Even as a spin-off of Pillars of Eternity, Avowed’s debut at the Xbox Games Showcase in 2020 instantly drew parallels to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. With its dark fantasy vibe, muted color palette, and first-person spell-casting combat, the reveal trailer for Avowed strongly echoed elements of Bethesda’s legendary RPG. This led many to predict that Avowed’s gameplay and scope would closely mirror The Elder Scrolls, especially since it was being crafted by Obsidian Entertainment—a studio known for creating Bethesda-style games like Fallout: New Vegas.
Initially envisioned as a spiritual successor to Skyrim, Avowed evolved in an unexpected direction during its development. While it retains all the rich features expected of a big-budget RPG, it offers a more focused experience compared to the sprawling worlds of Skyrim or Fallout: New Vegas. Contrary to some fans’ expectations, Avowed is not an open-world adventure. There aren’t numerous companions to romance or countless side quests to embark on. Instead, it follows a hub-based structure like Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds. Although its more restrained scope might suggest a lack of optional content compared to recent titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, Obsidian developers insist that’s not the case.
In a conversation with GamesRadar+, senior area designer Bergo Ritger emphasized that Avowed is filled with missable content, a design choice aimed at tailoring gameplay experiences to individual players. By introducing elements that players might not see in a single playthrough, Obsidian wants to spark discussions about diverse experiences and what each person might have missed. Ritger points out that missable content is integral to the RPG genre, enhancing its uniqueness.
Avowed’s design philosophy aligns closely with that of Baldur’s Gate 3, the successful Dungeons & Dragons RPG that released in 2023. For those unfamiliar, BG3 is packed with optional and missable content. Even though the game’s main storyline spans around 70 hours, fully exploring everything the game offers will demand twice that time. The enticing mix of choice and consequence in Baldur’s Gate 3 prompts players to embark on multiple playthroughs to experience its full breadth.
The concept of missable content in video games comes with its own mix of advantages and disadvantages. If Avowed follows the path of Baldur’s Gate 3, it promises great replayability through numerous paths and decisions. For some players, this is a boon. Games that lock content behind certain choices make those choices feel weighty and significant. Without these mechanics, replaying a game may seem unnecessary.
However, not every player is a fan of such complexity. Many gamers prefer RPGs with fewer divergent paths due to time constraints and the overwhelming number of high-quality games out there. They might favor experiencing most of a game’s content in a single run. These players may not appreciate Obsidian’s approach with Avowed, but those who relish choice-driven RPGs will likely find it captivating.
Welcome to the enigmatic lands of Eora, where Avowed takes place. Defined by its first-person fantasy action gameplay, this narrative emerges from the renowned team at Obsidian. Players step into the shoes of an envoy from Aedyr, tasked with unraveling the mystery of a spreading plague on the elusive island known as the Living Lands. This place brims with adventure, a tangle of secrets, and a grand mix of decisions to make. As players delve deeper, they uncover personal ties to this land and an ancient mystery that could unravel everything. Can you save this uncharted frontier and protect your very soul from the chaos threatening to consume it?
With a planned release on February 18, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S and PC, Avowed promises an engrossing experience designed on Unreal Engine 5 by Xbox Game Studios. This journey into the realms of choice, consequences, and untamed Wilderness awaits the eager hands of RPG enthusiasts worldwide.
