Role-playing games, or RPGs, often come packed with a multitude of hidden treasures and side quests, and for one developer working on Avowed, this aspect forms “the core” of the genre.
Today, there’s a real buzz around completionism in the gaming world. Players love chasing after every trophy and achievement, often sinking countless hours into fully exploring a game’s world. But if you rewind a bit, many gamers used to miss a lot of content, quite unintentionally. Berto Ritger, the region director and senior area designer at Obsidian Entertainment, considers this an essential part of the RPG experience. In a conversation with GamesRadar about Avowed, Ritger mentioned, “The essence of RPGs lies in their missable content. It’s what offers players a deeply personal journey as they navigate the game.”
Ritger also notes that these diverse options in RPGs fuel discussions among gamers, as each person might have a different story to tell. “You might tell a friend, ‘Hey, I discovered something hidden beneath the eastern side of the docks, and there’s a way to climb up top to find more,’ while they might uncover entirely different secrets. These discoveries make for some truly fascinating conversations.”
Nonetheless, Obsidian ensures there are elements they intend for you to notice. Ritger explains, “We design certain features to attract your attention. Take the towering lighthouse, for instance—it’s hard to miss. We anticipate players will be curious to climb it, and that’s something we want to encourage. You might even leap into the ocean from there, which is perfectly possible. This is how we guide you subtly.”
On a personal note, I sometimes yearn for those days when games held more mysteries. It was delightful sharing stories with friends about experiences they hadn’t encountered. So, if you decide to dive into Avowed, consider stepping off the beaten path—you might just stumble upon something truly memorable.
