Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sandfall Interactive’s debut outing published by Kepler Interactive, is a gripping RPG that follows the perilous journey of the eponymous Expedition 33. This group seeks to uncover the truth behind their world and confront the enigmatic Paintress, whose existence threatens the very survival of the people of Lumiere.

Each year, the Paintress marks her monolith with a number, erasing all individuals of that age from existence—a phenomenon that brings humanity ever closer to extinction. In a desperate attempt to break the curse, brave souls embark on expeditions to the forgotten continent each year, hoping to unearth the Paintress’s secrets and end this cycle.

This is the story of Expedition 33’s brave explorers, a powerful tale of sacrifice, discovery, and defiance in the face of destiny. This is arguably one of the best games you’ll play this year, quite possibly a strong contender for Game of the Year nods, and a phenomenal must-play experience.

For Those Who Come After

Many RPGs boast expansive lore yet struggle with delivering a compelling plot, while others craft intricate narratives but fall short in world-building. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a rare gem that balances both, blending familiar RPG elements with its distinct charm to create a fresh and engaging experience.

From its mysterious yet emotionally charged prologue, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wastes no time setting the stakes. The storytelling is tight, and the pacing is deliberate, ensuring players are drawn into the world without unnecessary exposition. Unfolding as a gripping three-act drama, the crisis is crystal clear within the first 30 minutes, getting players invested from the start and setting the stage for the journey ahead.

When players think they have unraveled the story’s intricacies, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 delivers unexpected twists and mysteries that keep them guessing, while landing and resolving all of the twists masterfully. The journey gradually reveals the continent’s secrets, culminating in an explosive, poignant, yet restrained finale.

The emotional weight of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33‘s story is heightened by its well-crafted characters. As the protagonist, Gustave is the perfect lens through which to explore this world, brought to life by Charlie Cox’s (Marvel’s Daredevil, Stardust) exceptional voice work.

Along the way, players meet a compelling cast to care about, including the enigmatic Lune, the spirited Maelle, and the determined Sciel. Each carries personal struggles, ambitions, and conflicts that shape the party dynamic, allowing players to forge deeper connections through meaningful interactions.

One of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s defining traits is its unmistakable French identity. From its humor and cultural nuances to the overall feel, it exudes the same level of distinct craftsmanship that makes Japanese RPGs instantly recognizable. Even the in-game wardrobe system offers cosmetic items that celebrate its “Frenchness” in an entertaining way.

Having played both the English and French versions, I can confidently say that both language options are a pleasure to experience. The only challenge with the French dub is the subtle cultural references and inside jokes, which may get lost on the player. Fortunately, subtitles provide ample support, especially during fast-paced moments in battle and exploration.

Nonetheless, the English version of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is equally as compelling. The fantastic voice performances from big name Hollywood stars including the aforementioned Charlie Cox to Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes) to acclaimed video game voice actors including Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI) and Jennifer English (Baldur’s Gate III, Elden Ring) add nuance and urgency to the drama experienced by a wide cast of characters.

33 Mortals

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 quickly introduces players to its expansive overworld map, offering a true sense of scale. Initially, only the city of Lumiere and a small portion of the continent are visible, but exploration soon opens up, reminiscent of classic RPGs like Final Fantasy, where players traverse landscapes, battle creatures, and explore dungeons.

The adventure begins in a linear fashion, yet allows for exploration within set boundaries until players are ready to advance the main quest. As new traversal mechanics emerge, such as Esquie’s ability to navigate rocky terrain and water, the world expands further, culminating in airborne exploration.

Despite utilizing a familiar RPG framework, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 presents its world with fresh artistic flair, resembling a living impressionist painting. The terrain shifts from lush forests and humid swamps to towering cliffs, reinforcing a sense of discovery. However, the continent is riddled with dangers, leading to the game’s intense and remarkable combat system.

Combat in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is fast-paced yet deeply strategic. Drawing inspiration from Persona 5, battles incorporate melee attacks, ranged weapons, skill usage, and item management. Defensive maneuvers such as dodging, parrying, and jumping offer players the chance to mitigate damage, and well-timed actions create openings for counterattacks, rewarding fast reflexes.

Skills require Action Points (AP), which are accumulated through basic attacks, parrying, or meeting specific skill-based conditions. Each character possesses abilities that can be activated with precise timing to enhance effectiveness. Mastering these mechanics allows players to chain status effects and passive skills required for the more challenging battles. For instance, enemies can be afflicted with “burn” using fire-based attacks or “marked” via ranged weapons, triggering additional effects such as bonus AP, increased damage, or extra turns. A stagger bar adds further depth, breaking an enemy’s defense and stunning them, leaving them vulnerable to an all-out assault.

The first act offers a generous learning curve, ensuring players grasp defensive techniques and combo setups without getting overwhelmed. Dodging and jumping provide broad evasion opportunities, while parrying demands precision but yields significant AP rewards, making risk-taking worthwhile.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 revitalizes turn-based combat without re-inventing the wheel, building upon the familiar while introducing fresh mechanics. Accessibility options allow difficulty adjustments for those struggling with timing, yet the default setting maintains a balanced experience that is neither unreasonable nor unfair.

Exploration-wise, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 streamlines and keeps players away from the busywork. Inventory management is simplified with an elixir for party healing during exploration and separate health, AP, and revival potions for combat. Charges and enemies regenerate at camps or checkpoints, similar to Soulslike titles. Hidden caches and “painted cages” require players to uncover seals and break them to access rare items, rewarding curious minds.

The game also eliminates tedious random encounters, encouraging players to think through extended dungeon runs that make it feel like a genuine expedition. Checkpoints enable fast travel within dungeons, while unlocking shortcuts creates convenient backtracking routes.

Loot consists of weapons, Pictos (accessories that grant passive abilities upon battle completion), and Tints (used for equipment upgrades, stat resets, and Lumina point allocation). Weapons come with inherent passive skills, but do not transfer to characters. With equipment leveling up through combat and upgrades, players are not bogged down by the endless gear grind, but rather setting the party up for more customization.

Character progression features an extensive skill tree, providing specialization options based on player preference. Though rare, tints allow for stat respecs, allowing players to make adjustments without jumping through hoops and ensuring that characters evolve according to the challenges ahead.

Tomorrow Comes

As Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 progresses into its later acts, players gain full access to the expansive world, discovering its unique activities and diverse inhabitants. Quests range from dealing with the warrior-merchant Gestrals to assisting the composed Grandis, while even the non-violent Nevrons offer tasks that require players to manually record notes, preserving that old-school RPG feel.

The game’s difficulty curve rises gradually, allowing players to adapt without frequent character respecs until midway through Act II. At this stage, advanced mechanics such as Gradient Attacks and Counters are introduced—powerful abilities similar to Ultimate skills that grant extra turns and increased damage, improving the dynamic for the midgame and endgame encounters.

Like many RPG endgame scenarios, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 presents an optional yet rewarding endgame experience like Final Fantasy titles. While the final dungeon stands ready for those seeking closure, players are free to roam the world, tackle formidable superbosses, and hunt for legendary equipment to maximize their characters’ potential.

A careful balance between modern accessibility and an “old-school feel” defines Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s design. Its streamlined inventory system minimizes clutter, ensuring efficient loot management without overwhelming players. Party mechanics are equally refined, allowing three active members to receive full experience while reserves earn a portion, still rewarding players without the unnecessary grinding.

This addresses a common frustration in traditional RPGs: excessive time investment. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 respects the player’s time by streamlining progression and rewarding efficiency, delivering an engaging experience that can be completed in 30-40 hours without sacrificing depth. This balance is struck perfectly, leaving players fulfilled without overstaying its welcome.

While largely polished, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 carries a few minor quirks. The auto-save system, lacking manual save options, limits the ability to revisit key moments post-completion, despite offering up to 10 save slots. Additionally, the absence of a mini-map in dungeons occasionally makes navigation challenging, particularly where terrain can look and feel quite repetitive. It would’ve been more fun if, as we collected previous expedition journals, they came with maps of the dungeons, strengthening the expedition theme altogether.

On the technical side, button mapping on PS5 may feel unconventional at first—the pause screen is accessed via the trackpad, while the character menu uses the pause button, leading to initial confusion. Minor hiccups also appeared during our playthrough, but they were extremely small inconveniences that hardly affected the overall experience and nothing that a day one patch can’t polish.

Despite these small drawbacks, the game’s vast world, rich lore, and compelling narrative more than make up for them. Discovering remnants of past expeditions through journals offers a bittersweet glimpse into Lumiere’s fractured history, enhancing the emotional weight of exploration.

Beyond the grand adventure, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 encourages players to unwind. Collecting cosmetic wardrobe items lets characters don amusing or stylish outfits, adding flair to their journey. The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, reminiscent of NieR: Automata, is a delight, and records scattered across the world allow players to relive its melodies at their campsite.

At first glance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 presents an epic tale filled with mystery and overwhelming stakes. Yet, as the layers unfold, it transforms into an intimate story of personal struggles, reflecting the characters’ anxieties and desires amidst their dire circumstances.

Ultimately, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 confronts players with profound questions. Do we retreat into comforting illusions, denying reality? Or do we embrace life and face the ugly and imperfect truth head-on? Through its journey, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 compels us to reflect, leaving a lasting impression long after the credits roll and its final notes fade into memory.

Verdict: Buy It!

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a resounding triumph from Sandfall Interactive. It delivers a refreshingly bold RPG experience that stands out in a genre often crowded with titles that miss the mark. With meticulous balance, the game offers a blend of old meets new while crafting a tightly woven narrative alongside an excellent turn-based combat system that is simple to learn and strategically deep.

Few studios manage to achieve the level of cohesion that this title does, excelling in storytelling, world-building, and combat design. Every element comes together perfectly to create an immersive audiovisual journey, pulling players into the expedition, allowing them to live, struggle, and forge bonds with their fated party. The experience is rich with emotion, weaving moments of victory and sadness into an unforgettable adventure.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a genre-defining masterpiece, most importantly in its stellar storytelling and gameplay innovation. The journey alongside the main cast is one of hope, resilience, and discovery that will surely resonate with players for a while. Without a shadow of a doubt, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has what it takes to be a strong Game of the Year contender and one of the year’s best games.

Absolument magnifique!

*Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was reviewed on a PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.