Avowed vs The Outer Worlds 2

Both dive into Obsidian's worldbuilding, but Avowed's empty maps versus TOW2's sharper satire make for a stark choice.

Updated 26d ago

Avowed cover
Avowed 8.0/10 Strong

Dual-wielding a wand and a flintlock is genuinely great — but the open world is empty and the choices never branch, so it misses the Obsidian reactivity you came for.

The Outer Worlds 2 cover
The Outer Worlds 2 8.3/10 Strong

Obsidian writing is back at full peak — Outer Worlds 2 sharpens what the first game whispered, with companions and corporate satire that finally feel essential.

By the numbers

Prices checked Sep 8; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.

Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Sep 8.

Measure Avowed The Outer Worlds 2
Value Avowed wins on value
Price now $44.99 −10% · PlayerLand $69.99 Steam
All-time low $29.99 $34.99
Cost / hour $2.23/hr $44.99 · 20 h main story $3.78/hr $69.99 · 18 h main story
Off its low +50% low was Jun 2026 +100% low was Jun 2026
Main story 20 h 18 h
Health Avowed wins on player health
Steam reviews 77% 13k reviews 74% 9k reviews
Recent reviews 77% 141 votes · vs 77% lifetime 72% 89 votes · vs 74% lifetime
Peak players 1,289 Aug 2026 · ↑ 28% MoM 651 Aug 2026 · ↓ 49% MoM
Launch peak 7% of Feb 2025 launch peak · as of Aug 2026
All-time peak 19,161 Feb 2025 18,187 Nov 2025 · now at 4%
Support
Last patch 6 months ago 2 months ago
Patch cadence 0 in last 90 days 2 in last 90 days
Steam Deck Gold Gold

Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.

Avowed
Feb 2025 – Aug 2026
The Outer Worlds 2
Nov 2025 – Aug 2026

What players say

Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.

Avowed

Love

The combat's magic toolkit — dual-wielding wands, guns, and swords with flashy spells — keeps long-haul players coming back.

Struggle with

The open world feels big for no reason, and choices don't matter, leaving progression gated and exploration unrewarding for many 100-hour vets.

from our August 2026 verdict

The Outer Worlds 2

Love

The witty satire, memorable characters, and goofy tone keep players engaged for hundreds of hours.

Struggle with

Frequent fatal crashes and unstable saves after patches plague long-term playthroughs.

from our May 2026 verdict

Key differences

World design
Avowed's open world is described as empty, with four big maps that lack content density.
Outer Worlds 2 uses zone-based maps, not a seamless sandbox, but with writing that feels essential.
Writing and reactivity
Avowed's choices rarely branch, missing the Obsidian reactivity you might expect.
Outer Worlds 2's corporate satire and companion banter are load-bearing and back at peak.
Combat versus narrative
Avowed's dual-wielding wand and flintlock is a standout, but the world lacks pull.
Outer Worlds 2's gunplay lags behind dedicated shooters, so you play for the writing.

Which one is for you?

Pick Avowed if

  • You want a first-person tour of Pillars of Eternity's world.
  • You're fine with a linear-ish RPG and a 20-hour main story.
  • You prefer spellcasting power fantasy over systemic simulation.

Pick The Outer Worlds 2 if

  • Fallout New Vegas is your gold standard for RPG writing.
  • You need companion banter and quest reactivity as core systems.
  • You enjoy corporate-dystopia satire that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Bottom line

Choose Avowed for its fun combat at a lower cost-per-hour, but pick Outer Worlds 2 if you crave Obsidian's signature writing and satire.

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