Avowed’s facial mushrooms hide a fantasy romp that’s well worth your time: disagree and my arquebus awaits

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Obsidian’s RPG isn’t as complex as the best in the genre, like Baldur’s Gate or The Witcher, but I still enjoyed playing it in 2025. The world of Eora, filled with diverse landscapes like forests, deserts, and plenty of mushrooms, was interesting enough to make me want to explore. I found the combat fun, and I always looked forward to using my blunderbuss. Plus, the characters were likable, making it enjoyable to spend time with them at camp.

Creating a character build that was both enjoyable and distinct enough to enhance my roleplaying experience felt surprisingly effortless. The decisions you make through conversations actually matter, leading to rewarding outcomes. You’re responsible for the fate of several cities, and rescuing them – particularly Fior mes Iverno – requires some dedicated exploration. Plus, the game offers a variety of different endings that reflect the unique personality you’ve developed for your Aedryan ambassador.

The central storyline focuses on uniting countries and saving the land of Eora from a growing illness, and while it can be quite serious, Obsidian injects humor through its side quests. For example, instead of killing the monsters in one woman’s cabin, I talked her into letting one live with her! Another quest involved chasing around a meteorite that attracted zombies. There were also touching moments, like finding a leviathan’s heart for a warrior who was nearing the end of their life. I especially love RPGs that allow you to be deliberately difficult in conversations, and Obsidian consistently supports that kind of player choice.

I especially enjoyed the short flashbacks where your character accesses old memories of places from the past, using their powerful abilities. These moments felt similar to the beautiful, brief stories found in books like Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities. They revealed glimpses of your character’s ancestors and how they influenced the landscapes you see. These fleeting visions of the past were presented through art that resembled ancient textiles or writings, and the way the story unfolded was shaped by your dialogue choices.

Avowed – Official Launch Trailer

Avowed truly shines when it leans into the epic, imaginative side of fantasy, crafting large-scale stories about ancient times and civilizations. While it doesn’t break new ground in the genre, it delivers a captivating and enjoyable adventure that will keep you engaged for around a month.

Avowed is a game that’s sparked debate at Treehouse. While Nic (from RPS) wasn’t particularly impressed, I found it enjoyable. I still do, largely because of its compelling story centered around the environment. The game is set on an island within the Pillars of Eternity world of Eora, and focuses on a virus that transforms people into plant-like creatures. The story subtly touches on themes of colonialism, imperialism, and their connection to environmental issues and the struggles of indigenous populations, drawing parallels to real-world concerns like climate change.

Even if the game’s fantasy world isn’t your cup of tea, Avowed is still a well-made action RPG, especially fun if you enjoy playing as a powerful spellcaster. It brings to mind the classic game Heretic at its peak. And, it’s not every day you get to create a character with a face completely covered in a mushroom-covered piece of wood!

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2025-12-11 15:25