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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Avowed may scratch part of the Skyrim itch: it is a first-person fantasy RPG with flexible combat and a world built around exploration and choice. But Obsidian did not set out to recreate Skyrim’s vast scale or open-ended exploration loop. Expect a more focused, faster-paced action RPG set in the studio’s own Eora universe—not a Skyrim substitute.
Is Avowed like Skyrim?
The comparison makes sense because both games put players in a first-person fantasy world. Avowed’s setting, combat and role-playing choices can appeal to someone looking for another fantasy RPG, but the resemblance has clear limits. In a December 12, 2025 interview with GamesRadar+, gameplay director Gabe Paramo said it was hard not to compare Avowed’s systems with Skyrim’s, while also explaining that the team was not trying to match Skyrim’s world scale or open-ended exploration loop.
That makes “another first-person fantasy RPG” a more useful expectation than “a newer Skyrim.” Avowed offers a distinct, more directed action-RPG experience; it should not be treated as a promise of Skyrim-scale sandbox freedom.
What kind of RPG is Avowed?
An action-focused adventure, not a CRPG
Paramo described Avowed as faster-paced, more forgiving and less reliant on numbers than Obsidian’s CRPG formula. He identified Pillars of Eternity as a major inspiration. The distinction is about design emphasis: Avowed is built around action, rather than reproducing the system-heavy feel of a CRPG.
#1 Best Overall
- Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger.
- Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.
- Explore an island home to many different environments and landscapes, each with their own unique ecosystem
- Mix and match swords, spells, guns, and shields to fight your way
- Companions from a spread of species will fight alongside you, with their own unique set of abilities.
A story rooted in Eora
Avowed takes place in Eora, the fictional setting first introduced in the Pillars of Eternity franchise. You play an envoy from Aedyr sent to investigate a spreading plague in the Living Lands, where the investigation connects to a larger ancient threat and a personal mystery. You do not need prior knowledge of Pillars of Eternity to understand that premise. Obsidian’s official game page and Xbox launch coverage describe the setting and central setup.
Choices with consequences
Choice is part of Avowed’s role-playing identity, but it is best not to assume every decision changes the whole world. In a January 24, 2025 Xbox Wire interview, Region Director Berto Ritger said choices and actions could affect settlements, individuals and groups, as well as future outcomes. The interview describes a range of consequences, not a guarantee that every choice has a far-reaching effect.
Rank #2
- Requires base game, Game Pass Ultimate, or PC Game Pass Membership (Sold Separately)
- Premium Upgrade includes: Premium Skin Packs: 2 sets of bonus skins for your companions, and access to Avowed Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack
- Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.
- Explore an island home to many different environments and landscapes, each with their own unique ecosystem.
- Mix and match swords, spells, guns, and shields to fight your way.
How does Avowed combat compare with Skyrim?
Official descriptions emphasize combining different approaches: melee, ranged attacks, magic, weapons, shields, abilities and companions. That mix is a central part of Avowed’s advertised combat design, and gives players options for experimenting with how they handle encounters. Obsidian’s game page and Xbox’s launch coverage outline those combat elements.
The available developer descriptions do not establish a measured, head-to-head comparison of combat systems. It is reasonable to expect a different emphasis from Skyrim, given Avowed’s faster-paced, action-focused design, but that is not evidence that one game’s combat is objectively better or deeper.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteRank #3
- Premium Edition includes: Avowed base game, Premium Skin Packs: 2 sets of bonus skins for each of your companions, and access to Avowed Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack
- Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.
- Explore an island home to many different environments and landscapes, each with their own unique ecosystem.
- Mix and match swords, spells, guns, and shields to fight your way.
- Companions from a spread of species will fight alongside you, with their own unique set of abilities.
Is Avowed open world?
Do not go in expecting Skyrim’s scale or an equally open-ended exploration loop. Paramo’s GamesRadar+ interview says matching those features was not the goal. That boundary matters more than a simple open-world label: Avowed offers fantasy exploration, but the developer’s stated ambition was a more focused experience, not a vast sandbox on Skyrim’s terms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What platforms can you play Avowed on?
Avowed originally released on February 18, 2025. Obsidian announced a PlayStation 5 release on January 8, 2026, with the game arriving on that platform February 17, 2026. Xbox’s launch coverage lists Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam, Battle.net, cloud and Game Pass. Availability and subscription inclusion can vary by region and storefront, so check the local store listing for current details. See the PlayStation announcement and Xbox launch page.
Rank #4
- L'édition Premium SteelBook comprend: le jeu de base Avowed, jusqu'à 5 jours d'accès anticipé, le SteelBook Avowed, la carte des Terres Vivantes, deux packs de skins Premium et l'accès à l'Artbook numérique Avowed et à la bande-son originale
- Vous êtes l'envoyé d'Aedyr, une terre lointaine, missionné pour enquêter sur les rumeurs selon lesquelles une épidémie se propagerait dans les Terres Vivantes, une île pleine de mystères et de secrets, de dangers et d'aventures, de choix et de conséconsés. quences, et d'une nature sauvage
- Explorez une île qui abrite de nombreux environnements et paysages différents, chacun avec son propre écosystème unique
- Mélangez et associez des épées, des sorts, des armes et des boucliers pour vous frayer un chemin
- The compagnons d'un large éventail d'espèces se battront à vos côtés, avec leurs propres capacités uniques
What updates are planned?
In a roadmap updated December 2, 2025, Obsidian said the planned fall update would not arrive then and outlined a later update around the game’s February 2027 anniversary. The studio said that update was expected to bring New Game Plus, Photo Mode, a new weapon type and additional features. These were future plans in that roadmap, not features confirmed as shipped; check Obsidian’s roadmap for any newer status.
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