Every few years, a game appears from a relatively unknown studio and surprises everyone. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is that game. Created by Sandfall Interactive, a small French studio, it combines classic Japanese RPG inspiration with a unique European art style and a story that stayed with us long after the credits rolled.
We finished the main story and spent many extra hours on optional content. Here is why we believe it is one of the best RPGs available today.
A haunting premise
Every year, a mysterious being called the Paintress wakes up and paints a number on a giant monolith. Everyone of that age disappears in an event called the Gommage. Each year, the number gets lower, and more people vanish.
The game follows Expedition 33, a group of volunteers from the city of Lumière who set out to destroy the Paintress before she paints the next number. They know previous expeditions have failed, and they know they may not return. This premise sets an emotional tone from the very first scene, and the opening hours are among the most powerful we have seen in any RPG.
Characters you care about
The cast is small but excellent. Gustave, an engineer, is the heart of the early story. Maelle is a young fencer searching for her place in the world. Lune is a scholar driven by curiosity, and Sciel is a cheerful warrior who hides deep sadness. Later companions add even more layers.
The voice acting is outstanding, and conversations at camp let you deepen relationships with each character. These moments make every loss and victory hit harder.
Combat: turn-based with real-time skill
Clair Obscur uses turn-based combat, but with a twist. When enemies attack, you can dodge, parry or jump in real time. A perfect parry negates damage and can trigger a powerful counterattack. When you attack, some skills require timed button presses for extra damage.
This system keeps you fully engaged. Instead of waiting for enemies to finish their turn, you watch their animations carefully and react. Boss fights become thrilling duels where learning attack patterns is as important as choosing the right skills.
Each character has a unique mechanic. Lune builds elemental stains to power stronger spells. Maelle switches between fencing stances. Others have their own systems that change how you approach battles. Combining them creates many strategic options.
Builds and progression
Characters gain attribute points, skills and weapons. Pictos are equipment pieces that provide stats and special effects. After using a Picto for a few battles, you learn its effect as a Lumina, which can then be equipped on any character using points. This system encourages experimenting with different builds and rewards creativity.
Late in the game, it is possible to create extremely powerful combinations that break the balance. Some players will love this freedom, while others may find late-game battles too easy if they optimise heavily.
Art and music
The art direction is breathtaking. Inspired by the Belle Époque period of French history, the world mixes elegant architecture, surreal landscapes and painterly colours. Each area feels like stepping into a strange and beautiful painting.
The soundtrack deserves special praise. It blends orchestral pieces, piano, choir and vocal songs in French and English, and it is one of the best game soundtracks of the decade. Many players listen to it outside the game.
Exploration
The game alternates between a world map and linear areas with optional paths. Exploring rewards you with Pictos, weapons, lore and secret bosses. Some areas lack clear signposting, and it is occasionally easy to miss the main path. There is no detailed mini-map in many areas, which can be frustrating for players who prefer clear guidance.
Difficulty
Parrying can be demanding, especially against bosses with unusual timing. The game offers difficulty options, so players who struggle with reaction-based mechanics can still enjoy the story. On higher difficulty, mastering parries becomes essential.
Performance
On PC and current consoles, the game runs well, with smooth performance on mid-range hardware. It is built on Unreal Engine 5, and some PCs may experience occasional stutter, but nothing that ruined our experience.
Value
The game launched at a lower price than many big-budget RPGs, yet it offers 30 to 40 hours for the main story and more for optional content. It was also available on subscription services at launch, which helped it reach a huge audience.
Who is it for?
Fans of turn-based RPGs, story-driven games and anyone who appreciates art and music should play it. Even players who usually dislike turn-based combat may enjoy its active parry system.
Tips for new players
- Practise parrying early; it makes a huge difference
- Experiment with Pictos and learn their Lumina effects
- Talk to companions at camp to unlock abilities and story scenes
- Explore optional areas for powerful equipment
- Adjust difficulty if parrying becomes frustrating
Frequently asked questions
Is it a long game? The main story takes around 30 to 40 hours, with extra content beyond that.
Do I need to be good at action games? Not necessarily. Lower difficulty settings make timing more forgiving.
Is there multiplayer? No. It is a single-player experience.
Story without spoilers
We will not spoil anything, but the story takes bold turns. Just when you think you understand what is happening, the game reveals something that changes how you see earlier events. Some twists are shocking, others are bittersweet. By the end, it becomes a story about grief, family and art itself. It is rare for a game to make us think about its themes for days after finishing it, but Clair Obscur did.
A small studio success story
What makes Clair Obscur even more impressive is the size of the team behind it. Sandfall Interactive is far smaller than the studios behind most big RPGs, yet it delivered a game with this level of polish and ambition. It is an inspiring example of what passionate developers can achieve, and it proves that turn-based RPGs still have a bright future.
How it compares to other RPGs
Players will notice influences from classic Japanese RPGs, especially in the party structure, world map and turn-based menus. At the same time, the parry system reminds us of modern action games, and the storytelling feels closer to a prestige drama than a traditional fantasy adventure. This blend is what makes the game feel fresh. It respects the classics while confidently doing its own thing.
Verdict
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a remarkable achievement. Its story is moving, its characters are memorable, its art and music are stunning, and its combat breathes new life into turn-based battles. A few navigation issues and balance quirks cannot hold it back. This is an RPG everyone should experience.
