As a lifelong fantasy RPG fan, I still remember the electric anticipation around the Fall 2024 season. Two massive titles were barreling toward release: Obsidian Entertainment's Avowed and BioWare's Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Now, in 2026, with both games long since launched and patched, I can finally look back at that friendly rivalry with clear eyes. They arrived after Baldur's Gate 3 had dominated 2023, and many of us wondered if either could capture that same magic. They did not need to. They carved their own paths.

Avowed took me to Eora, the world of Pillars of Eternity, but this time I explored the Living Lands in first person. The Dreamscourge, a mysterious disease, destabilized everything. I loved the vertical exploration, the dual-wield pistols and magic, and the way Obsidian let me role-play with branching choices. Dragon Age: The Veilguard, meanwhile, continued the story after Inquisition. The Veil had been torn, and the consequences rippled across Thedas. I commanded a party of companions, each with their own arcs, and the combat felt more action-oriented than ever.

Here is how I would compare them in 2026:

Aspect	Avowed	Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Developer	Obsidian Entertainment	BioWare
Setting	Eora, the Living Lands	Thedas, post-Inquisition
Core conflict	The Dreamscourge	The torn Veil and its fallout
Perspective	First-person	Third-person action RPG
Companions	Meaningful, faction-based	Deep, romanceable, story-critical
Combat	Flexible, first-person spell and weapon combos	Fast-paced, combo-driven
Narrative strength	Exploration and player agency	Cinematic lore and companion drama

I put over a hundred hours into each. Avowed scratched my itch for immersive sim-like exploration. I climbed ruins, uncovered ancient Engwithan secrets, and made choices that felt personal. Veilguard gave me a sweeping, emotional rollercoaster. The companions bickered, loved, and sacrificed. The set pieces were gorgeous. Neither game was perfect, but both were exactly what I wanted from their respective studios.

🎮 What I loved about Avowed:

• The first-person combat felt weighty and tactical.

• The Living Lands were a joy to explore.

• The Dreamscourge mystery kept me guessing.

• Branching quests respected my decisions.

🐉 What I loved about Dragon Age: The Veilguard:

• The companion banter was top-tier BioWare.

• The main story paid off years of lore.

• The action combat was smooth and satisfying.

• The choices carried emotional weight.

In 2024, many fans feared the two games would cannibalize each other. They released within weeks of one another. But in 2026, I see that they actually complemented each other. Avowed was the solo, first-person adventure. Veilguard was the party-based, cinematic epic. I did not have to choose. I played both, and I was happier for it. The healthy competition pushed both studios to polish their work. It also gave fantasy RPG fans a packed fall season that, while different from 2023's BG3 dominance, was still memorable.

Would I recommend one over the other today? No. If you love Obsidian's writing and want a more personal, exploration-driven experience, start with Avowed. If you crave BioWare's signature companions and a continuation of Dragon Age lore, start with The Veilguard. If you have time, play both. They are available on modern platforms, often with discounts, and they run better now than at launch thanks to patches.

Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, I hope both studios build on these foundations. Obsidian could expand Avowed's world with DLC or a sequel. BioWare could continue Thedas in new directions. For now, I am grateful for that Fall 2024 fantasy showdown. It reminded me why I love this genre: rich worlds, tough choices, and unforgettable characters. Whether you side with the Aedyran Empire or the Veil Jumpers, you win either way. ⚔️🧙‍♂️