Summary
- Some weapons in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 resemble those from Bleach, a nod to the developers' love for Japanese media.
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the top-rated game of 2025, blending aesthetics and combat mechanics successfully.
- The game's original concept was a steampunk RPG set in Victorian England before transforming into its final version.
Some gamers have recently discovered that two of the weapons available in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 greatly resemble some of the ones used in the popular Bleach anime. It’s no secret that the developers of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 love Japanese media, and these weapons are an interesting find for fans of both franchises.
Released late in April, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 quickly became the highest-rated game of 2025. Mixing gorgeous aesthetics, a complex combat system with turn-based and action elements, and a somewhat short but engrossing story, the title currently holds an average of 92 on OpenCritic, and it has sold over 2 million units so far. Bleach, on the other hand, was one of the most popular manga and anime of all time, together with Naruto and One Piece.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Exec Comments on Possible Switch 2 Version
Sandfall Interactive comments on the possibility of releasing a Nintendo Switch 2 version of the popular Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Now, some gamers have discovered that Clair Obscur has some weapons inspired by the Zanpakutos in Bleach. As can be seen in a post shared by a gamer called ThaLastRanga, the Confuso weapon used by Verso really resembles Ichigo’s Zangetsu, while Maelle’s Melarum looks a lot like Rukia’s Sode no Shirayuki. Both weapons can be found in Act 2 of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, so most gamers who have already reached the endgame should have access to them.
Some of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Weapons Resemble the Ones From Bleach
It was never a secret that the developers of Clair Obscur were fans of Japanese media, and these Easter eggs are yet another proof of that. Earlier this week, for example, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 director Guillaume Broche revealed that his first JRPG was Final Fantasy 8. According to the developer, they could not even read yet when they played, but the game left them with a strong impression.
Curiously, Clair Obscur seems to be struggling to sell in Japan. Local reports indicate that the game has sold fewer than 10,000 physical discs in the region, a number that does not account for digital sales, which are still unknown.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is clearly one of the most memorable games of 2025, but one recent interview has demonstrated that the title was almost entirely different. According to one Sandfall Interactive developer, the team always planned the gameplay to be similar to the current version of the game, but an early version of Clair Obscur was a steampunk RPG set in Victorian England with zombies. The devs spent six months working on this storyline before finally settling down on the Belle Epoque version that made the title famous.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- April 24, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sandfall Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Kepler Interactive
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
