Do You Need to Play Pillars of Eternity before Avowed? Here's How These Games Are Connected

The events of Avowed and Pillars of Eternity take place in the same universe, leading many to wonder: should you play the PoE series first? What exactly connects Obsidian Entertainment’s first-person action game to the isometric RPGs that established the setting? Do you need to complete Pillars of Eternity and Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire to understand Avowed? Let’s find out.

After the release of Fallout: New Vegas, which almost led to the studio’s closure, Obsidian Entertainment chose to focus on classic isometric RPGs for a while. During this challenging period, Tyranny and Pillars of Eternity were released. The former ended on a cliffhanger hinting at a sequel, which, unfortunately, never happened and likely never will. However, the latter became an unexpected success and received a follow-up.

While "Pillars" never became a blockbuster hit, it did cultivate a dedicated, albeit niche, fanbase. Then, in 2018, when Microsoft acquired Obsidian Entertainment, the studio seemed to gain new ambitions. They released The Outer Worlds, a first-person space adventure. Soon after, rumors emerged that the company was working on a "Skyrim killer."

Behind this sensational title was a project for a first-person fantasy game. Avowed was set in the same universe as "Pillars" for a straightforward reason: why reinvent the wheel?

The world of Pillars of Eternity is indeed highly detailed, from its races and pantheon to its languages, nations, and continents. Here’s a brief overview of the essentials.

The game takes place in the original world of Eora, a setting that blends classic fantasy elements with Renaissance aesthetics and deep philosophical themes. Discussions revolve around the nature of the soul, reincarnation, and the ethics of science.

In Eora, souls are real, measurable, and almost tangible substances. They weave through the very fabric of the world. Damaged, sick, or incomplete souls can distort the material plane. Upon death, a being’s soul is reborn through a reincarnation cycle, and some people can see and even interact with souls — like the protagonist of both Pillars of Eternity games.

Gods exist in this world and frequently intervene in mortal affairs. Sometimes, they do so directly: Eora has a race of godlike beings — elves, humans, dwarves, orlans, and aumaua — who were "blessed" in the womb by a deity. As a result, their appearance undergoes irreversible changes, often making them terrifying to "ordinary mortals." In Avowed, players will take on the role of one such godlike being.

Eora resembles the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. Muskets, gunpowder, and emerging technologies exist, but feudalism still dominates. Large nations exist, such as the Aedyr Empire — a powerful kingdom that has colonized many lands. The protagonist of Avowed serves the ruler of this empire.

Obsidian Entertainment meticulously crafted the world’s geography, including continents, lands, and archipelagos. The first game was set in the Eastern Reach, a temperate region, while the second took place in the Deadfire Archipelago, a collection of scattered islands separated by ocean. Avowed, however, introduces a new location — The Living Lands. A wild and fierce frontier filled with dangers, unpredictable weather, unusual creatures, and uncharted territories where no mortal has set foot before.

This is just a brief overview of Eora without excessive details or historical deep dives. The world is not only rich but also beautiful — seeing it from a first-person perspective will be fascinating.

Beyond the setting details mentioned above, not much. Avowed has different protagonists, a different continent, and a different story setup.

Even the name was chosen to avoid direct ties to Pillars of Eternity. Perhaps this was to prevent alienating players unfamiliar with isometric RPGs while making the action-RPG format more accessible.

However, the developers promised that Pillars fans wouldn’t be left without content. There will be references and easter eggs that longtime fans will appreciate without confusing newcomers.

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So, should you play Pillars of Eternity before Avowed? If only for Avowed — definitely not. The game’s story is separate from PoE, and the developers will introduce the world through dialogues and an in-game encyclopedia.

However, if you enjoy RPGs and missed out on Pillars of Eternity, it’s absolutely worth playing. Both Pillars of Eternity and Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire are fantastic RPGs in Obsidian Entertainment’s best traditions, offering depth and rich roleplaying choices. We’ve previously reviewed the original and the sequel.