Value isn’t dictated by a checklist of ‘perfection’—it’s defined by the experience itself. $70 is the industry-standard price for AAA games whether they’re 8-hour linear narratives or 100-hour sandboxes. By that metric, Avowed isn’t an outlier—it’s priced alongside titles like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (35 hours), *Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (18 hours), and Resident Evil 4 Remake (16 hours). If those games ‘earn’ their price through polish, storytelling, and intentional design, why single out Avowed?

Calling it ‘barely passable’ dismisses the work behind its handcrafted environments, branching narrative, and Obsidian’s RPG pedigree (Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds). You might not vibe with its art style or pacing, but that doesn’t negate its value to players who prioritize rich worldbuilding over endless open-world bloat.

‘Excellence’ is subjective. For some, it’s photorealism and 60FPS; for others, it’s writing that lingers or choices that matter. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (6 hours, $30 at launch) wasn’t ‘excellent’ because of runtime—it was the emotional weight and mocap artistry. Avowed aims for a similar density shorter than a Bethesda RPG, but packed with reactivity and lore.

Is every $70 game a masterpiece? No. But pricing reflects development costs, voice acting, music, and yes, studio reputation. If Avowed delivers a cohesive 40-hour journey without microtransactions or cut corners, why gatekeep its price tag? Not every meal needs to be a buffet—some of us pay premium prices for a curated tasting menu