooting. Overall, the game appears to be plagued by stability issues, leading to a consensus that it may not be worth the full price until these problems are addressed.
- “If you haven't played Pillars and/or aren't a huge sci-fi/fantasy reader or RPG fan, the game does fall back on strong, smooth, and satisfying gameplay in a beautiful world that was essentially bug-free for me.”
- “The game is beautiful and bug-free.”
- “The game is smooth, bug-free as far as I can see.”
- “However, I am experiencing a fairly serious inconvenience; I've noticed mostly in Paradise City that the game lags and freezes for several moments.”
- “This is not an A-tier game; it would be a B-tier game if it weren't for the instability issues. Crashes are frequent, and the glitches drop it to a C-tier game. Do not pay full price.”
- “The game is so buggy and has a ton of technical issues.”
grinding
186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
3%
91%
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a mixed experience, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in terms of gear upgrades and resource gathering. While some appreciate the combat and exploration, they often feel that the lack of respawning enemies and finite resources contribute to a grindy gameplay loop that can detract from overall enjoyment. Overall, players who enjoy grinding may find satisfaction, but those who prefer a more streamlined experience may find it frustrating.
- “The side quests feel meaningful and aren't tedious fetch/slay/carry message tasks.”
- “One playthrough amounted to over 80 hours of pure exploration and story for me - no grinding or repetitive nonsense.”
- “I can play my build from the very start, no waiting, no searching out random equipment, no grinding out skills.”
- “At the end of the day, if you like grinding mindlessly on RPGs, sure play it, but don't expect something revolutionary here.”
- “The gameplay is just slow, sluggish, and grindy.”
- “The combat was fun at first but gets really stale as the skill tree was not impressive and the enemy designs are repetitive, making the combat feel tedious from time to time.”
humor
182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the witty dialogue, clever banter among companions, and humorous quest notes that often lead to genuine laughter. While some found the humor to be well-timed and engaging, others criticized it as forced or inconsistent, with certain jokes falling flat or feeling out of place. Overall, the game successfully balances levity with serious themes, though opinions vary on the effectiveness of its comedic elements.
- “The humor is better than in The Outer Worlds — less blunt, more restrained and witty — and generally better timed.”
- “Make sure to read all the notes by every corpse because they died in a variety of hilarious ways.”
- “Obsidian's brand of humor is all throughout this game; a lot of moments genuinely made me laugh out loud.”
- “Companions think they are funny, but they are not.”
- “I was a big fan of The Outer Worlds before it came out, and when it did, I was a little disappointed at the inconsistent tone and at times unfunny dialogue. I have never finished it because of those reasons, along with the lackluster writing that failed to hook me.”
replayability
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
72%
7%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its variety of character builds and impactful choices that encourage multiple playthroughs, while others criticize its linear story and limited differences in outcomes. Many agree that while there are elements that enhance replay value, such as different playstyles and decision-making, the overall experience may not warrant extensive revisits, especially given its price point. Overall, it offers decent replayability for those who enjoy experimenting with different character builds and story choices, but it may not satisfy players seeking a deeply varied experience.
- “There are many skills to choose from when leveling your character; there's no way you can unlock and level up each and every one to the max in a single run, so it does add to the replay value to try different builds.”
- “Your choices carry some genuine weight, ensuring varied outcomes and encouraging replayability.”
- “The variety of builds you can mix and match together gives replay value to the game when it comes to both dialogue and combat, and it's cheap to respec.”
- “Good game, just not worth the price tag considering the length and replayability.”
- “Skyrim at release with no mods/patches/DLC has at least 10 times the content and far more replayability; this game has virtually no replayability unless you just want to do the 'exact' same story with a slightly different playstyle.”
- “There is zero replayability unless you make a new character, in which case whatever new choices you'll make won't make a huge difference in that second playthrough.”
emotional
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
90%
10%
The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the heartfelt writing and character interactions that evoke genuine feelings and tough choices, while others criticize the narrative for lacking depth and emotional weight. Many highlight the companions' personalities and their ability to create memorable moments, though some find the humor and quips during serious scenes to be immersion-breaking. Overall, while there are standout emotional moments, the game's storytelling and character development are seen as inconsistent, leading to a varied emotional experience for players.
- “The writing and companions add emotional weight and personality, making choices feel meaningful without bogging you down.”
- “I was touched emotionally by the stories in the game several times and thought quite a bit about some tough decisions.”
- “It’s a breathtaking moment, and one that captures the emotional tone of the entire game.”
- “Do not buy this game, bland storytelling, bland characters, bland ending, bland dialogue, exploration is pointless and gives no real gain, boring story with a boring ending. I regret playing this game at all.”
- “An illusion of choice, mediocre combat, boring storytelling, and annoying companions.”
- “The major turn offs were obvious right off the bat from the characters' robot-like animation & head jerks, holding of the wand like you're holding a beer bottle, and super boring story/quests/etc from NPCs.”
character development
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
56%
16%
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the depth and engagement of companion interactions and storytelling, while others criticize it for being rigid, predictable, and lacking meaningful evolution throughout the gameplay. Many players appreciate the character design options but find the overall character development mechanics to be shallow and underwhelming, often feeling that the narrative fails to explore characters' backstories adequately. Overall, while there are moments of brilliance in character development, many reviewers express a desire for more depth and impact from player choices.
- “Companion interactions and character development/storytelling is this studio's strongest suit, and it definitely shines here.”
- “The game was super dynamic, the graphics were incredible, and the character development was leading in an excellent direction.”
- “I enjoy the story and characters, particularly Yatzli and Kai, whose story and character development I enjoyed the more I sat with it.”
- “But character development is bland, story mid, and the world feels really static.”
- “I have finished, as far as I can tell, every quest relevant to any of them and can’t well say that they actually experienced notable character development past whatever conflict their personal quest was about.”
- “Dialogue choices also feel forced and unnatural, often failing to reflect organic character development or meaningful player agency.”
atmosphere
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
51%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and captivating environments, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful graphics, varied settings, and effective sound design that enhance the overall experience. However, some critiques mention that certain aspects, such as overly bright color palettes and static NPC interactions, can detract from immersion. Overall, the game successfully creates a unique and engaging atmosphere that encourages exploration and emotional investment in the world.
- “It's a thoughtful, atmospheric journey that respects the player's intelligence.”
- “Every region you explore feels handcrafted, alive, and dripping with atmosphere.”
- “The artists behind it did an excellent job - the visuals and the music work beautifully together to build a world full of variety and atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere and color palette are too bright and cartoonish.”
- “These issues hurt immersion in a game that relies heavily on atmosphere.”
- “The npcs stand near each other, statically pretending to be talking with each other at all times, creating an odd silent atmosphere.”
monetization
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
19%
73%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many users labeling it as a cash grab due to the prevalence of microtransactions and in-game purchases. While some players appreciate the gameplay and graphics, they express frustration over the perceived lack of creativity and effort from the developers, comparing the experience to mobile games with misleading advertisements. Conversely, a few reviews highlight the absence of microtransactions in certain versions, praising the game for being complete at launch and focusing on enjoyable gameplay rather than monetization.
- “Overall, it's a game that looks gorgeous, plays incredibly, and was released fully complete with no microtransactions or DLC.”
- “No microtransactions in-depth character trees for added replay value amazing gameplay ”
- “Please do not buy this game, it just signifies that we're okay with developers releasing cash grab trash constantly.”
- “Whole thing stinks of cash grab with minimal effort from a creatively bankrupt team.”
- “Just like Bethesda, they have stopped trying to make good games and are only focused on quick cash grabs, betraying their fans in the process.”