Avowed Game Review – Does This Story-Driven RPG Live Up to the Hype?

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A decade ago, developer Obsidian (legally Obsidian Entertainment) released the world of Eora in its game Pillars of Eternity. Thanks to its success, the sequel was released three years later in 2018. The CRPG franchise was well-received by gamers, and after a few years, fans kick-started its social media campaign to get the developers to commence work on expanding the universe into a trilogy. Instead, Obsidian announced a new title in 2020 – Avowed. 

While lead game designer Josh Sawyer confirmed that there were no plans for a third PoE game, fans were quite surprised and relatively upbeat at the announcement, with Avowed set in the same PoE universe in the world of Eora. Having taken five years from announcement to release, Avowed is finally ready to go public.

Taking the lead as the envoy of the Aedyr Empire, you’re tasked by the Emperor to travel to the Living Lands to investigate a recent blight on the land. This mysterious plague, called the “Dream Scourge”, has been wreaking havoc on all who live there, from the failed crops to the infected animals. Having already spread to some land inhabitants, especially those who live remotely, there are fears that it would continue to take over more of the land and destroy everything in its path. 

However, as the threat grows, many still don’t believe that there’s a viable threat, and you often have to attempt to convince them of the issue, having seen the effects of the plague firsthand. Even among those who believe and fear its spread, there are political tensions and debates about how to approach the matter. While you may have a royal mandate, Living Lands is split in its subservience to the Aedyr Empire. 

The main storyline has many quests as you move within the various regions within the Living Lands, each of which has been affected differently by the Dream Scourge. As a result, the tasks differ somewhat between these chapters, starting with exploration and understanding, battling those affected by the plague, and