How has Obsidian’s latest RPG performed?
The Avowed reviews are in! Xbox’s significant first-party release has launched today in early access, prompting a multitude of critics to share their thoughts on the overall game – and most of it is very positive!
Below, we’ve compiled many of those initial reviews to provide you with an idea of what to expect, and we’ve included our own Pure Xbox assessment of Avowed, in which we awarded the game an “Excellent” 8/10 score. We’re enjoying it right now!
VG247 (5/5)
“That’s what Avowed is: strong storytelling, great combat, gorgeous visuals, and utterly enchanting. It’s not going to ignite everyone’s enthusiasm, but that’s alright – because I know for a specific group of individuals – refined individuals of taste, if you ask me – Avowed will achieve cult classic status. It doesn’t necessarily stretch the boundaries, but it doesn’t have to. It’s precisely what it needs to be.”
Inverse (9/10)
“It’s evident Obsidian has again placed quality above quantity. This doesn’t imply Avowed is a small-scale game, as I still have a wealth of side content to explore after two weeks of gameplay. However, everything presented seems crafted to ensure the experience is as enjoyable as possible. Avowed is a succinct and tightly crafted RPG that never compromises the ambition of its grand journey.”
Pure Xbox (8/10)
“Pillars enthusiasts seeking the level of depth present in that series will need to recalibrate their expectations, as this game is a fast-paced, spirited, combat-driven adventure that’s more focused on crafting impressive loadouts and discovering treasures than it is on developing emotional attachments to NPCs or spending excessive time managing your inventory. Engage with the energetic battles, vibrant settings, and fantastic exploration, and you’ll likely have a fantastic experience.”
VGC (4/5)
“Avowed is a robust action RPG featuring an enjoyable storyline, satisfying combat, and impressively intricate environments. The inability to wrap up side quests after finishing the main plot can be irritating, but if you take your time and appreciate everything it has to offer, you’ll uncover many memorable moments.”
IGN (7/10)
“With exceptional worldbuilding and outstanding character development, Avowed reminds me why I fell for Obsidian’s RPGs initially. However, in the larger scheme, it plays it quite conservatively, offering a somewhat formulaic fantasy adventure that feels more familiar than groundbreaking, and there’s hardly any variety in enemies to keep the swords-and-sorcery battles engaging over time.”
TheGamer (3/5)
“Avowed is a bold effort at creating a fantasy experience that you can shape according to your preferences, but while it performs sufficiently well in terms of combat, the narrative just isn’t quite there. It aims high with its ambitions but ultimately falls short. It’s a fairly average rendition of the masterpiece it aspires to be, but it’s also a competent representation of Just Another Video Game. The plot leads nowhere, and all culminates in the same conclusion, but perhaps the journey itself makes it somewhat worthwhile.”
L