Summary
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 blends influences from Persona and Final Fantasy 10, with hidden nods to Zelda.
- The game offers a unique mix of captivating story, jaw-dropping scenery, and engaging gameplay mechanics.
- The game's influences can be seen in combat, art style, and narrative themes, creating a truly immersive RPG experience.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has really taken the gaming space by storm since its release, rising to become what may put up a very strong fight at the 2025 Game Awards. In many ways, it offers something that has never (or at least, rarely) been offered before, from its jaw-dropping scenery to its captivating story, all alongside some of the most fulfilling and engaging gameplay mechanics seen in a modern RPG. However, it didn't get here all on its own, and it has no shame in admitting where it came from, particularly when it comes to its many influences.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the largest games in recent memory, not because it has the biggest world map or the most content, but because it is somehow everything else and yet its own thing at the same time. Within Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, there are a wide variety of influences in its gameplay and worldbuilding, some of which can be clearly seen and others that are a bit more subtle. While it has the names of two of its biggest influences written all over it, one of its other influences it keeps tucked away in its pocket, revealing it every now and again in the most charming fashion.
The Unwritten Rules of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Explained
Before venturing into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, there are some unwritten rules about its combat and exploration players should take note of.
Clair Obscur's Zelda Influences Are Hidden Among Its Most Prominent
Clair Obscur Has Obvious Final Fantasy 10 and Persona Influences
It's no secret by now that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has Final Fantasy 10 and Persona influences. Even those who have never played the game can see those inspirations almost as clear as day. Clair Obscur's Persona influences are primarily found in its combat and art style, down to the menu design both in and out of battle looking strikingly similar to Persona 5 Royal's. Its Final Fantasy 10 influences, on the other hand, are a bit of a different story.
The dark themes and art design of Clair Obscur could be likened to Final Fantasy 16 as well, which makes sense, considering Final Fantasy 16's Ben Starr is also the talented voice behind Verso in Clair Obscur.
Unlike Clair Obscur's Persona influences, its Final Fantasy 10 roots can be felt more than seen. Clair Obscur's storyline revolves around a group of 33-year-olds who have set off on a dangerous Expedition to confront and eliminate the Paintress, who annually causes individuals of a specific age to vanish in a mysterious phenomenon known as the "Gommage." This premise is very similar to Final Fantasy 10's narrative, where a group sets out to confront a destructive force known as "Sin." Both Clair Obscur and Final Fantasy 10 explore themes of sacrifice, destiny, and the bonds formed between companions on a journey to save the world.
Clair Obscur Has Zelda Influences Hidden Beneath Its Skin as Well
Persona and Final Fantasy 10 aren't Clair Obscur's only influences, though — they're just the most obvious. Hidden beneath its JRPG exoskeleton, one might find bits and pieces of The Legend of Zelda as well, particularly when it comes to Clair Obscur's Gestrals. These interesting creatures resemble something straight out of The Legend of Zelda, most notably the Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask era. Their art design and peculiar personalities are a perfect fit for Zelda, and Clair Obscur even has players going off in search of lost Gestrals just as they do the Korok Seeds in Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
It's no secret by now that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has Final Fantasy 10 and Persona influences.
There's even a location on Clair Obscur's overworld map called "Lost Woods," which may not be a direct reference to Zelda's Lost Woods due to Clair Obscur's being a minor location, but still seems too much of a coincidence not to be a direct reference. In any case, it's safe to say that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 not only knows where it came from but is also okay with admitting it. While its Persona and Final Fantasy 10 influences are clear as day, its Zelda influences are also a major part of its identity. There are likely plenty of other influences there as well.
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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
