The announcement of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 surprised RPG fans earlier this year by bringing a new IP to the battle for RPG supremacy. But, with so many new RPGs on the horizon, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has some huge competition to contend with, upping the stakes for its success.
In its debut game, Sandfall Interactive has created an experience unlike anything RPG fans are used to. Set in a Belle Epoque-inspired world in the midst of destruction, players will join the ranks of the titular Expedition 33 as they attempt to save their world from a mysterious evil. In the reveal trailer for Expedition 33, fans were introduced to stunning visuals of a world that looks frozen on the brink of collapse, as well as the Paintress, a creature who causes mass deaths simply by painting. Though the premise and art style both stand out from the crowd, the game will ultimately be judged by its gameplay, which likewise has taken a familiar concept and twisted it to create something new. With a release window of 2025, Expedition 33 has plenty of competition, so it may struggle to stand out among fan-favorite franchises.
Expedition 33 Might Be a Serious Competitor to Metaphor: ReFantazio
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 could give Metaphor: ReFantazio a surprise challenge in the formerly barren AAA turn-based fantasy RPG space.
Expedition 33 is Competing with Heavy Hitters
In the relatively short time since its announcement, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has already generated some buzz, which is a good sign that it has the attention of RPG fans. But, slated for a 2025 release date, that puts it in competition with some highly anticipated RPGs in existing franchises. Both new games, like Avowed, a new entry in the Like a Dragon series, and the remaster of Suikoden 1 and 2, already have fans eagerly awaiting them, which raises questions about whether there will be room in the RPG landscape for Expedition 33 to thrive.
The good news for Expedition 33 is that it’s already drawing comparisons to highly successful games of the past. Sandfall has stated that it was heavily influenced by the Persona and Final Fantasy series, so players may draw some parallels to their old favorites in the new title. In particular, with its battle system and voice cast, Expedition 33 has been compared to Final Fantasy 16, potentially bridging a gap for fans of both the classic and newer systems of that franchise. Bringing the old and new together is something that may help Expedition 33 make a name for itself. However, the true draw of the game may be in its combat, as it paves a new path in the RPG landscape.
Expedition 33’s Combat May Set It Apart
The best games put gameplay first, above their plot, their soundtrack, or even their art style. So, while Expedition 33 looks promising, it can only be judged by what players feel when they jump into battle. Unfortunately, at this time there aren’t any hands-on accounts of the game, but a look into the combat system does hold clues as to what players might expect. The draw of Expedition 33’s combat is its blending of familiar RPG staples.
The game is set to use both turn-based and real-time systems, giving players an experience that few other games offer. From what’s been presented, it looks like battles will take on two different phases as they progress. It appears that players will have a turn-based style selection of their attacks and defenses, but after the selection, an action-style input system will determine the effectiveness of their moves. This unique take on a turn-based battle system ensures that fans of both types of gameplay can enjoy the experience, rather than catering to just one group of RPG fans.
Sandfall Interactive describes the combat in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, saying "Open an active dimension in combat- dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weakpoints using a free-aim system."
The beauty of this type of combat system is that it will likely feel both familiar and distinct, setting Expedition 33 apart from the myriad of other RPGs set to come out in the same timeframe. In this way, Expedition 33 offers the best of both worlds for RPG fans. The year ahead is stacked with competition, but with its beautiful graphics and stand-out game systems, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 looks set to deliver fans something that they will be talking about long after the game is over.
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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
Once a year, the Paintress wakes and paints upon her monolith. Paints her cursed number. And everyone of that age turns to smoke and fades away. Year by year, that number ticks down and more of us are erased. Tomorrow she’ll wake and paint “33.” And tomorrow we depart on our final mission - Destroy the Paintress, so she can never paint death again.
We are Expedition 33.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a ground-breaking turn-based RPG with unique real-time mechanics, making battles more immersive and addictive than ever. Explore a fantasy world inspired by Belle Époque France in which you battle devastating enemies.
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
