How to switch to third-person view in Avowed

You can play from a third-person perspective in Avowed, a notable deviation from developer Obsidian Entertainment’s previous big RPG, The Outer Worlds, in which you played the whole game from a first-person perspective.

If you’re the type who prefers to see your character model in action, here’s how to switch to third-person in Avowed.

How to play Avowed in third-person

To play Avowed in third-person, follow these steps:

1. Open the settings.
2. Tab over to the “game” submenu.
3. Scroll down to the “camera” section.
4. Tick the ticky box on the “third-person view” setting.
5. Hit the X button (on Xbox) to apply the changes.

And that’s it! Switching to third-person in Avowed is a bit more involved than it is in similar RPGs like Starfield or Skyrim, wherein you could change your perspective at the literal push of a button. But it’s a head-and-shoulders improvement over Obsidian’s own The Outer Worlds. Even modders haven’t been able to square that circle. To date, there still isn’t a popular third-person mod for the game — a discussion point for the game’s community even years after the game’s release.

How well does third-person in Avowed work?

The third-person mode in Avowed certainly functions smoothly enough. While climbing or jumping reveals your character is no Nathan Drake, you move smoothly enough on flat ground, including dodging during combat. The third-person reticle is the size of a pinprick, which would conceivably make looting a cumbersome action, but if you get close enough to the item you want to pick up, you’ll get the prompt regardless of how exacting your reticle placement is. Even ranged weapons, like pistols, bows, and wands, are just as precise in third-person as they are in first-person. (Plus, an early skill allows you to slow down time when aiming.)

That said, there’s admittedly a draw to the immersion of a first-person perspective. Though if you get motion sickness from playing first-person, we’d recommend reducing the “head bobbing strength” level by 50% or simply toggling off the “head bobbing” setting entirely. Both settings can be found directly below the third-person view setting.

For more Avowed guides, see our full Avowed walkthrough, plus learn what background to pick, the best attribute points to assign, and how to unlock all companions.