Summary
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 avoided a mini-map to enhance immersion and focus on its level design.
- Sandfall Interactive values player exploration, defending the lack of a mini-map.
- Fans are split on the absence of a mini-map, with some praising it and others finding it frustrating.
According to the CEO and creative director of Sandfall Interactive, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 opted not to include a mini-map in the hit RPG because doing so would have distracted fans from its beautiful and otherworldly level design. Though some might criticize Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for its lack of a mini-map, the developers believe it allows players to better immerse themselves in the world.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a new turn-based RPG by French indie studio Sandfall Interactive. The game has seen phenomenal success since its release on April 24, but it has not been without criticism – and one of the biggest pain points has been its lack of a mini-map.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Exec Comments on Possible Switch 2 Version
Sandfall Interactive comments on the possibility of releasing a Nintendo Switch 2 version of the popular Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Now, one of the minds behind the groundbreaking title has revealed why Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 skipped this feature. “It makes it boring,” Sandfall CEO and Expedition 33 creative director Guillaume Broche said during an interview with ItmeJP, Ezekiel_III, and CohhCarnage of Dropped Frames on Twitch. “When I played Final Fantasy 10, I just look at the mini-map. I don’t enjoy the environment. I don’t remember the level design. I just remember the maps.” He went on to explain that, despite his dislike of mini-maps, he uses them when available simply because they are there. And so, when designing Clair Obscur, Sandfall didn't add a mini-map and instead took inspiration from games like Dark Souls, which rely on environmental cues and memory to guide fans.
‘It Makes It Boring’ – Clair Obscur CEO on Mini-Maps
Of course, the downside of this approach is that players can easily miss out on secret encounters, items, and quests in Clair Obscur. However, Broche doesn’t see this as a bad thing. “Yeah, you’re going to miss stuff. Yes, you’re not going to find all the secret passages. That’s the beauty of RPGs – missing stuff,” he explained. “When you stop the game and are like ‘Oh, maybe I should have gone to this little pass that I saw before, maybe there was something.’ Then, you remember all the game, all the level design and everything, and it makes the exploration a lot better.” In this way, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 prioritizes immersion over completion.
Many fans have agreed with Sandfall’s decision to go without a mini-map. The choice allows Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s fantastical environments to shine and heightens the feel of the classic RPG, without relying on modern gaming conventions that many believe would “ruin” the experience. Like Dark Souls, fans must pay attention to the world in order to navigate and find secrets, rather than keeping their eyes glued to a mini-map as they sprint from waypoint to waypoint.
Yeah, you’re going to miss stuff. Yes, you’re not going to find all the secret passages. That’s the beauty of RPGs – missing stuff. When you stop the game and are like, ‘Oh, maybe I should have gone to this little pass that I saw before, maybe there was something.’ Then, you remember all the game, all the level design and everything, and it makes the exploration a lot better.
On the other hand, others think Clair Obscur should have included the feature. Many cite the inability to track player progress through zones as frustrating, especially with labyrinthine areas and limited camera options. Even if there is no mini-map, some have suggested other ideas to improve navigation and UI, such as the ability to place waypoints or notes on the world map. Either way, whether one sees the lack of a mini-map as a boon or a detriment, it seems the decision was made in order to help Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 reach its full potential.
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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
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
- PC Release Date
- April 24, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- April 24, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- April 24, 2025
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 42.33 GB
- Wiki
