Avowed Game World Scale Compared

Avowed Game World Scale Compared

Okay, let’s dive deep into something really exciting: how big the world of
Avowed actually is! We’ve all been waiting to explore this brand
new land, but a big question on everyone’s minds is, “How does it stack
up against other games we know and love?”. Is it going to feel like we’re
exploring a vast continent or a cozy little village? In this article, we’re
going to put Avowed‘s world size under the microscope and
compare it to some pretty popular games to give you a better idea of
what to expect.

Understanding Game World Scale

Before we start throwing around comparisons, it’s important to
understand what we mean by “game world scale.” It’s not just about how
many square miles there are in a game. It also includes things like
how much there is to do in that space, how detailed the world is, and how
fun it is to actually explore. Imagine a huge empty desert—it might be
massive, but it’s not very engaging, right? So, we need to consider both
the physical size and the amount of things that make the world come alive.

Different Ways to Measure Game World Size

There are different methods used to measure the size of a game world. Here are a few we should know:

• Surface Area: This is the classic measurement of how much ground
  there is to cover, often in square miles or kilometers.
• Playable Area: This is the actual area players can explore. It
  doesn’t include areas you can see but can’t access, like distant mountains.
• Level of Detail: This refers to how much detail is packed into
  each area. A small space with a lot of interactive details can feel
  larger than a massive, empty area.
• Verticality: How high can you go? Games with mountains, deep
  valleys, and multi-story buildings feel bigger, even if the horizontal
  size is smaller.
• Density of Activities: How much stuff is there to do in the world?
  Are there a lot of side quests, secrets, or things to discover?

When we talk about Avowed‘s size, we should keep all these
in mind, it’s not just about the numbers of square miles!

Avowed’s World: What We Know So Far

So, what do we know about the world of Avowed, called
the Living Lands? Obsidian Entertainment, the people making the game, have not provided
exact square mileage. However, they have given us some clues and insights.

• A Region of Eora: Avowed is set in the same world as
  Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity games, but in a new area called
  the Living Lands. So, we can use those games to gauge the scale.
• Focus on Exploration: The developers have mentioned a big focus on exploration and the player being able to discover the world’s
  secrets. This suggests the team is building a world that encourages
  players to roam and experience, which could mean a decent sized map.
• Semi-Open World: It’s likely that Avowed will be a semi-open
  world experience instead of an extremely open-world map. That could
  mean a number of connected, open areas rather than one giant seamless
  landmass.
• Verticality: Early gameplay footage showcases the player navigating
  various environments, including cliffs, ruins, and buildings. So
  it looks like we will have to think about verticality when exploring
• Intricate Environments: Based on the trailers and gameplay clips, the
  Living Lands seem to be packed with details. We’ve seen forests,
  ruins, towns, and unique creatures, which points to a richly
  detailed world.

Based on this, Avowed is shaping up to be a world that feels very
interesting to explore and has its own unique character. However, it may
not be quite as massive as some of the biggest open-world games that are
out there.

Comparing Avowed to Other RPGs

Now for the juicy part: let’s see how Avowed’s world might compare
to some other role-playing games, both in terms of scale and
exploration.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Skyrim is often the gold standard when it comes to open-world
RPGs, known for its vast map. The Skyrim map is around 15 square
miles. It feels truly gigantic due to its diverse terrain, multiple
towns, dungeons and places to visit.

• Map Size: While we don’t know Avowed‘s exact dimensions,
  it’s unlikely to match Skyrim‘s in terms of sheer landmass.
• Exploration: Skyrim has a huge number of places to discover and
  dozens of interesting side quests to complete. The player’s actions,
  however, do not have an impact on Skyrim world, which does not
  change because of player decisions.
• Density: Skyrim‘s density in terms of things to discover
  varies, with some areas being more detailed than others.
• Verticality: Skyrim does have a good amount of verticality,
  with mountains to climb and dungeons to explore.

Based on early looks, Avowed will most likely not be as big in size
as Skyrim, but it may have a similar approach in terms of
exploration.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3 is another example of an epic open-world game, known
for its rich world and well-crafted story. It’s a bit bigger than
Skyrim, coming in at about 21 square miles.

• Map Size: The Witcher 3 map is quite vast and it is unlikely
  that Avowed will have such a big surface area, but Avowed
  may make up for it with a high level of detail.
• Exploration: The world of The Witcher 3 is full of
  interesting quests, hidden treasures, and well-designed
  locations. The player’s decisions do affect the story and world.
• Density: The Witcher 3 has a high level of density, with
  most locations having something worthwhile to discover.
• Verticality: The Witcher 3 doesn’t have a lot of vertical
  play, although players can climb some areas and explore caves.

Avowed may not have a map as large as The Witcher 3,
but it’s highly likely that it will contain a highly engaging and
intriguing world for players to wander in.

The Outer Worlds

From the same developers as Avowed, The Outer Worlds has
a different approach than most games on this list. It is not a large
seamless open world. Instead, the player travels between different
maps.

• Map Size: The Outer Worlds has a small collection of large
  maps, that are interconnected.
• Exploration: Exploration is a big part of The Outer Worlds,
  but it’s not about exploring a huge open world. Instead, players
  explore each area closely in the search for quests and lore.
• Density: Each map in The Outer Worlds is packed with
  things to do and discover.
• Verticality: While there are some multi-story buildings and
  vertical layouts, verticality is not the key part of The
  Outer Worlds game world.

Avowed might adopt a similar approach to The Outer Worlds
with multiple maps that players travel to, instead of one big seamless
world.

Pillars of Eternity I and II

As Avowed is set in the same world as the Pillars of Eternity
games, we can look at those games to gain an insight.

• Map Size: The Pillars of Eternity games are not open
  world games, but consist of a number of smaller areas, which players
  travel between.
• Exploration: Each area is very rich with lore and detail to
  discover.
• Density: The density of each area is extremely high with a
  lot to see and do.
• Verticality: There isn’t much verticality in these games, as
  the main perspective is isometric, which does not showcase vertical
  layouts very much.

Although the gameplay style of Pillars of Eternity games
is very different to Avowed, it provides an idea for the
level of detail and density we could find in the Living Lands of
Avowed.

What Does This Mean for Avowed?

So, where does all this leave us when thinking about Avowed’s
world? Well, it seems unlikely that we will be able to roam in a map the
size of Skyrim or The Witcher 3, but it also likely won’t
be just a collection of small areas like The Outer Worlds.

Instead of chasing sheer size, Avowed is likely focusing on
creating a world with a lot of detail and interesting places to find.
Think of it like a highly detailed painting instead of a big empty canvas.
The focus seems to be on making the world feel deep, with plenty to do,
discover, and engage with.

The Importance of Exploration and Density

At the end of the day, the size of a map is just one of the parts of a
great game world. How well the game encourages the player to explore,
how many activities there are, and the quality of the different
locations that make up the game world are just as important.

Avowed is likely focusing on making every area feel like it has a
reason to be there. It seems like players will find exciting secrets,
compelling quests, and interesting lore around every corner of the
Living Lands. The quality of content is usually more important than
the quantity of space, as it creates a more rewarding experience.

What About Future Expansions?

It’s also worth thinking about what could come after Avowed
launch. Many games have released expansions that add new locations, so
there is a chance that if the world of Avowed seems a little
small at the start, future expansions could increase the world size and
amount of activities in the game.