Summary
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won't have a mini-map.
- Players will have access to a compass, with the developers urging free exploration.
- The title recently went gold and will be released on April 24 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
The upcoming RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won't feature a mini-map, with players being asked to instead rely exclusively on a compass as they explore the game's world. Quickly becoming one of the most highly anticipated titles of 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 promises to combine some of the best parts of the Final Fantasy and Persona franchises in an entirely new and novel IP.
Developed by the French studio Sandfall Interactive, the dark fantasy RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will tell the story of a group of adventurers on a quest to stop the Paintress, who has the ability to kill everyone of a certain age by simply drawing the numbers on a massive monolith. Being made by a small team of 30 developers, the game has already found massive success ahead of its April release, with preorders for the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Collector's Edition selling out within its first few days on the market. More details regarding the title continue to pop up, with the game's producer now confirming that one common feature won't be making an appearance.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 May Oddly Inherit the Best Combat Mechanics of Paper Mario, Super Mario RPG
The Mario RPGs couldn't seem more different from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, but some unusual similarities can be found in their combat.
Francois Meurisse, the COO of Sandfall Interactive and producer of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has confirmed (via Eurogamer) that the game won't include a mini-map, as players are encouraged to explore. According to Meurisse, there is also a canonical reason why players won't be able to rely on a mini-map. "We want players to discover the world as the expedition does it. They don't have a map because every previous expedition failed. So yes, sometimes it can be difficult to find their way," he explained. Players will, however, be able to see an overview map of the entire game world, and will also be able to consult a compass as they try to get their bearings. Audiences are responding well to the game's unique style, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 recently going gold.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Won't Include a Mini Map
According to Meurisse, the title will feature both linear and semi-open world portions to tell a more focused story. Despite its impressive graphics and flashy combat, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will be available for a price much lower than many expected, retailing for $49.99 at launch and promising to contain at least 30 hours of content. Developers at Sandfall Interactive aimed to make the game accessible to as many people as possible, stating that as an indie studio, the pricing made sense.
In January, despite the game being months away from launch, it was announced that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was getting a live-action feature film adaptation, with the game's developers working closely with Story Kitchen on the project. Sandfall Interactive's first game is scheduled to be released on day one for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on April 24, with the title also coming to PlayStation 5.
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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
