Are we collectively losing the ability to appreciate a genuinely good time in video games? Because the muted reception to Obsidian Entertainment’s Avowed feels less like informed critique and more like a collective shrug in the face of anything that doesn’t immediately break the internet. The real story here isn’t whether Avowed is the next Elder Scrolls – it’s that we’ve become so fixated on revolutionary experiences that we’re overlooking solid, enjoyable games that simply work. Released initially on Xbox and PC over a year ago, and now available on PS5, Avowed isn’t a genre-defining masterpiece, but it’s a remarkably polished and engaging RPG that deserves far more attention than it’s received.
Avowed was, openly, Obsidian’s attempt to capture the magic of The Elder Scrolls for a Microsoft audience, a strategic move given Bethesda’s famously glacial development pace. Built upon the lore of Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity universe, the game presents a familiar structure: you’re the Envoy, a fully customizable representative of the Aedyr Empire tasked with pacifying The Living Lands. It’s an approachable design, mirroring the open-zone-to-city-to-countryside loop common in modern RPGs. But the game’s strength isn’t in reinventing the wheel, it’s in executing the familiar with a level of competence that feels increasingly rare. The industry is obsessed with “games as a service” and endless open worlds, but Avowed delivers a focused, 50+ hour experience without feeling bloated or manipulative.
The Living Lands themselves are a triumph. Obsidian’s visual teams have crafted one of the most visually arresting fantasy settings in recent memory, a frontier brimming with detail and atmosphere. It’s a world you genuinely want to explore, even if the people inhabiting it are…less inspiring. This is where the cracks begin to show. Avowed’s dialogue system, hampered by stiff character animations, struggles to deliver the emotional resonance the setting deserves. It’s not that the writing is bad, as IGN and others have pointed out, it’s that it’s consistently…underwhelming. This isn’t a new problem for Obsidian; a similar dullness permeated The Outer Worlds 2, suggesting a systemic issue with narrative ambition in their more recent titles. The sheer volume of bland quest-givers feels less like a sprawling RPG and more like a thinly veiled MMO.
However, the game smartly allows players to lean into the cynicism. In true Obsidian fashion, you can be a complete jerk to everyone you meet, and while these choices rarely have sweeping consequences, the agency is appreciated. The smaller-than-average party roster is another win. Rather than juggling a dozen forgettable companions, Avowed focuses on a handful of characters who are given room to breathe and actually react to your decisions. Your allies will voice their opinions, sometimes even disagreeing with your choices – a refreshing change from the silent entourage that typically accompanies RPG protagonists. This friction, though often brief, adds a layer of depth that’s sorely missing from the main narrative.
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But the real reason to play Avowed isn’t the story or the characters, it’s the gameplay. Exploring the stunning environments, battling a diverse range of monsters, and collecting unique loot creates a compelling loop that remains engaging for dozens of hours. The combat system is particularly strong, offering a satisfying blend of weighty melee attacks and flashy magic spells. Think Skyrim with a serious upgrade to the action, and you’re on the right track. This focus on engaging combat sets Avowed apart from many of its peers, who prioritize narrative complexity over moment-to-moment fun.
The recent PS5 release, bundled with the Anniversary Update, further solidifies Avowed’s appeal. Obsidian has clearly listened to player feedback, adding features like customizable difficulty settings, New Game+, new playable races, a photo mode, and crucially, improvements to the criticized equipment upgrade system. This system, which previously gated progression behind gear stats, can now be largely bypassed, making the game far more accessible. It’s a testament to Obsidian’s commitment to improving the experience, even after initial release. This isn’t the typical launch-and-abandon approach so common in the industry.
Avowed is arguably Obsidian’s strongest modern release, and not for the reasons most people expect. While the writing and storytelling often lack punch, the gameplay shines with a satisfying combat system, meaningful player choice, and exploration of truly stunning locales. The game isn’t revolutionary, but it’s a remarkably well-crafted RPG that deserves a wider audience. The question now isn’t whether Avowed will become a classic, but whether players will be willing to look past the hype cycle and appreciate a genuinely good game when they see one. Watch for a surge in modding activity over the next six months – if the community embraces Avowed, it could become a surprisingly enduring RPG experience.
