Avowed

Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC

You are the Envoy to the Emperor of Aedyr, sent to the untamed Living Lands to investigate the strange "Dreamscourge" — a horrific blight that corrupts man and beast alike, driving them mad with unspoken voices while their bodies erupt with fungal infestations. Yet you are also a Godlike, altered by the divine before birth, their ethereal touch manifesting on you as mushroom-like protrusions — and ever since you arrived on the strange frontier, you've been hearing voices in your head…

The mycelium motif sounds bonkers, but it's integral not only to Avowed's protagonist (allowing for a unique character creator that ranges from "enoki for hair" to "Swamp Thing") but also the world you're exploring. Despite being set in the same universe as developer Obsidian Entertainment's earlier Pillars Of Eternity games, seeing creatures and landscapes warped by spore growths provides a unique visual identity distinct from the glut of fantasy RPGs (think more The Last Of Us than Skyrim.)

At its best, strategic attacks and speedy dodges combine into an almost balletic flow.

Of course, Skyrim comparisons are inevitable, but where that first-person adventure has a singular open world, Avowed opts for curated regions — still vast, but better designed and dense with secrets. And, while the endlessly branching story offers a similar amount of freedom to mould your mushroom-infused hero however you will, be it into a fungi or a real piece of shiitake, the arch-plot here feels more structured.

That's largely down to the presence of your companions, major supporting characters aiding your journey. Like the game itself, they often subvert expectations — the dwarf isn't Scottish, for once! — and their own histories prove integral to the unfolding saga. The trade-off is that their narrative necessity often makes them feel like accessories — disgust lizard-man fighter Kai with brutal actions in the name of the colonialist Aedyran Empire all you want, but he'll stick around because the next chapter needs him.

Everything comes together in Avowed's combat though, the game's brightest spot. Your character's skills can be endlessly tweaked, allowing experimentation with different abilities and play styles — fighter, ranger, wizard, or any combination — and complemented by two of your companions joining you in battle. Throw in the option to dual-wield (combining an axe with a spell-casting grimoire, say, for a mix of melee and magic) and it feels wonderfully versatile. At its best, strategic attacks and speedy dodges combine into an almost balletic flow.

That still might not be enough to stand out from the crowd, but with its strong writing and characters, Avowed’s fungal fable proves an undeniably entertaining experience, regardless of whether you're playing as a champignon of justice or a smooth cremini.