Avowed

About

"Avowed" is a single-player Fantasy Role Playing Game set in the mystical island of the Living Lands, part of the world of Eora from the Pillars of Eternity franchise. As an envoy of Aedyr, you investigate a spreading plague, leading to a personal journey filled with delightful game mechanics, spectacular visuals, and an intriguing story. The choices you make will significantly impact the Living Lands and its inhabitants. Some grinding is involved, but the experience is often hilarious.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+13

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,677 reviews

story452 positive mentions

stability48 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and vibrant world design that enhances exploration.
Engaging combat system that allows for a variety of playstyles and builds.
Rich lore and storytelling that expands on the Pillars of Eternity universe.

Limited character customization options, restricting players to only human or elf.
Repetitive enemy types and lack of respawn mechanics diminish long-term engagement.
Bugs and crashes reported by players, affecting overall gameplay experience.

story
1,353 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The story of "Avowed" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it engaging yet somewhat predictable. While some appreciate the depth and lore tied to the "Pillars of Eternity" universe, others criticize it for being generic and lacking originality, with many quests feeling like standard fetch tasks. Overall, the narrative is described as solid but not groundbreaking, with choices that can impact the story, though some players feel these choices often lead to similar outcomes.
- “And to top it off, the story is super fun and engaging, especially if you loved a lot of the endless paths of Caed Nua for some of the 'lore before Eora was Eora' type of stuff going on there.”
- “The choices you make throughout the story carry weight, affecting not just the plot but also the environment and the relationships you build with your companions.”
- “The story is engaging (especially as a person who loved Pillars of Eternity and Deadfire), the combat is great fun, and the voice acting is wonderful.”
- “There's just nothing original about the story and characters, and none of the companions are charming enough to make you want to learn their entire backstory.”
- “The story is underwhelming, the companions are uninteresting (and not romance-able???), and the RPG systems like skills and loot are extremely shallow.”
- “The story feels really bland and the Bethesda-style NPC interactions don't help at all.”
gameplay
391 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
61%
4%
The gameplay of "Avowed" has received mixed feedback, with many praising its engaging combat mechanics and exploration elements reminiscent of "Skyrim," while others criticize its lack of depth in RPG mechanics and repetitive gameplay. Players appreciate the smooth combat and responsive controls, but some feel that the game simplifies traditional RPG elements too much, leading to a less immersive experience. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable moments and a vibrant world, it may not satisfy those seeking complex mechanics or innovative gameplay.
- “The combat is great, the RPG mechanics are solid, the NPCs are mostly interesting, the world is incredibly well-designed and alive, and the sound and visual design make it quite a remarkably immersive experience.”
- “The gameplay feels snappy and reactive, the mechanics are somewhere between soulslike, Elder Scrolls, and Vermintide, and the build craft is incredibly varied.”
- “The exploration and discovery and gameplay is what I've been missing for years.”
- “You can immediately tell that 80% of the effort in the game went into the combat mechanics and the remaining 20% went into level design, with little effort left behind for anything else, including enemy design, loot system, gear system, skill system, companions, etc. The gameplay in Avowed is incredibly algorithmic and repetitive, and the gear and loot system is not rewarding in the slightest.”
- “From uninspired gameplay to broken mechanics, this game is a colossal disappointment that somehow manages to be both boring and infuriating at the same time.”
- “The gameplay loop mirrors a lot of Obsidian games in where they're simple and fun, but the mechanics feel shallow and the overall experience lacks depth compared to their previous titles.”
graphics
381 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
44%
2%
The graphics in "Avowed" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and vibrant art style, creating an immersive and inviting environment. Many players appreciate the attention to detail and the overall aesthetic, which enhances the exploration experience. However, some critiques mention issues with character models and occasional graphical glitches, suggesting that while the game excels in visual appeal, it may not be without its technical shortcomings.
- “The graphics are stunning, with beautiful environments and attention to detail that really bring the world to life.”
- “The visuals are absolutely stunning and the story is engaging and well-rounded.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous, with vibrant colors and vistas that make exploring the world feel immersive and rewarding.”
- “And yet, the best I could do was get onto the beach with tons of graphical glitches.”
- “The graphics as well, while the world itself is rather beautiful, and kudos to the environment artists and designers, the character models and animations feel far too stiff and the facial animations just feel too rigid.”
- “The graphics continue to be a disappointment.”
optimization
202 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
52%
17%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant stuttering and performance issues, particularly in urban areas, despite some praising its visuals and smooth performance on higher-end systems. While some users report a well-optimized experience, others express frustration over the game's reliance on Unreal Engine 5, leading to inconsistent performance across different hardware configurations. Overall, there is a consensus that while the game has potential, it requires further optimization to address the prevalent performance concerns.
- “Game is gorgeous and it has been a very smooth experience in terms of performance.”
- “The environment is really nice and the game is decently optimized.”
- “The game seems very well optimized.”
- “My big complaint is optimization; no matter what I do with settings, the game freezes and stutters too often.”
- “The optimization of this game is horrendous and it's really not anything special.”
- “Great game, horrible optimization and latency.”
stability
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
1%
69%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent bugs, freezes, and crashes, particularly during loading screens and when entering new areas. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay without issues, others describe it as a "buggy mess" that detracts from the overall experience. Overall, it appears that the game may require further optimization and patches to address these stability concerns.
- “Nothing revolutionary but it's a return to great games that aren't buggy on release.”
- “The game also runs great for me even though my PC is getting older and I haven't had any crashes so far.”
- “Good ole old style RPG from Obsidian and wow did they work their magic with UE5 because if there's one thing to say, it runs great compared to other games out there that run terribly with UE5.”
- “My big complaint is optimization; no matter what I do with settings, the game freezes and stutters too often.”
- “Avowed is a buggy, stuttering mess.”
- “Buggy mess, wait for a few weeks to let them patch at least the game-breaking ones; I got stuck two times already in the main story and had to reset, losing at least two hours of progress.”
music
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
52%
6%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its immersive and atmospheric qualities, while others criticize it as bland or forgettable. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance exploration and emotional moments, though some feel it lacks the emotional depth found in previous titles like Pillars of Eternity. Overall, while the music has its highlights, it appears to be inconsistent, with some players opting to use their own playlists during gameplay.
- “The music is a bit lowkey, but it never offends, and it builds to a cool crescendo sometimes when you happen upon landmarks the devs wanted to emphasize.”
- “The music hits really nice; some of my favorite moments in-game so far have been exploring new areas, coming to the end of it with an amazing view and a classic fantasy track kicks in.”
- “The soundtrack, sound design, and voice acting are all top-notch and feel highly professional.”
- “My biggest complaint is the music; it's very mechanical and lacks emotion. Sometimes it is immersive, but other times I'm bored. It never catches me like the other Pillars games did.”
- “Compared to Pillars 1 and 2, this game has forgettable music.”
- “The music is terrible and the writing out of the main quest is not very good.”
humor
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding the dialogue and companion interactions genuinely funny, leading to moments of laughter and high replayability. However, some critiques point out that the humor can feel forced or cheesy at times, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, while the game has its comedic highlights, it may not resonate with everyone, especially those seeking a more serious tone.
- “Some of the choices made me laugh out loud, which is rare!”
- “I found myself laughing at a couple of NPC dialogues, and I like how you may have a companion who will make comments on something that you run into that you as the player may not know.”
- “My favorite thing so far has to be the companion banter; the quips between the two of them in regards to the environment or actions I have taken have made me laugh more than once.”
grinding
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
2%
93%
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience, with many players finding the need to gather crafting materials and upgrade gear tedious and frustrating. While some appreciate the exploration and side quests, others feel that the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment, making combat and progression feel repetitive. Overall, the game seems to struggle with balancing the grind, leading to a sense of monotony for some players, despite efforts to streamline character progression and crafting systems.
- “Interesting characters, fun dialogues, and great game mechanics make them not tedious to control or completely irrelevant.”
- “I can play my build from the very start, no waiting, no searching for random equipment, no grinding out skills.”
- “The progression is tied to a mechanic that feels like it belongs in an MMO-style game, requiring rare materials to upgrade. While MMO-style games are fine, I never wanted to play a grand RPG experience and have to grind for materials instead of engaging in side quests or supporting factions. There's a lack of factions; it's mostly just you versus bandits with neutral NPCs.”
- “While the list looks very versatile in theory, after killing more than 1000 enemies with the same pattern, it gets really grindy in my opinion.”
- “The leveling is very slow; even completing side missions doesn't quite get you where you need to be. This game feels very grindy, and even after the grinding is completed, it still doesn't feel rewarding.”
replayability
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
76%
10%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its impactful story decisions and character choices that encourage multiple playthroughs, while others criticize class restrictions and linear questlines that limit replay value. Many highlight the potential for varied outcomes and character builds, suggesting a solid foundation for replayability, though some express concerns about the game's polish and overall depth. Overall, it appears that while there are significant elements that enhance replayability, certain design choices may hinder it for some players.
- “Fun and varied gameplay with loads of replayability due to impactful story decisions and options for player progression.”
- “Loving the story and already cooking up so many ideas for future playthroughs with the high choice-based replayability options.”
- “But don’t let that deter you—Avowed offers plenty of replay value with its branching storylines and impactful choices.”
- “Relatively low replayability due to class restrictions and lack of mods (I suppose they'll want you to buy DLCs?).”
- “There's zero replayability, unless you make a new character in which whatever new choices you'll make won't make a huge difference in that second playthrough.”
- “The game feels like it's on rails to me and this 100% detracts from how replayable the game is.”
character development
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
48%
26%
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the variety of options available through skill trees, NPC dialogue, and quests, while others criticize the character design as unattractive and the overall development as predictable and lacking depth. Many feel that the straightforward story and limited character customization detract from the immersive role-playing experience expected from the genre. Overall, while some appreciate the engaging elements, others find the character development unsatisfactory and a step down from previous titles.
- “Great game, well polished, and so many character development options.”
- “From the skill tree and immersive NPC dialogue, to the character design, loadout options, and especially the quests and main storyline, it's clear they put their heart into making this memorable.”
- “Character design is great, dialogue feels real, combat system is, at least in my honest opinion, mwah, chef's kiss.”
- “Not very drawn to the story; character development seems off.”
- “This game is in every possible way a downgrade from Pillars of Eternity, in terms of writing, storytelling, character development, and world-building, ultimately leaving you feeling like something is missing.”
- “There isn't a straightforward path of character development or grind to then directly engage difficulties.”
atmosphere
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and cozy qualities, enhanced by beautiful graphics, varied landscapes, and evocative music. Players appreciate the rich lore and vibrant settings that encourage exploration, though some note minor graphical issues. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
- “Graphically, the game is wonderful, making excellent use of a variety of colors and tones to set the atmosphere for locations.”
- “The landscapes and lighting create an atmosphere that encourages curiosity and adventure.”
- “I play games meticulously slowly, to just enjoy the atmosphere, and this game seems to have it in spades!”
- “Slumber-inducing dialogue and atmosphere set in an oppressively safe pastel mushroom world.”
- “A well-written RPG with fun combat and meaningful character decisions, but not likely to please those looking for a fully open world or a grimdark atmosphere.”
- “Not sure how to critique sound design, but every time I enter caves or ruins, the atmosphere feels incredibly immersive.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
31%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players experiencing impactful and heartbreaking choices that resonate deeply, while others criticize the storytelling as weak and the characters as unengaging. Despite the presence of well-written companions and immersive environments that evoke strong feelings, many found the overall narrative lacking depth, leading to a disconnect during key emotional moments. Overall, while some players felt a strong emotional connection, others were left wanting more from the story and character interactions.
- “The choices are tough, sometimes heartbreaking, but impactful—sometimes even harder than what I experienced in BG3.”
- “It made me emotional at three different junctures in the game, and I really felt almost every single action I took mattered.”
- “Honestly, this game made me feel the same way I felt when I played Skyrim for the first time.”
- “An illusion of choice, mediocre combat, boring storytelling, and annoying companions.”
- “Weak and boring storytelling.”
- “The major turn offs were obvious right off the bat from the characters' robot-like animation and head jerks, holding the wand like you're holding a beer bottle, and super boring story/quests from NPCs.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game is praised for its complete release without microtransactions or DLC, offering a refreshing experience in an industry often focused on monetization. Players appreciate the in-depth character trees and engaging gameplay, though some express frustration with ad sensitivity affecting controls. Overall, it stands out as a fun, nostalgic title that prioritizes gameplay over profit-driven models.
- “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 🙏”
- “There really should be an ads sensitivity.”
- “When you have ads in the game, it massively lowers your sensitivity and there are no options to change that, which is crazy when bows and guns are a huge part of the game.”
- “Every studio is trying to make that next PvP FPS cash grab with seasons and skins.”