This list contains major spoilers for the story and ending of Expedition 33!
Summary
- Sophie and Gustave's love story adds depth to the game's narrative, driven apart by differing views on children.
- The Fracture marked a catastrophic event that ripped the city away from the mainland, shaping the world of Clair Obscur.
- Gestrals, created by Verso from a child's painting, wear masks to shield innocence from the harsh reality of the Gommage.
Clair Obscur is a rare case where a game gets everything right, from gameplay to story to aesthetics, and more. Players are constantly on the edge of their seats right up until the game ends, and with so much lore and such a rich world to explore, it is nearly impossible to take in everything in a single playthrough.
Clair Obscur Fan Makes Interesting Discovery While Walking in Montpellier
A keen-eyed fan of Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 spots a familiar sight while exploring Montpellier, France.
The lore of Lumière is everywhere in the world, from minor environmental details to logs that reveal more about the past than was initially known. In any case, there are plenty of crucial details that many players will have missed that are incredibly important to understanding how everything connects and how the universe was even formed.
7 Gustave And Sophie
A Love That Could Never Be
Before players are whisked off on their expedition on the mainland, they are given the opportunity to explore the Lumière square, interesting with a variety of NPCs of all kinds, both as Sophie and Gustave. It is revealed right from the start that the two were romantically together at some point in time, but are now separated yet still friendly with one another.
The reason for this is revealed through several pieces of dialogue with people around the square, where Sophie talks about the Gommage and the idea of bringing children into the world being cruel and unfair. It is also made clear that Gustave was interested in having children, contrasting with Sophie, and driving the two apart. It's a subtle detail that reveals more about the two characters and adds even more weight to aspects of the game like Gustave's relationship with Maelle and his journal.
6 The Fracture
Before The World Was Broken
Long before the game took place, there was an event known as the Fracture, a hugely destructive event that ripped the city away from the mainland and marked the beginning of the Gommage. Some humans were left behind on the mainland, but all were presumed dead due to the lack of safety from Nevrons and the harshness of the world.
Clair Obscur Offers Clarification on How the Gommage Works
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 provides some backstory about how the Gommage works, including answers to some top fan questions.
After the Fracture, many of the creatures on the mainland were effectively lost to time and became more mystical and legendary than realistic. While the actual reason for the event is still up in the air, it is suggested by Verso that it could have occurred during the conflict between Renoir and the Paintress, and that if Maelle continues to pursue her father that the same event could happen again.
5 Gestral Masks
Hiding The Truth Beneath
Gestrals are a unique creature in the world of Clair Obscur that are a stark contrast to the bleakness found in the rest of the world and the story. They are found throughout the adventure as carefree creatures that are more interested in cooking and brawling than fighting against the darker forces in the world.
But their existence isn't purely random, and it is revealed that they are the creations of Verso from a painting of his own, coming directly from the mind of an innocent child, hence their personalities. Things go even further, as the children in Lumiere are seen wearing the masks, with their distinctive lack of features. The reason for this relates directly to the Gommage, as by wearing the masks, the children are unable to watch their parents and loved ones fade away, maintaining as much of that innocence as possible.
4 Writers
Others Outside Of The Painting
The whole concept of Clair Obscur revolves around painting and art. Everything from gameplay mechanics to the story has some reference to creation and paint, but there are even more otherworldly powers that go beyond just the visual world.
The Writers are an elusive group that is mentioned in passing a few times, with little extra details revealed outside of speculation. Clea believes that they are responsible for Verso's death and Alicia's affliction, and it is clear that there are far more people in the real world who hold just as much, if not more, power than the Dessendre family.
3 Monoco
A Lovable Friend From Before
Monoco has quickly become a fan favorite character for many, and it is easy to see why. A feet-loving Gestral, who cares about nothing more than fighting in battle, except for maybe Verso. His existence in the world is thanks to Verso, who created him to play with, named after his beloved dog.
This makes their relationship feel much more complete, as the two clearly share a deep bond in battle and as friends, with that bond going deeper than just their interactions in the game. On top of this, Monoco's desire for the feet of his enemies comes from the idea of stepping into another person's shoes, and as a way of escaping life in the same way that the painters do with their art.
2 Simon
Love That Transcends Time
Simon is a boss that players can encounter in the later stages of the game and is quite the challenge even for high-level characters. His existence isn't entirely clear at first, but it is found out that he was a member of the infamous expedition zero and a close friend of Verso.
Also, he is revealed to have been the love interest of Clea, someone whom he attempted to free by taking on the Curator. But this plan unfortunately failed, and he was actually repainted by the real Clea to serve her, hence his placement in the world and the game.
1 Sciel And Esquie
The Hidden Savior
Sciel is one of the more tragic characters in the party that often takes a backseat to the other characters, but has just as much lore and story to tell through her dialogue at the camp. It is known that her husband died quite early on, and for keen listeners, there is far more to the story both for her and Esquie.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - 7 Central Themes That Run Throughout The Game
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 features an incredibly rich story full of thematic depth and intrigue. Here's a look at the game's core themes.
During an interaction between the two, she mentions that she intended to drown herself after her husband's passing, but somehow survived despite swimming out into the ocean with no way of returning to shore. As it turns out, it was Esquie who saved her, taking her back to land without ever revealing himself until their conversation, a heartwarming detail that is only shown after many nights spent at camp.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Released
- April 24, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sandfall Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
