There is a specific kind of magic that comes with your very first Role-Playing Game. For me, that magic was embodied by an Xbox 360 and a copy of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
I still vividly remember that feeling: stepping out of the Imperial sewers for the first time, blinking against the blinding digital sunlight, and realizing I could go anywhere. It was pure, unfiltered joy and a sense of boundless possibility. For years, I’ve been chasing that exact high, hopping from fantasy world to fantasy world.
Well, I can finally say it. I’ve found that magic again.
Obsidian Entertainment’s Avowed on Xbox isn’t just incredible; it is an absolute masterpiece that has brought me the same level of joy and wonder that Oblivion did all those years ago. It is everything I wanted a first-person fantasy RPG to be, and somehow, even more.
Getting Lost in the Living Lands
I need to start by emphasizing just how addictive this game is. I sat down to “just play the intro,” and suddenly, it was dark outside.
So far, I’ve clocked over 20 hours into Avowed, and honestly? It feels like five minutes. I have completely lost myself in this experience. The world is so incredibly engaging that I find myself ignoring main quests to see what’s over the next ridge or inside that strange cave. It has perfected that “just one more quest” loop that keeps you glued to the controller way past your bedtime.
A Masterclass in World-Building
If you know Obsidian, you know their writing is legendary. Yet, even by their high standards, Avowed is a triumph.
Set in the world of Eora (the same universe as Pillars of Eternity), the lore here is deep, fascinating, and richly textured. The world-building is second to none. The Living Lands feel dangerous, vibrant, and filled with history that you actually want to read about in the in-game books.
But what truly anchors the experience is the people. I absolutely love the characters in this game. The companions aren’t just stat-blocks following you around; they are fully realized individuals with complex motivations and incredible banter. You grow to care about them, and their personal quests are some of the best writing in the genre.
A Feast for the Senses
It’s not just the writing that pulls you in. Avowed is gorgeous.
The graphics on Xbox are excellent. The art direction leans into the weird and wonderful fantasy of the setting, creating vibrant, strange, and utterly stunning vistas. Every biome feels distinct, and the spell effects are a dazzling light show during combat.
Backing up those visuals is superb audio design. The score is sweeping, but the real star is the voice acting. The cast delivers performances that bring every interaction to life, from the major players to the random shopkeepers. It’s top-tier immersion.
The Need for More: Expanding the Narrative
While I am delighted with the amount of content here, I can’t help but hope that Obsidian has plans for significant DLC in the future. The narrative foundation they’ve built is so strong, and the lore is so expansive that it feels like there is still so much more to explore. There are corners of the Living Lands and threads of political and magical intrigue that I’m just dying to pull on. This world is too rich to stop here; I genuinely hope we get an expansion that allows us to dive even deeper into the stories and mysteries of Eora.
The Adventure Continues
I am nowhere near finished with my journey in the Living Lands, and I am savouring every second of it.
What makes this current playthrough even sweeter is knowing that the adventure doesn’t have to end. It’s already been confirmed that a free game update is arriving in February 2026, adding a New Game+ mode. The fact that I already know I can take my powered-up envoy back to the start and experience this incredible world all over again is the cherry on top of a perfect gaming sundae.
If you own an Xbox and you have even a passing interest in RPGs, drop what you are doing and play Avowed. It’s a spectacular achievement that reminds us why we fall in love with video games in the first place.
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