What Is Avadon? A Beginner's Guide to the Spiderweb Software RPG Series

Updated

Avadon is a fantasy role-playing game series developed by Spiderweb Software, the independent studio behind Avernum and Geneforge. You play as a Hand of Avadon, an agent sent to enforce the will of a powerful pact that keeps five nations from destroying each other. If you enjoy story-driven, choice-heavy RPGs with turn-based tactical combat and a darker political tone than Avernum, Avadon is a reasonable starting point. If you prefer open exploration or a party you build from scratch, another Spiderweb title may suit you better.

What Avadon Is

Avadon is one of three main series Spiderweb Software is known for, alongside Avernum and Geneforge. The studio describes itself as creating "epic indie fantasy adventures" for Windows, Macintosh, and the iPad, and lists Avadon among its hit series.

The core premise: Avadon is a fortress and an institution that holds a fragile peace among five nations. As a Hand, you carry out its orders — investigating threats, negotiating, and using force when the pact's authority is challenged. That framing puts you inside the power structure rather than outside it, which shapes the choices the games present.

How Avadon Compares to Avernum and Geneforge

All three are Spiderweb RPGs, but they differ in structure and tone. The table below uses the same dimensions so you can compare them directly.

Dimension Avadon Avernum Geneforge
Premise Agent enforcing a pact's authority Exiles and outsiders in a vast underworld Shapers and their created creatures
Party structure Small party of companions you recruit Party you assemble and develop Typically a single character with creations
Combat Turn-based tactical Turn-based tactical Turn-based tactical
Tone Political, morally gray Exploration and survival Ethics of creation and power
Choices Frequent, with faction and loyalty consequences Present, often exploration-driven Central to the story

The practical takeaway: if you want a tighter, more directed story with political intrigue, Avadon fits. If you want a large world to explore at your own pace, Avernum is the closer match. If you want the strongest emphasis on moral choices around power, Geneforge is the one to look at.

Platforms and Where to Find the Games

Spiderweb Software publishes its games for Windows, Macintosh, and the iPad. Avadon is listed among the studio's series on its site, avernum.com, which is the natural place to check current availability and details for each title.

The input material does not include current prices, store links, or login requirements for Avadon, so treat those as things to confirm on the official site or store page before buying.

Should You Start With Avadon: The Black Fortress?

Avadon: The Black Fortress is the entry point to the series, so starting there avoids jumping into a later installment without the setup. Choose it if:

  • You want a story-driven RPG where your character operates inside an institution with real authority.
  • You like turn-based tactical combat with a small, recruitable party.
  • You want a darker, more political tone than Avernum's exploration focus.

Consider a different Spiderweb title first if:

  • You prefer building and customizing a full party from the beginning — Avernum may fit better.
  • You want the studio's most choice-and-consequence-heavy design — Geneforge is the usual recommendation.
  • You want a lighter, more open world to wander — Avernum again.

A practical way to decide: read the premise and party structure for each series on avernum.com, then pick the one whose tone matches what you want to play next. If Avadon's "agent of a ruling pact" premise appeals to you, start with The Black Fortress.