Obsidian Entertainment has stood for years for narrative worlds full of consequences and moral gray areas, as seen in their hits. South Park: The Stick of Truth or The Outer Worlds. With Avowed For PS5, the studio is attempting to translate these strengths into a first-person format – and thereby reach a new audience. The result is a role-playing game that blends familiar DNA with modern action dynamics.
Avowed Originally released on February 18, 2025, for the Xbox ecosystem, the game is now being released for PlayStation 5 almost a year later as part of Microsoft's porting strategy. Slightly adapted and polished, but still retaining its original strengths. Our review reveals whether this upgrade is worthwhile.
Decisions are power
The history of Avowed It connects to the world of Eora, which already existed from Pillars of Eternity While familiar, this story tells a unique chapter. As an emissary of a powerful empire, you travel to a land where ancient magic clashes with political intrigue. Obsidian remains true to its style: the story unfolds not through cutscenes, but through dialogues, notes, and subtle encounters.
It's interesting how much the atmosphere varies depending on the system. On the Xbox, the narrative pace flows more organically thanks to the almost seamless loading transitions – ideal for players who want to completely immerse themselves in the world. On the PS5, however, some dialogue scenes feel more immersive thanks to higher texture sharpness and more refined facial animations. Small differences, but they significantly impact how deeply you feel drawn into the story.
One slightly annoying thing is the lack of German dubbing, meaning you have to make do with English. This ultimately leads to paying more attention to the subtitles than the actual dialogue, unless you have a good command of English. Frankly, the fact that Microsoft still hasn't included a German dub in 2026 is frustrating. Having to constantly glance at the subtitles during heated exchanges repeatedly breaks the otherwise fantastic atmosphere of Eora.
The decisions players make have consequences – sometimes subtle, sometimes tangible. Whether conflicts are resolved diplomatically or with brute force influences not only the course of individual missions, but also the behavior of companions and factions. In combination with the Anniversary UpdateWith new races, preset characters and expanded customization options, the role-playing experience is more flexible and personal than ever.
Between precision and freedom
The heart of Avowed The game's strength lies in its hybrid combat system: classic role-playing stats meet real-time, first-person controls. Sword, shield, spells – everything can be seamlessly combined. The blocking and countering system is particularly well-executed, blending depth with directness. Players who find it too challenging can switch to a third-person view, which makes it clearer but slightly less precise.
The controls are precise on both platforms, but differ slightly in feel and feedback. The PS5's DualSense controller shines with adaptive triggers: fire spells and bow shots feel physically distinct, enhancing immersion. This makes combat feel smoother, almost "snappier." For players who appreciate tactical sections, this is a rewarding experience. Avowed Primarily traditional RPG choices. Action-oriented players will be slightly better served because the combat flow is smoother.
The Anniversary Update significantly enhances the gameplay experience in many ways, including a new quarterstaff for mages, more stun finishers, world and combat updates, and quality-of-life improvements such as skippable dream sequences and improved dialogue. Therefore, anyone jumping into the game after launch will find a much more polished experience.
Atmosphere with nuances
Technically, it is Avowed Powerful, but not flawless. Both versions impress with richly detailed environments and atmospheric lighting. The PS5 version offers finer textures and better anti-aliasing in graphics mode, which is particularly noticeable in daylight scenes.
The sound design is subtle yet effective: whispering caves, echoes in temple ruins, orchestral combat sequences. As usual, the PS5 benefits from 3D audio support, creating subtle differences and a believable sense of immersion.
The companions Kai, Giatta, Yatzli, and Marius also contribute noticeably to the gameplay experience. They feel alive, not like silent cardboard cutouts that repeatedly annoy you. I especially grew fond of Kai, because he provides crucial support as my tank while Yatzli unleashes a barrage of special effects in the background. Their interactions are varied, and their skills are meaningfully integrated without requiring constant micromanagement.
Focus instead of overload
One of the biggest misconceptions Avowed The expectations were high. Many players hoped for a gigantic open-world epic. The actual game offers a semi-open world, focused quests, and solid combat mechanics. Anyone expecting a 200-hour sandbox RPG will likely be disappointed. But anyone looking for a curated, cohesive fantasy RPG will find exactly that here.
In 2026, Avowed Significantly more polished than at launch on Xbox. Performance is more stable, bugs are less frequent, and menus and builds are clearer. Character models and facial animations aren't flawless everywhere, but the game doesn't lose its appeal. RPG mechanics are accessible: you're not forced into complex tables, and loot and crafting are satisfying, but not overwhelming. Hardcore min-maxers might crave more depth, but for the majority of players, it remains fair and user-friendly.
The Anniversary Patch's World and Combat updates also bring new tactical options, including upgradeable equipment, enchanting of unique items, new godlike abilities, and custom difficulty. All of this ensures that the adventure remains fresh for both newcomers and veterans.
After my first hour of playing Avowed on PS5 Pro, it quickly became clear to me that, despite the initial technical shortcomings and missing gameplay features (thanks to the beta testers on the Xbox systems 😉), they had delivered a clean and very playable product with high immersion and a great soundtrack, which at the time was met with an exorbitant amount of hatred and prejudice.
I am in favor of critically examining the content one intends to consume today, for example regarding political correctness or clear intentions within the narratives. However, with a game like Avowed, I personally approach this without prejudice, as it appears to be a well-optimized product available at a reasonable price, and as an (action) RPG enthusiast, I want to form my own informed opinion.
I hope you have fun gaming!