Avowed

Obsidian Entertainment · Xbox Game Studios · First-Person RPG

Xbox Series X|SPC2026-02-17

7.6/10

Sofía Sarcástica's Verdict

“Obsidian made Skyrim at home. It's smaller, smarter, and the writing actually doesn't make you cringe.”

The Review

Avowed is Obsidian doing what Obsidian does best: writing dialogue that makes you actually read it. Set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, every conversation has weight, every choice has consequences, and every NPC has an opinion you didn't ask for.

Combat is a mix of melee and magic that feels good but not great. It works, it flows, it never quite hits the highs of a dedicated action game. Serviceable is the word. Obsidian fans will say 'the combat isn't the point.' They're right, and that's both a defense and a criticism.

The world is smaller than expected. This isn't a Bethesda-sized map. It's focused, dense, and handcrafted, which is a blessing if you're tired of empty open worlds and a letdown if you wanted to explore forever.

Companions are excellent. Fully realized characters with their own arcs, opinions, and reasons to disagree with you. This is where Obsidian earns its reputation.

Technical polish is better than expected. It's an Obsidian game that mostly works at launch. That alone deserves a headline.

What It Nails

+Writing and dialogue are Obsidian's best since New Vegas. Every quest has at least two interesting solutions.
+Companions feel like real characters. Their banter and reactions to your choices make the world feel alive.
+World density is excellent. Small but packed with meaningful content. Quality over quantity.

What It Botches

-Combat is functional but never exciting. It works, it just doesn't wow.
-Scope might disappoint. If you expected Skyrim-scale, this is more like Outer Worlds-scale.
-Visual fidelity is inconsistent. Some areas are beautiful, others look last-gen.

Who It's For

RPG fans who care about writing, choice, and consequence. Pillars of Eternity fans. Anyone who wanted Skyrim but with a brain.

Who Should Skip

If you play RPGs for combat, this won't satisfy. If you need a 200-hour open world, this is more like 30-40.

Marketing Roast

Xbox marketed this as their big RPG answer. It's a mid-budget Obsidian game on Game Pass. Good? Yes. The Skyrim killer they implied? Not even close. Set your own expectations and you'll have a great time.