Avowed

Avowed is unlikely to be marked as a trailblazer, but everything it sets out to do it accomplishes with style and confidence. I expect to many it'll be regarded as a cult classic in years to come.

Obsidian Entertainment continues to live up to players' expectations of delivering a game with quality writing, engaging choices, and compelling gameplay. Avowed is all those things and more: an epic fantasy that'll keep you hooked, which makes it one of the best RPGs this decade.

Even though it took a while for the story to hook me, Avowed managed to bring a truly unique world to life with creative combat and stunning settings.

Avowed continues Obsidian’s tradition of creating excellent RPGs that feel heavily linked to well-trodden genres, yet not doing quite enough to carve out a new identity. There’s a lot to be charmed by, be it nuanced characters and choices, a heavy dialogue focus, and a compelling central mystery where what’s ‘good’ isn’t often clear. While it doesn’t push the envelope, it does enough to justify it...

It might take you a while to really get into Avowed, but once the story steps up a gear you'll likely want to see it through to its end. In any case, there's a fantastic sense of adventure here, as well as a brilliant combat system that makes each and every encounter a blast.

Avowed is an excellent first-person fantasy RPG that features slick combat feel and moreish exploration. Its setting of the Living Lands is rich in atmosphere and has an ethereal quality that made me want to uncover every nook and cranny. Obsidian’s writing is as sharp as ever, and the cast of party members is both charming and highly memorable.

What Avowed lacks in gloss it makes up for with charm, depth and a playful heart. It's one of this year's most pleasant surprises.

If you like Obsidian RPGs like Fallout: New Vegas and Outer Worlds, Avowed will be the game for you. It serves up everything you know and love about the company's games, with plenty of quirky elements and strange characters. Its lore is as profound as it is confusing and convoluted from minute one. But in the end, it's a fun RPG that'll keep you busy for a while.

Avowed is a first-person fantasy RPG set in the world of Eora, where your choices carve a path through war, intrigue, and ancient mysteries. Navigate a land in turmoil, forge powerful alliances or deadly rivalries, and wield magic and steel to shape the fate of the Living Lands—and your own destiny.

Despite an inviting, off-kilter world and quality writing, Avowed abides by an almost arcane dedication to process and formula that drains it of its weird, compelling marrow. It's good, easygoing fun, though it won't linger long in the mind beyond the credits.

At first glance, and even after spending dozens of hours with it, there's no denying that Avowed has all the right ingredients for a great fantasy RPG with real depth and charm. Unfortunately, it ultimately feels like those ingredients haven't been cooked long enough, as what is served up feels rushed. If this is what the game intended to achieve, that would be a different story. However, it's all...

A modestly ambitious action role-player, that’s very good at making you feel you have an impact on the world, but it’s let down by endless reams of mundane dialogue and predictable mechanics.