2025 has been shaping up to be quite an exciting year for the games industry, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is among the annum's most significant releases, much to the surprise of many. The French JRPG is a breakout smash-hit from newfound studio Sandfall Interactive, and it's far more than just a respectable debut: it's a strong candidate for Game of the Year.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has a number of strengths worth gushing about, from its striking art style to its captivating narrative, but its combat arguably steals the show. Indeed, Clair Obscur's novel turn-based system is proof that the once-ubiquitous approach of older RPGs is far from obsolete, and with any luck, it will encourage other studios to experiment with turn-based fundamentals. It might seem like a bit of a left-field suggestion—and in some ways, it certainly is—but the ever-relevant Star Wars property might actually have some use for Clair Obscur's more effective combat mechanics down the road. With Star Wars clearly attempting to expand its reach in the gaming sphere, branching into different genres for a diverse portfolio, a turn-based RPG makes a lot of sense, and Clair Obscur seems like as good an inspiration as any.
One Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Build is Not For Everyone
Among the builds in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, there's one that can be powerful, but comes with enough risks that some players may want to avoid it.
A Future Star Wars RPG Could Find Easy Inspiration in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Combat Is an Oddly Great Template for Star Wars To Follow
Considering Star Wars' push into a wide range of genres, including soulslike and strategy, it seems like only a matter of time until the franchise dips its toes back into the realm of RPGs. Of course, Star Wars was the backdrop for several prominent RPGs many years ago, with the Knights of the Old Republic duology being the most notable examples of this foray. But those BioWare-developed games are decidedly western, and certainly relics of their era. In the modern age, an ambitious, cinematic RPG seems more fitting, and it could stand out from other action-oriented Star Wars games by being turn-based.
Clair Obscur proves that turn-based combat doesn't need to be a restriction; it can actually be just as deep and expressive as the best real-time combat sandboxes. Crucially, Clair Obscur takes a lot of leaps with its turn-based system, incorporating real-time mechanics like dodges and parries, which makes the experience far more complex, rewarding, and multifaceted. But beyond that, the game's unique approach to character-specific abilities and classes makes for a decidedly varied experience, which would translate nicely to a Star Wars game.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Class System Would Work Wonders in a Star Wars RPG
Each playable character in Clair Obscur has a unique set of abilities, which is to be expected, but the game takes an extra step by giving them each unique long-term mechanics. For example, Sciel can inflict Foretell on enemies, which will enhance the effects of her other powers, while Maelle can switch stances, thereby augmenting her next move. This makes each character feel genuinely distinct from one another to a degree rarely seen in turn-based systems, and this diversity could be a boon when paired with the Star Wars mythos.
Consider a Star Wars RPG with a cast of playable Jedi, bounty hunters, gunslingers, and the like. Borrowing from Clair Obscur's character-specific mechanics could allow each character to function in a fundamentally unique way, furthering their personality both inside and outside of gameplay. Maybe a Han Solo-esque gunslinger could rack up critical hits through blaster shots, or a master Jedi could charge up powerful Force attacks through repeated lightsaber maneuvers. However the specifics would shake out, such a combat framework feels like an easy match for the Star Wars universe, and might be worth considering as the IP continues to grow.
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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
