In an era seemingly devoid of solid first-person fantasy RPGs, Avowed steps up to the plate with its more immersive spin on the Pillars of Eternity universe – and hits a lightning-speed homerun. With its fast-paced combat, quirky companions, versatile builds, and enchanting world, it's difficult to not get lost within Avowed. Make no mistake, this is no Skyrim despite the comparisons sparked by the game's fantastical setting and first-person POV, but rather an unforgettable return to form for developer Obsidian Entertainment – and a massive win for Microsoft as one of the best Xbox Game Pass games this year.
Avowed takes Obsidian's penchant for stellar storytelling and combines it with breathtaking visuals to create what might just stand as one of this year's best RPGs. It feels twice as big as The Outer Worlds, the studio's impressive 2019 sci-fi adventure, perhaps setting the stage for what's to come with The Outer Worlds 2. Likewise, Avowed's exploration of Eora's complicated history is fathoms deeper than what we get in Pillars of Eternity.
