When Avowed was first unveiled at the Xbox Games Showcase back in 2020, people couldn’t help but liken it to The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. The game’s dark fantasy atmosphere, subdued color scheme, first-person perspective, and spell-based combat shown in its reveal trailer brought to mind Bethesda’s iconic RPG. This led many to believe that Avowed would follow in Skyrim’s footsteps regarding gameplay and scale. After all, it’s from Obsidian Entertainment, a studio already well-versed in creating Bethesda-style RPGs like Fallout: New Vegas.
Initially, Obsidian did aim for Avowed to be a kind of tribute to Skyrim, but as the development progressed, the game started to chart its own path. While it still boasts all the trappings you’d expect from a top-tier RPG, its scale is more restrained compared to the sprawling worlds of Skyrim or Fallout: New Vegas. To the surprise of some fans, Avowed isn’t open-world and doesn’t offer an endless list of side quests or a plethora of companions to woo. Instead, it takes on a more focused design akin to Obsidian’s previous work, The Outer Worlds. But don’t let its size fool you into thinking there’s a lack of content. As an Obsidian developer hinted, there’s more beneath the surface.
### Embracing Missable Content in Avowed Like Baldur’s Gate 3
Both Avowed and Baldur’s Gate 3 are examples of games that offer a significant amount of content players might miss on a first playthrough. As revealed in a chat with GamesRadar+, Bergo Ritger, a senior area designer at Obsidian, explained that the team prioritized crafting missable content in Avowed. Their goal was to make each player’s journey feel unique, encouraging them to talk about what they discovered—or didn’t—during their adventures. Ritger believes that missable elements are what give RPGs their magic, differentiating each player’s experience.
The design philosophy behind Avowed seems to mirror that of Baldur’s Gate 3, the phenomenally successful Dungeons & Dragons RPG that launched in 2023. BG3 is packed with optional content, much of which players can easily overlook. While its main storyline might clock in at around 70 hours, diving into every bit of content can take well over twice that time. The game’s choice-driven narrative means players often undertake multiple playthroughs to uncover all it has to offer.
### The Pros and Cons of Missable Content
If Avowed follows in Baldur’s Gate 3’s footsteps, it promises high replayability with plenty of content that players might miss if they’re not thorough. This approach is fantastic news for those who relish making meaningful choices and experiencing different outcomes. It ensures that every decision counts and that each playthrough offers something new. However, some players might find this frustrating. Not everyone has the luxury of investing hundreds of hours into a single game, especially with so many excellent titles vying for their attention. For these gamers, having all crucial content available in one playthrough might be more appealing. Fans who enjoy robust choice-and-consequence mechanics are likely to appreciate what Obsidian is crafting with Avowed.
Welcome to the Living Lands, an enigmatic island teeming with adventure and peril. Set in the world of Eora, first introduced in the Pillars of Eternity series, Avowed is a first-person, fantasy action RPG from Obsidian’s award-winning team. Playing as an envoy from the distant land of Aedyr, you’re tasked with investigating the spread of a mysterious plague across the Living Lands—a place full of mysteries, dangers, and pivotal choices. As you navigate this untamed wilderness, you’ll uncover a personal connection to the island and an ancient secret threatening its existence. The question is, can you save both this uncharted frontier and your soul from the forces that loom?
