Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing RPGs of 2025. Developed by Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive, the game combines turn-based combat with real-time mechanics, drawing inspiration from Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey, and Xenoblade Chronicles. Its setting, inspired by Belle Epoque France, introduces a hauntingly beautiful world threatened by the Paintress, a being who dooms an entire age group to death each year. With a heavy narrative focus and a visually appealing world, the game’s linear design has drawn comparisons to Final Fantasy 10 and Final Fantasy 13, two games that handled linearity in very different ways.
Early previews suggest Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will feature a structured, story-driven progression, but the key to its success may lie in how it balances its linearity. Final Fantasy 10 demonstrated how a linear RPG could still feel expansive through backtracking, hidden paths, and meaningful exploration. Meanwhile, Final Fantasy 13 struggled with its restrictive corridors and lack of player agency for most of its runtime. If Expedition 33 can take cues from Final Fantasy 10 while avoiding Final Fantasy 13’s missteps, it could be a linear RPG that feels engaging rather than constrained.
Clair Obscur is Getting Its Own Live-Action Movie
Despite the game not being released yet, reports confirm that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will get a live-action film adaptation.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's World Must Feel Alive
One of Final Fantasy 10’s greatest strengths was its world design. Spira felt vast and alive despite the game’s linear structure because of its diverse biomes, unique cultures, and interactive environments. There were stark contrasts between places like Besaid Island and Macalania. Players could revisit older areas with new abilities, uncover hidden treasures, and engage in optional side quests. Even though the main story followed a set path, the game created a sense of scale and exploration that made the world feel larger than it was.
From what has been shown so far for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, it could seemingly benefit from a similar approach. Its world is visually stunning, with painter-appreciative environments and striking landscapes, but to keep players engaged, it needs more than just a beautiful backdrop. Hidden areas, lore-heavy NPC interactions, and optional challenges could add depth, making the journey feel dynamic rather than a straight march from one story beat to the next. If Expedition 33 can introduce elements like backtracking to previously inaccessible locations or environmental storytelling that encourages players to linger and explore, it could capture the same immersive quality that made Final Fantasy 10 so beloved.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Combat Adds Strategy
Another area where Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 aligns with Final Fantasy 10 is its combat system. Much like the Conditional Turn-Based (CTB) system in Final Fantasy 10, Expedition 33 features a turn-based structure where turn order plays a critical role in strategy. The ability to see when enemies and allies will act allows players to make tactical decisions, such as delaying an enemy’s turn or setting up powerful combos.
This kind of system helps linear RPGs remain engaging even when exploration is limited. In Final Fantasy 10, combat encounters felt dynamic because players could swap party members mid-battle, adjusting their strategies based on enemy weaknesses. If Expedition 33 can provide similar layers of depth—which it arguably is through character synergy, dodge and parry mechanics, and its skill-based mechanics—it could ensure that battles remain fresh throughout the adventure.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Linearity Must Be Engaging
One of the biggest criticisms of Final Fantasy 13 was its rigid linearity. Unlike Final Fantasy 10, which allowed for some exploration and player-driven progression, Final Fantasy 13 locked players into narrow corridors for nearly 30 hours before opening up in its later chapters. The lack of meaningful detours, hidden secrets, or even side quests in the early game made it feel restrictive.
Early impressions of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 suggest it will avoid these pitfalls. While the game is primarily linear, it features an overworld where players can travel between major locations, discover hidden treasures, and engage in combat encounters. There will also be Clair Obscur’s rendition of the traditional airship later in the game.
The game’s lore and unique premise also give it an advantage. The concept of the Paintress and her deadly countdown provides a strong narrative hook, and if the game integrates this tension into its world design—perhaps through time-sensitive events or shifting environments—it could create a gripping experience that feels urgent and immersive.
A Linear RPG Done Right
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is already drawing strong comparisons to Final Fantasy 10, and if it can replicate that game’s strengths—while avoiding the weaknesses of Final Fantasy 13—it could become one of the most compelling RPGs of the year. Its combat system, world design, and narrative potential all indicate a game that understands how to make linear progression feel meaningful.
If Sandfall Interactive can strike the right balance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 may not just be an exciting new RPG, but a blueprint for how modern linear RPGs can thrive. With its release set for April 24, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (including a day-one launch on Xbox Game Pass), players won’t have to wait long to see if it delivers.
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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
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
