Obsidian Entertainment, renowned for its intricate narratives and player-driven choices, delivers another compelling role-playing experience with Avowed. Set in the wild and untamed Living Lands of Eora, the same universe as the beloved Pillars of Eternity series, Avowed thrusts players into a world teetering on the brink. Your journey as an envoy from the distant Aedyr Empire is far from straightforward, as you confront a mysterious plague, navigate treacherous political landscapes, and ultimately shape your own destiny – and perhaps, the fate of the entire island.
The Living Lands: A Canvas for Conflict and Choice
Welcome to the Living Lands, a region within Eora that embodies both breathtaking beauty and perilous mystery. As an action RPG playable from both first and third-person perspectives, Avowed invites you to explore a diverse array of environments, from lush, verdant forests and sun-scorched deserts to ancient, sprawling caves and hidden valleys. This isn't just a scenic backdrop; the Living Lands are a character in themselves, an island that feels intrinsically connected to you, almost as if it's calling for your help.
You arrive as an envoy, dispatched to investigate the ominous "Dream Scourge," a spreading plague that threatens to consume everything. Your initial point of contact is the bustling port city of Paradis, a melting pot of cultures and, more importantly, clashing ideologies. Here, representatives of the Aedyran Empire find themselves at odds with the island's native inhabitants, while a militant religious order known as the Steel Garrote seeks to impose its own brand of order amidst the chaos. The stage is set for a profound narrative journey where every decision you make, every word you utter, carries weight.
Navigating the Factions of Paradis: A Web of Allegiance
The core of Avowed's narrative depth lies in its intricate faction system, reminiscent of Obsidian's previous titles like The Outer Worlds. Upon your arrival in Paradis, you'll quickly discover that loyalty is a fluid concept, and the lines between right and wrong are blurred. Your initial encounter with the local rebel groups ends abruptly with your murder, a pivotal event that leads to a miraculous revival by a mysterious deity. This unexpected resurrection binds you to a higher purpose: destroying the Dream Scourge. But before you can tackle the cosmic threat, you must navigate the immediate, earthly conflicts.
- Aedyran Empire Representatives: These are your people, in a sense, but their presence in the Living Lands is not without controversy. They represent a colonial power, often clashing with the natives over resources and control. Your choices will dictate whether you uphold their authority, challenge their methods, or find a diplomatic middle ground.
- Native Inhabitants & Rebel Groups: The very groups responsible for your untimely demise, these factions represent the voice of the Living Lands' original people, often resisting the encroachment of the Empire. Understanding their grievances, mediating on their behalf, or even allying with them against imperial overreach will be key to shaping your reputation and the narrative.
- The Steel Garrote: A militant religious order, the Steel Garrote believes that the chaos prevalent in the Living Lands is an affront to their beliefs. They seek to eliminate this disorder, often through uncompromising and forceful means. While their goal of stability might seem appealing, their methods can be extreme, forcing you to weigh the costs of peace against the price of freedom.
Your journey begins with a choice: will you aid one of these warring factions, or will you seek revenge for your murder and uncover the true source of the Dream Scourge independently? These initial decisions ripple throughout the entire storyline, influencing not only major plot points but also how your companions perceive you and assist you in both combat and questing. Dialogue choices, much like in The Outer Worlds, allow you to shape your character's tone, adding nuance to every interaction.
The Dream Scourge and the Envoy's Fate: A Deity's Pact
At the heart of Avowed's overarching mystery is the Dream Scourge, a mysterious plague that is more than just a disease; it's an ancient secret threatening to tear the Living Lands and your very soul asunder. Your unique connection to this land, foreshadowed by the island "calling out to you," becomes undeniably clear after your death and subsequent revival by a powerful, enigmatic deity. This pact transforms your mission from a mere investigation into a matter of cosmic significance, blurring the lines between personal vendetta and divine mandate.
The deity's intervention isn't a simple hand-wave; it imbues your character with a unique purpose and potentially new abilities, fundamentally altering your relationship with the world of Eora. As you delve deeper, you'll find that the Dream Scourge is intertwined with the island's history, its ecosystems, and perhaps even the very nature of existence in the Living Lands. Uncovering its source will require you to make difficult moral choices, as solutions may come at unforeseen costs, challenging your resolve and belief system.
Companion Dynamics and Moral Ambiguity
No journey through a perilous new frontier is complete without companions, and Avowed delivers a cast of intriguing characters who will join your cause. While Avowed's Living Lands might be vast, you won't face its challenges alone. Unlike some RPGs, romance is not an option with your companions, emphasizing instead deep, evolving relationships shaped by shared experiences and your decisions. For instance, you'll encounter individuals like Kai, a coastal aumaua from Rauatai whose military background makes him a skilled and agile fighter, preferring speed and skill over heavy armor.
Each companion has their own backstory, motivations, and allegiances. Your choices will directly influence their loyalty, their effectiveness in combat, and even their personal questlines. A decision that favors one faction might alienate another companion, forcing you to constantly weigh the needs of the many against the loyalty of the few. This constant negotiation of relationships adds another rich layer to Avowed's narrative, making your personal story feel truly unique and reactive.
Beyond Paradis: The Emerald Stair and Evolving Choices
Your journey with Avowed's dynamic combat: spell combos, weapons, and skill trees won't be confined to the initial conflicts of Paradis. As you progress, your investigations into the Dream Scourge will lead you to other significant locations, such as the Emerald Stair. This nearby region is crucial for the Living Lands, producing most of its food supply, yet it's likely fraught with its own set of challenges and controversial practices, especially given the pervasive threat of the Scourge. The consequences of your earlier choices in Paradis will inevitably follow you, shaping how new factions and characters interact with you in these new zones.
Avowed's design, featuring several large, explorable zones rather than a fully open world, allows for meticulously crafted narratives within each area, ensuring that every corner of the Living Lands feels alive and responsive to your presence. The ability to upgrade weapons and specialize through various skill trees further empowers your role-playing choices, allowing you to tailor your character not just narratively, but mechanically as well, supporting your chosen path.
Practical Tips for Navigating Avowed's Narrative:
- Explore Dialogue Fully: Don't rush through conversations. Avowed's dialogue options are rich and can reveal crucial lore, alternative quest paths, or deeper insights into characters' motivations.
- Consider Long-Term Consequences: A seemingly minor choice in Paradis might have significant repercussions hours later in the Emerald Stair. Think about how your actions will affect all involved parties.
- Experiment with Faction Alignments: Don't be afraid to save and reload to see how different allegiances play out. Obsidian excels at creating reactive worlds, making multiple playthroughs highly rewarding.
- Pay Attention to Companions: Their insights and personal quests can often guide you towards unique solutions or reveal hidden aspects of the Dream Scourge and the Living Lands.
Avowed, released for Windows and Xbox Series X/S on February 18, 2025, and later for PlayStation 5 on February 17, 2026, quickly garnered generally positive reviews for its immersive world and engaging gameplay. While it might not have met all sales expectations, the depth of its narrative choices, the intricate faction system, and the compelling mystery of the Dream Scourge solidify its place as a significant entry in the action RPG genre. Whether you seek revenge, embrace a divine destiny, or simply strive to bring peace to a fractured land, Avowed promises a truly personal and impactful journey.