Summary
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 combines turn-based gameplay with real-time mechanics, earning critical acclaim.
- Baldur's Gate 3 director Michael Douse praised the game and its cast, urging fans to support it.
Baldur's Gate 3 publishing director Michael Douse praised the newly released RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, asking players to support the game and the team behind it. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been well-received by fans and critics alike.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a new fantasy RPG that combines turn-based gameplay with real-time mechanics. Developed by Sandfall Interactive, the game was first announced during the Xbox Games Showcase in June 2024 and began building high expectations among players. Months later, in January 2025, Clair Obscur's Collector's Edition sold out within a week, further establishing its popularity. Clair: Obscur finally launched on April 24 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. The RPG quickly earned great reviews from critics, as well as support from relevant industry personalities, including Baldur's Gate 3's publishing director.
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.
Baldur's Gate 3 publishing director Michael Douse took to Twitter to compliment Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and ask players to support the game. Douse referred to how Clair: Obscur became the highest-rated game of 2025. He encouraged fans to try the game if they wanted to "play something that's really good and features some of the BG3 cast." As Douse points out, Clair: Obscur's cast features Jennifer English, who also voices Shadowheart in Baldur's Gate 3. Aside from English, the game also features other major actors like Charlie Cox, Andy Serkis, and Ben Starr.
Baldur's Gate 3 Publishing Director Shows Support for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Douse also praised Clair: Obscur's developers at Sandfall Interactive for delivering a fine RPG despite having a small team of 30 members. "This game was made by a team that has fewer people than I have years," he added in a response tweet. "This is like when you board a plane and the captain is younger than you." In addition, while Clair: Obscur is available on Xbox Game Pass, Douse asked fans to buy the game instead, as the development team can benefit best from it. In another tweet, Douse described Clair Obscur as "brilliantly attuned" and "something only small teams seemingly capture."
The release of Clair Obscur has meant a great week for RPG lovers. Players can enjoy the game's 30-hour-long campaign or extend their run to about 60 hours thanks to side content. Microsoft also tapped into the hype and gave away an exclusive Clair Obscur-themed Xbox Series X console to one lucky player. Clair Obscur's developers have confirmed that a live-action movie is already in the works as well, though the project might not be ready before 2026. Regardless, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is already one of the year's most critically acclaimed games. Whether it manages to remain at the top remains to be seen.
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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
