Reviews are pouring in for publisher Xbox Game Studios and developer Obsidian Entertainment's latest role-playing game, Avowed. Generally speaking, critics are praising the world design and combat systems, though there are some divided opinions on the narrative and the level of freedom players have in the game.
At present, Avowed holds an 80 on Metacritic based on 58 reviews. It also boasts an 81 on Opencritic from 93 reviews. The game's scores predominantly range in the 8s and 9s, with a few lower outliers affecting the average. Here are some highlighted reviews:
VG247 (10/10): This review praises Avowed's approach to role-playing games, appreciating its focus on mechanics that deliver a fun and memorable world.
Digital Trends (9/10): Describing Avowed as the best RPG since Baldur's Gate 3, this review suggests fans of games like Skyrim should check it out, with a note on making better in-game choices.
Inverse (9/10): The review highlights Obsidian's focus on quality over quantity, noting that Avowed offers a concise, tightly designed RPG experience that never sacrifices the ambition of its grand adventure.
Pure Xbox (8/10): This review advises Pillars of Eternity fans to adjust expectations, describing Avowed as a breezy, fight-fueled adventure focused on exploration and combat.
IGN (7/10): While praising the worldbuilding and character writing, this review notes that Avowed plays it safe with a familiar fantasy adventure and limited enemy variety.
Obsidian Entertainment first introduced players to the world of Eora with Pillars of Eternity in 2015. Almost a decade later, it's exciting to see this world expand with a more focused experience like Avowed. As I played the game while working on guides, I thoroughly enjoyed slinging spells and interacting with companions like Kai.
Our Avowed review awarded the game 4 stars out of 5, explaining that it takes us back to Eora with the most eccentric, colorful, and wild adventure yet. Obsidian Entertainment captures the magic of RPGs like Skyrim, making exploration and immersion a delight.
Avowed launches on February 18, 2025, across Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC via Steam, the Xbox App, and Battle.net. As an Xbox first-party game, the standard edition is included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass from day one. Preordering the Premium Edition allows early access starting February 13. For more preorder information, consult our Avowed preorder guide.
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Topics: Gaming, RPGs, Xbox, Obsidian Entertainment, Avowed
Categories: Reviews, News, Guides
