Review: Avowed | Xbox

After months of anticipation and finally completing my journey through the Living Lands, I can confidently say that Avowed is a delightful return to form for Obsidian Entertainment. Whilst it may not reinvent the fantasy RPG wheel, it polishes that wheel to an absolutely brilliant shine, delivering an adventure that feels both comfortingly familiar and genuinely engaging.

A Godlike Adventure Awaits

You play as a Godlike envoy sent to investigate the mysterious Dreamscourge, a fungal plague that’s driving people mad across the Living Lands. What starts as a straightforward diplomatic mission quickly spirals into something far more complex, involving ancient gods, political intrigue, and the kind of moral choices that Obsidian does better than almost anyone else.

The opening hours had me slightly worried, I’ll admit. The character creation is solid (complete with those distinctive fungal growths that mark you as Godlike), but the initial pacing felt a bit sluggish. However, once I reached the sprawling city of Paradis and began exploring the wider Dawnshore region, everything clicked into place. This is classic Obsidian storytelling at its finest.

Combat That Actually Excites

Where Avowed truly surprised me was in its combat system. Unlike many RPGs that lock you into rigid class structures, this game gives you remarkable freedom to experiment. I started as a mage but quickly found myself wielding fire-enchanted swords in one hand and grimoires in the other, switching between spell-slinging and sword-swinging as the situation demanded.

The weapon variety is excellent, from traditional swords and axes to arquebuses and magical wands. Everything can be dual-wielded if it’s one-handed, leading to some brilliant combinations. My personal favourite was running around with a pistol and mace combo, feeling like some sort of fantasy gunslinger. The unlimited ammo for ranged weapons (probably for magical reasons, as the game cheekily suggests) removes tedious inventory management whilst maintaining tactical depth.

Combat encounters stay fresh thanks to solid enemy variety and the need for constant movement. Standing still is death, and the impressive parkour system, unusual for this genre, adds a welcome vertical dimension to both exploration and fights.

Companions Worth Caring About

Your four companions are archetypal but brilliantly executed. Kai, the sarcastic reptilian mercenary with a secret love of woodworking, quickly became my favourite travel partner. The catlike mage Yatzli provides constant innuendo-laden entertainment, whilst each companion brings unique combat abilities and puzzle-solving skills to the table.

Whilst you can’t romance these characters (a missed opportunity, admittedly), the campfire conversations and relationship building feel genuinely rewarding. Each companion has their own questline that interweaves beautifully with the main story, creating a sense of genuine camaraderie.

A World Worth Exploring

The Living Lands are absolutely gorgeous. Each of the four main regions, from forested port towns to corrupted countryside, perilous deserts to volcanic wastelands, feels distinct and purposeful. These aren’t massive open worlds, but they’re dense with personality and secrets.

What impressed me most was how lived-in everything feels. The world-building draws heavily from the Pillars of Eternity universe, but newcomers needn’t worry, there’s an excellent in-game glossary that explains key concepts as they arise. I found myself genuinely interested in the political intrigue and colonial tensions that shape the Living Lands.

Quality of Life Excellence

Obsidian has clearly learned from decades of RPG frustrations. Running never drains stamina, inventory management is generous and sensible, and you can send loot directly to your stash from anywhere in the world. These might seem like small touches, but they remove so much traditional RPG friction that I found myself constantly grateful.

The multiple difficulty options ensure accessibility for all players, whilst the balanced mode for 120Hz displays offers an excellent compromise between visual fidelity and performance. I played primarily on Performance mode and found it perfectly acceptable, though Quality mode does look rather stunning when you want to admire the scenery.

Choices That Matter

True to Obsidian’s reputation, your decisions carry real weight. I reached an ending that felt distinctly shaped by my choices throughout the adventure, with clear hints that different decisions could have led to dramatically different outcomes. The moral complexity is excellent, rarely are you choosing between clear good and evil, but rather between different shades of consequence.

Some of my favourite moments came from smaller choices that had immediate, visible impacts on the world around me. Without spoiling anything, there’s one particular spell-casting moment that had lasting social consequences I’m still thinking about.

A Few Rough Edges

Avowed isn’t perfect. Enemy variety can feel limited during longer play sessions… there are rather a lot of bears scattered about, often in places where bears probably shouldn’t logically exist. The world can feel somewhat static outside of scripted events, and some traditional RPG systems feel simplified compared to more complex contemporaries.

I also encountered a few bugs during my playthrough, including one bounty quest that became incompletable due to a missing item. Nothing game-breaking, but enough to occasionally remind you this is a modern RPG launch.

Charmed!

After 50+ hours in the Living Lands, I’m thoroughly charmed by what Obsidian has created. Avowed doesn’t try to be the next Baldur’s Gate 3 or reinvent fantasy RPGs – instead, it focuses on being an excellent example of what this genre can be when executed with care, intelligence, and genuine heart.

This is comfort food gaming at its finest: familiar ingredients prepared with skill and served with genuine warmth. The story kept me engaged throughout, the combat remained enjoyable even after dozens of hours, and the world-building showcases Obsidian’s considerable talents.

If you’re seeking revolutionary innovation, you might be disappointed. But if you want a beautifully crafted fantasy adventure with meaningful choices, engaging combat, and characters worth caring about, Avowed delivers exactly what it promises.

It’s taken me months to fully appreciate what Obsidian has accomplished here, but now that I’ve seen it through to the end, I can say with confidence: this is a journey worth taking.