The short verdict
Avowed has the most satisfying first-person combat of any game here: dual-wield a sword and a spellbook, or a pistol and a wand, and it all feels good. It is set in the Pillars of Eternity universe and structured as large open zones rather than one seamless map, with more emphasis on companions and dialogue than on sandbox systems.
Avowed and Skyrim at a glance
| Avowed | Skyrim SE | |
|---|---|---|
| Steam rating | 77% · Mostly Positive Steam | 92% · Very Positive Steam |
| Metacritic | Not listed on Steam | 74 MC |
| Critics (OpenCritic) | 80 · Strong OC | 81 · Strong OC |
| Platforms | Xbox Series X/S, PC, PlayStation 5 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 |
| Steam Deck | Steam Deck Verified | Steam Deck Verified |
| Mods on Nexus | 146 Nexus | 141,888 Nexus |
| Steam release | Feb 18, 2025 | Oct 27, 2016 |
| Developer | Obsidian Entertainment | Bethesda Game Studios |
| Co-op | None | None (single-player) |
| Perspective | First & third-person | First & third-person |
Ratings, dates, developers, co-op modes and Steam Deck status from the official Steam store; critic scores and platforms from OpenCritic; mod counts from Nexus Mods. Refreshed automatically.
What feels like Skyrim
- First-person sword, spell and bow combat — with any combination in each hand.
- Exploration-rich regions full of hidden loot and side quests.
- Fantasy world with a strong sense of place.
What is different
- Large open zones instead of one continuous open world.
- A more directed, story-led adventure with companions at its center.
- Lighter on the sandbox simulation Skyrim players often love.
Skip Avowed if…
You want a seamless world and systemic sandbox play over a guided story.
Is Avowed a good alternative to Skyrim?
On our five-trait comparison, Avowed scores 64% similar to Skyrim(close) and ranks #9 of 13 on ouralternative Skyrim list. First-person sword, spell and bow combat — with any combination in each hand. The biggest adjustment for Skyrim players: large open zones instead of one continuous open world.
Avowed trailers & video reviews
Official trailer
Video reviewWhat critics say about Avowed
- Critics recommend
- 83%
- OpenCritic rating
- Strong
- Top critic reviews
- 95
Source: OpenCritic · verified October 14, 2026
- PC Gamer82/100
“Bigger than it first appears, Avowed is an engrossing and gorgeous action-RPG set in one of the most engaging fantasy worlds going, though it lacks the complex systems of its most beloved contemporaries.”
Shaun PrescottFeb 13, 2025
Read the full review - IGN7/10
“Avowed is a perfectly competent RPG that showcases Obsidian’s writing and worldbuilding chops, but has little else to distinguish itself among swords-and-sorcery adventures.”
Travis NorthupFeb 13, 2025
Read the full review - Eurogamer4/5
“What Avowed lacks in gloss it makes up for with charm, depth and a playful heart. It's one of this year's most pleasant surprises.”
Robert PurcheseFeb 13, 2025
Read the full review - Rock, Paper, ShotgunUnscored
“Avowed is not the Obsidian fantasy RPG I wanted, but the decently fun spell-slinging parkour FPS I didn't expect.”
Nic ReubenFeb 13, 2025
Read the full review - GameSpot6/10
“Avowed's impactful and satisfying combat is undone by a widely unbalanced upgrade system and an uninteresting story that wastes its potential.”
Alessandro BarbosaFeb 13, 2025
Read the full review - GamesRadar+4/5 stars
“"I'll not soon forget my time with Avowed – chaos, comedy, catastrophe, and all."”
Anna KoselkeFeb 13, 2025
Read the full review
Excerpts and scores as published by each outlet for Avowed, collected via OpenCritic OpenCritic.
Where to play Avowed — price, Steam Deck & players
Steam Deck & PC
Steam Deck Verified
Windows · Controller: full support
Valve compatibility rating Steam
How long is Avowed?
Playtimes vary hugely with how much you explore. See community-submitted completion times on HowLongToBeat.
Avowed PC system requirements
Minimum
- OS
- Windows 10/11 with updates
- Processor
- AMD Ryzen 5 2600 / Intel i5-8400
- Memory
- 16 GB RAM
- Graphics
- AMD RX 5700 / Nvidia GTX 1070 / Intel Arc A580
- DirectX
- Version 12
- Storage
- 75 GB available space
Recommended
- OS
- Windows 10/11 with updates
- Processor
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X / Intel i7-10700K
- Memory
- 16 GB RAM
- Graphics
- Graphics: AMD RX 6800 XT / Nvidia RTX 3080
- DirectX
- Version 12
- Storage
- 75 GB available space
From the official Steam store page · verified October 14, 2026
Latest official Avowed news
Patch 2.1 is Live!
Greetings Envoys! [p align="start"]Today we are releasing Patch 2.1 for Avowed with the latest bug fixes and a community requested feature! Community Requested Feature: In the previous update, we implemented 3…
Avowed Anniversary Update
It has been one year since the launch of Avowed and the team is ending its post-launch roadmap with a substantial anniversary update built with both returning and new players in mind. This release delivers…
Patch 2.0 is Live
[p align="start"]Greetings Envoys, [p align="start"]It has been one year since the launch of Avowed and the team is ending its post-launch roadmap with a substantial anniversary update built with both returning and new…
Avowed's One Year Anniversary
The one year anniversary of Avowed is upon us. Last week, Gameplay Director Gabe Paramo and Lead Character Designer Dimitri Berman spoke with the New Game+ Showcase crew about what players can expect in the next update:…
Official announcements from the developer’s Steam news hub, updated automatically.
Avowed mods & community
Community links are fan-run spaces; opinions there are players’ own, not ours.
Community
What Skyrim players say about Avowed
Reviews from players on this site, answering the questions Skyrim fans actually ask. Published instantly, moderated afterwards.
No player reviews yet
Played Avowed? Be the first Skyrim fan to tell others whether it scratches the itch.
Avowed FAQ
Is Avowed like Skyrim?
Partly — we rate it 64% similar to Skyrim. First-person sword, spell and bow combat — with any combination in each hand. The biggest difference: large open zones instead of one continuous open world.
Is Avowed on PS5 or Xbox?
Yes. Besides PC, OpenCritic lists Avowed on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5.
Does Avowed work on Steam Deck?
Valve rates it Steam Deck Verified, according to its Steam store page.
Does Avowed have co-op?
No. Its Steam store page does not list co-op modes; like Skyrim, it is a single-player game.
Does Avowed have mods?
Yes. Nexus Mods hosts 146 mods for Avowed, downloaded 807,838 times.
Is Avowed worth playing?
critics give it a Top Critic Average of 80 on OpenCritic (83% recommend it), and Steam players rate it 77% positive (“Mostly Positive”) from 13,361 reviews. Skip it if: you want a seamless world and systemic sandbox play over a guided story.
How long does it take to beat Avowed?
It depends heavily on how much side content you do. See community-reported completion times on HowLongToBeat.
