Avowed is a first-person fantasy RPG set in the Living Lands, a wild island in Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity universe where magic, strange flora, and a spreading plague turn exploration into a mix of danger and mystery.
Avowed is built around the idea of a frontier that feels both foreign and familiar. You play as an envoy of Aedyr sent to investigate a plague, and the island itself seems to recognize you, pulling you into something bigger than a simple assignment. The Living Lands are full of different regions and ecosystems, from port towns and grasslands to twisted forests and caverns. They are all wired into a main story about what is happening to the land and why it matters to you.
Combat is first-person and very flexible. You mix swords, axes, guns, shields, bows, and a grimoire of spells to trap, freeze, burn, or blast enemies, and there are skill trees and Godlike options that let you lean more heavily into fighter, ranger, wizard, or hybrid styles. Companions travel with you, each with their own background and ties to the Living Lands. Your choices in quests and conversations shape how they feel about you as you work out what to do about the plague and the forces behind it.
Why Should I Download Avowed?
The main reason to play Avowed is that it treats its setting as the main event. The Living Lands are built as a weird frontier full of secrets, with the island’s magic, flora, and factions all threaded into the story about the plague and your role in dealing with it. Exploring feels like moving through regions that each have their own tone, creatures, and problems to solve, with your decisions changing how people respond and what paths open up.
Combat is part of that exploration. You are not locked into one build or weapon type. You can dual-wield pistols and spells, block and bash with a shield, swap to a bow at range, or lean into heavy melee combined with magic.
Companions then add another layer. They bring their own abilities and views, comment on what you do, and have quests that run alongside the main story, so the sense of traveling with a small group in a dangerous place is strong. If you like RPGs where the world, your party, and your choices carry as much weight as the combat system, Avowed is a good choice for you.
Is Avowed Free?
No, Avowed is a paid game; you can’t download it for free. It is sold as a premium RPG on PC and Xbox platforms. Buying it gives you the full single-player experience with story, exploration, companions, and replay options like New Game Plus and custom difficulty settings, rather than a free-to-play model with separate content passes.
There are no monthly subscriptions required to keep playing beyond the usual store or Game Pass access. On Xbox and PC, it is also available as part of Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, which means you can install and play it as part of your existing library.
What Operating Systems Are Compatible with Avowed?
Avowed is available on Windows 10 and 11 with a 64-bit processor and on Xbox Series X and Series S consoles.
What Are the Alternatives to Avowed?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the closest alternative if you want a fantasy world with a strong focus on story and stylized visuals but a different combat style. It is a turn-based RPG with real-time elements set in a Belle Époque-inspired fantasy setting, built around a party’s quest to end a supernatural threat. Compared with Avowed, Clair Obscur feels more like a traditional party-based, turn-driven experience, while Avowed leans into first-person action, open regions, and direct control over weapons and spells.
The Outer Worlds 2 is nearer in tone. It is a science fiction action RPG with shooter elements and open areas, set in a different star system with corporations and factions shaping the world. Compared with Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2 takes the same general mix of role-playing, choices, and companion-driven storytelling into a space setting, while Avowed keeps that structure but applies it to a grounded fantasy frontier with swords, spells, and island politics.
Hogwarts Legacy is another option if you care most about being in a magic-driven world and using spells in first-person or over-the-shoulder views. It is an action RPG set in the Harry Potter universe, built around attending classes, exploring Hogwarts and surrounding areas, and using spell combinations in combat. Compared with Avowed, Hogwarts Legacy is more tied to an existing license and school setting, while Avowed offers an original fantasy world with a heavier emphasis on faction choice, companion relationships, and a frontier that changes based on your decisions.
