BBC News analyzes the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

How the studio behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 swept the world of video games

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Verso's Drafts is a new endgame area for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Expedition 33 - 16 Minutes of New DLC Area Gameplay (Verso's Drafts)

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 in concert:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Behind the Concerts - 2025 French Tour

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Gematsu reports that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sold more than 5 million copies.

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Lits Play interviewed lead writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen:

How They Wrote CLAIR OBSCUR: EXPEDITION 33 with Lead Writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen

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PCGamesN reports that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was incluenced by Lies of P.

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Wccftech reports that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 nominations.

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RPG Site reports that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is now available DRM-free on GOG.

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Twisted Voxel reports that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sold 4.4 million copies.

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Meet the cast of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 at Pax West 2025:

For Those Who Come After: Meet the Cast of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | PAX West 2025

Join panel host Ben Starr alongside some of the English voice actors and motion capture performers who brought to life your favorite characters in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Featuring Jennifer English and Charlotte Hoepffner (voice and motion capture performers for Maelle), Shala Nyx and Estelle Darnault (voice and motion capture for performers Sciel), and Ben Starr and Maxence Cazorla (voice and motion capture performers for Verso), the cast of Expedition 33 will discuss everything from the joy of playfully dueling with Gestrals (Wheee!) to the sadness of the inevitable Gommage (Whooo). Fans of the 2025 indie hit will not want to miss out on this behind-the-scenes look!

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MrMattyPlays interviewed Creative Director Guillaume Broche:

The SECRETS Behind Expedition 33 & What’s Next for Sandfall... | Guillaume Broche Opens Up

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ABC tells the story of Lorien Testard and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

The music for the hit indie game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to be one of the year's biggest scores

Lorien Testard has made just one video game soundtrack, his first and only commercially released work for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It's being touted as one of the best this year.

So how did Testard achieve this impressive feat, which has been nominated for the World Soundtrack Award longlist and praised by French president Emmanuel Macron?

By posting his SoundCloud online for anyone and everyone to listen, until exactly the right person found it.

“I would train myself by composing one song every week and post it on my SoundCloud. I did this for a year.”

"One day I shared a link to my music on an indie gamer forum and Guillaume Broche [ Director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33] found me. He presented me with his project and asked me to compose the music for the games."

[...]

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Automaton interviewed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 creative director Guillaume Broche and lead programmer Tom Guillermin:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 director says turn-based RPGs are selling better lately, but the prejudice is still there

In an interview with Automaton, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 director shares his opinions on JRPGs and the "prejudice" surrounding them.

During this year’s CEDEC in Japan, AUTOMATON had the opportunity to chat with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 creative director Guillaume Broche and lead programmer Tom Guillermin. Apart from discussing their future plans for the studio and views on other AA-developers, we asked the two developers how they felt about creating a turn-based RPG in a market dominated by action games. While many titles in the genre have performed well commercially, Broche feels that there is still prejudice revolving turn-based JRPGs.

“I could talk about the prejudice forever (laughs). Personally speaking, I think Japanese turn-based RPGs were super popular up until the Xbox 360 era. But around the time open-world games started getting more popular through gaming media, [JRPGs] started being considered “uncool” (laughs).” Broche goes on to mention the Persona series as one of the more successful examples of the genre, but suggests that JRPGs still have a long way to go in order to return to their original popularity. “While they do still sell a large number of copies, with the Persona series as a prime example, I feel like the prejudice against turn-based RPGs isn’t completely gone.”

[...]

IGN interviewed composer Lorien Testard about the soundtrack of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Composer Lorien Testard Details the Game's Haunting Soundtrack

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GdM reviewed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

REVIEW: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

At their first attempt, developers Sandfall have made an instant RPG classic in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. With its influences clear to see, the game blends classic RPG elements with modern a style and themes wrapped up in a mesmerising story. A grimdark story that pays homage to the great Japanese RPGs of the past, this is what happens when you embrace what you love whilst keeping things fresh and exciting. It is all about the execution in this original tale that has the gaming world talking.

[...]

I could write all day about Expedition 33. This is a modern classic climbing high onto the shoulders of Japanese RPGs and wrapped in a stunning cloak of French artistry. Its original, dark story is one of the best I have ever had the fortune to play and for fans of grimdark, this is the game of the year. Sandfall have painted a masterpiece that deserves all the accolades that will be coming its way. Simply stunning.

Couchpotato spotted a quiz with Jennifer English:

Can Shadowheart / Maelle Actor Remember Her Iconic Lines?

Christ Centered Gamer reviewed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PC)

Sixty-seven years ago, the world broke. An island city reminiscent of early 20th Century Paris with a bent and distorted Eiffel Tower and an Arc de Triomphe which has been split in two harkens back to this event which separated the city of Lumiere from the continent and left it adrift in the sea. This catastrophe is called "the Fracture." In the aftermath of the Fracture, a monolith rose on the northern horizon. A giantess placed a glowing number 100 upon the side of the monolith, then collapsed into a fetal position at the base of the monolith.

Once every year, the giantess, named "the Paintress" by the citizens of Lumiere, rises from her place of rest and erases the number, replacing it with the next lower number. When she does so, all the people in Lumiere who have aged past the number erased are erased with it. They vanish into dust and rose-petals never to be seen again.

[...]

Clair Obscur took me about 100 hours to do two full play-throughs (one of which was in New Game+) so I could experience both endings and pursue both of the romantic options to give the fullest treatment and my most informed opinion of the game. I managed to get all the Steam achievements as well. In my opinion it was time well spent and it flew by. Even after all that, I want more things to do in the world of Clair Obscur and would gladly play it a third time, just for the joy of it.

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The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences interviewed Lorien Testard, the composer for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

How the Music of Expedition 33 Became This Composer's FIRST Game Project | Game Maker's Notebook

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Matt checked out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

MC558: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

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CNC interviewed Benjamin Dimanche, Marketing and Publishing Producer of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

The story behind "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33", the breakout video game from French studio Sandfall Interactive

Developed between Paris and Montpellier, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’ has already sold over 3.3 million copies just a month after launch. Blending artistic inspiration, technical ambition, and rapid global success, this debut title from Sandfall Interactive is the result of a long creative process. Benjamin Dimanche, Marketing and Publishing Producer at the studio, reflects on the game's development journey on the occasion of Game Camp.

How did Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 come to life?

Benjamin Dimanche: It all started back in 2019, when Guillaume Broche began experimenting with Unreal Engine through a personal project. From the beginning, he wanted to create a real-time RPG prototype. The initial version, titled “We Lost’’, already featured elements like character names and real-time turn-based combat mechanics, which carried over into the final game. We actually released some videos of that early version not long ago. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was built around this clear creative direction, present from the start. It was during this reboot that core concepts like the Monolith, the Paintress, the Belle Époque setting, and the idea of Gommage (“Erasure’’ in French) were born. The creation of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is closely tied to the founding of the studio itself.

Early in the prototype development phase, Guillaume teamed up with programmer and longtime friend Tom Guillermin to develop the reactive combat systems. François Meurisse soon joined them, leaving his previous position. From the synergy of these three emerged Sandfall Interactive. Fun fact: Guillaume’s first Unreal project was titled “Sandfall’’, which ended up inspiring the studio's name.

What was the development process of “Clair Obscur: Expedition’’ 33 like?

The game was developed between Montpellier, where the core team is based, and Paris, home to our cinematic division. We often mention that the main team includes around 30 people to emphasize the studio’s human scale. Even at the peak of development, the number of people involved, including external partners, was far below what you'd find in a typical AAA production.

Although we have different departments within the studio (audio, character design, environment, programming, etc.), many of us are multi-talented and worked across different aspects of the game. We approached development with an indie mindset while making the most of cutting-edge tools and technologies. This flexible approach is what made a game like ours possible.

[...]

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The stories behind the making-of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on Skill Up:

The impossible (true) stories behind the making of Clair Obscur Expedition 33

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Farflame spotted two articles on Gamingbolt:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Developer “Exploring” Accessibility Features, New Content, and More

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is Frontrunner for Game of the Year – The Witcher 4 Community Director

Alexa Ray Corriea chats with Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, the lead writer on Sandfall Interactive's debut hit, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

How Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Epic Story was Crafted | Game Maker's Notebook

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Design Sync likes the combat of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Redrawing the Rules of RPG Combat

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn’t just a painterly RPG; it’s a bold experiment in hybrid combat. By fusing turn-based tactics with real-time execution, it doesn’t just bend genre rules—It dares to redraw them.

What it creates is ambitious, clever, and occasionally brilliant. But despite being interesting in it's own right, the real story is in the tradeoffs, the choices it makes, and the doors it leaves open.

In this article, we’ll break down where it hits, where it stumbles, and what it teaches us about syncing strategy with skill.

[...]

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Couchpotato spotted an accolades trailer for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Accolades Trailer

Look behind the scenes of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Exclusive First Look at The Making of Documentary | IGN Live 2025

Claire Expedition 33 Cast Shares Fun Stories!

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The Nerd Stash thinks that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 does combat the right way:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Bridges the Gap Between Real-Time and Turn-Based Action Perfectly

Out of seemingly nowhere, Sandfall Interactive launched its debut, a sophisticated and wholly entertaining RPG that is equally intellectual as it is fun to play, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Beyond the layers of thought-provoking and heart-wrenching story beats, though, and past the excellently written characters and rich, vibrant world-building lies something I find incredibly alluring: a combat system that effectively marries real-time with turn-based combat in an incredibly satisfying and unique way.

While other role-playing experiences have delivered combat systems that are reminiscent in some shape or form, like 2014’s Child of Light, for instance, which blends active elements with a classical turn-based system, I think the Montpellier-based outfit has seriously outdone themselves with Expedition 33. Not only is it a fantastic amalgam of traditional, time-honored mechanics intermixed with the new and the bold, but it’s just so perfectly executed, I’d love to see it explored even further by other developers in the genre.

[...]

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is made with the Unreal Engine:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Unreal Engine Retrospective | State of Unreal 2025

Sandfall Interactive co-founder and technical director Tom Guillermin looks back on how Unreal Engine 5 helped bring Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to life and help it reach over 3.3 million units sold in its first 33 days.

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GameSpot reviewed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 GameSpot Video Review

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The Gamer Social Club interviewed Rich Keeble - one of the voice actors of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

An Interview With Rich Keeble, Voice Actor for Monoco in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

We’ll try to get a duel organised next time!

Rich Keeble has had his fair share of memorable roles, but none quite like Monoco. The brooding, battle-thirsty philosopher from Sandfall Interactive’s breakout RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 quickly became a fan favorite for his calm delivery, dry wit, and unexpected emotional depth.

With the game hailed as a modern classic and topping critic lists, I caught up with Keeble to reflect on his journey into the role, how Monoco’s voice came to life, and what it’s been like watching the character explode in popularity.

A Booming Introduction
Keeble first came across the part through a fairly standard audition request, and is no stranger to voicing creatures and monsters. The character brief described Monoco as “ageless,” with a “deep, rich, booming” voice and a standard RP (Received Pronunciation) accent. He was sent a visual of the character, which ultimately didn’t change much from what fans now know: a masked figure with a monk-like air and a penchant for violence.

“I remember thinking, obviously a non-human character, and the voice brief was pretty typical of what I get asked for,” Keeble recalls. “But then I read the audition script, and it was actually really funny. That surprised me. It wasn’t your usual serious, dramatic video game moment.”

Rather than exaggerate the humor, Keeble leaned into naturalism. “I just did it deadpan,” he says. “The dialogue was funny enough on its own. I didn’t need to play it for laughs.”

Those instincts worked. The version of Monoco that players now know, a deep-voiced, eloquent warrior with a dry sense of humor, is almost exactly what Keeble delivered in his first audition. “The way I do it in the game is pretty much how I did it in the audition. So I guess they liked it.”

[...]

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What's next for Sandfall Interactive and Kepler Interactive?

The big Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 interview: Sandfall and Kepler on team size, the return of AA games, and what's next

Plus: how Kepler plans to be the A24 for games, and why a follow-up to Clair Obscur won't involve a big studio expansion

The success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – which sold 2 million copies within 12 days of launch – has meant all eyes are now on its developer, Sandfall Interactive.

As the games industry mulls how to move forward, faced with a saturated market, widespread layoffs and spiralling development costs, the fact that an original title made by a relatively small team could see such massive success gives hope to everyone.

It's also an emphatic validation of the strategy of Clair Obscur's publisher, Kepler Interactive, which since its formation in 2021 has focused on original titles with eye-catching art styles and mould-breaking gameplay, including Sifu, Tchia, Scorn, Pacific Drive, Ultros, Bionic Bay, and the upcoming Rematch.

"They respect creativity and innovation in games, they have a very high standard in choosing games to publish, and they are very fun people to work with," enthuses Shuhei Yoshida, former president of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios, and now a freelance consultant for Kepler. Yoshida has been helping to evaluate game pitches for the publisher since he left Sony in January, as well as helping to promote Bionic Bay and Clair Obscur.

[...]

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Gematsu reports that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sales top 3.3 million.

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has already sold more than  8 Million copies. Farflame spotted an 'Behind the Scenes' interview:

Fextralife: Clair Obscur Expedition 33 BEHIND THE SCENES - Cast Interviews (Maelle, Verso, Renoir)

Game Sandwich checked out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Invalidates its World to Put a Spotlight on Lesser Characters

Warning: Major story spoilers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 ahead. Make sure you’ve played through the story before reading this article.

Like so many others, I found myself lost in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 after its release. Typically, I’m rather hit-or-miss on turn-based RPGs, but the characters and world really sucked me in from the word go. The feeling of helplessness that everyone in Lumiere feels in those opening moments really grabbed my attention. Gustave grappling with what he could possibly say to the love of his life as every second draws them closer to her death was a gut punch that absolutely took hold of me.

[...]

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ItmeJP interviewed Sandfall Interactive co-founder and Game Director: Guillaume Broche:

How Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Came to be ft. Guillaume Broche - Dropped Frames Episode 428

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RPGFan checked out the Music of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Music Review: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Original Soundtrack

French studio Sandfall Interactive appears to have hit the motherlode with their debut title, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. As I write this review, Clair Obscur has the highest number of concurrent players on Steam that any traditional/turn-based RPG has ever achieved. Additionally, RPGFan’s own review by Zek Lu awards the game a 99 out of 100, with the sound subscore hitting a perfect 100! Additionally, the Clair Obscur soundtrack has recently topped Billboard’s “classical” and “classical crossover” album charts (source: vg247). Clearly, the musicians who worked on this game did something right.

Lead composer Lorien Testard, alongside vocalist and co-composer Alice Duport-Percier, has created over eight hours of music for Clair Obscur, presented in Laced Records’ digitally-published Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Original Soundtrack. As we enter a new era of game music production where eight-hour scores have become the new standard, I’ve developed a simple, subjective metric for evaluating the quality of such lengthy musical tomes. After listening to the entire album, do I want to hear more? Put another way: does the music overstay its welcome?

[...]

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Digital Foundry checked out the technical side of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 PC Tech Review: A Patch Or Two Away From Perfection

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RPG Site interviewed Lorien Testard, the composer of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Interview - Capturing the heart and soul of the Expedition through music

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has quickly become one of the standout RPGs of the year, with some discussions of it being a game of the year contender before the game was released to the public. This sentiment has only grown as more and more players have now gotten a chance to explore the Continent and meet Gustave and the rest of Expedition 33 for themselves.

Here at RPG Site, we awarded the game with one of our rare "10/10" scores in our review, with the game sitting at a 9.7 user score and a 9.2 critic score on Metacritic at the time of this writing. It continues to pull in more and more players into its embrace, having now surpassed 2 million copies sold within the game's first two weeks. While its story, character,s and visuals are all remarkable, one of its most talked-about aspects is its masterpiece of a soundtrack, all 150+ songs of it.

RPG Site had a chance to sit down with the game's composer, Lorien Testard, about capturing the soul of this new world through the power of his music.

RPG Site: Well, there’s no better way to start than asking you to introduce yourself, and tell us a bit about what got you into music in the first place, more specifically, composing for games?

Lorien: So I'm Lorien Testard. I’m 30 years old now, so I have three years left before the end *chuckles*. I have a really big passion for video games. I started playing when I was like three years old. My father was working at a video game shop when I was young, so I played, like, Mario Party and Mario Kart when I was really, really young, and really loved the video games for most of my life. I started doing music pretty late - I think I was 16 years old. And I .. I learned by myself for three years, then went to a music school for three years. Then I started doing some stuff on my own, like some music for trailers. I knew from the start I wanted to do music for video games, because it's really what I love and what I wanted to create. So yeah, but it's like a deep love for video games, and I still have a big love for music in video games.

[...]

The BBC checked out the development of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: How a passion project became 2025's most talked-about game

In 2020, at the height of the Covid pandemic, Guillaume Broche was like millions of others around the world.

"Bored in their job and wanting to do something different."

Working for French gaming giant Ubisoft at the time, he had an idea for his own project - a role-playing game inspired by one of his childhood favourites, the classic Japanese series Final Fantasy.

That would become Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 which, five years later, has become a sensation.

It sold one million copies in just three days, topped Spotify viral charts with its soundtrack, and even won praise from French President Emmanuel Macron.

But one of the most remarkable things about it is the story of how it was made - a tale of random Reddit messages, "massive luck" and an unusual approach to game development.

Expedition 33 is set in Lumiere, a fictional world overshadowed by a huge monolith bearing a glowing numeral on its face.

Each year an entity known as The Paintress emerges and lowers the number by one, causing everyone of that age to vanish, and the game follows a group on a quest to destroy the mysterious being.

It's an intriguing set-up for an epic tale, but the game's aesthetic, inspired by 19th-Century France, and its old-school turn-based battles also set it apart.

But the conventional wisdom when Guillaume began was that players didn't want something like that.

So, five years ago, he started to recruit people for his passion project, firing out messages on Reddit and online forums to potential colleagues.

[...]

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Shacknews interviewed Francois Meurisse about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

How Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Was Inspired By Sekio

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Wccftech reviewed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review – Don’t Fear the Paintress

When Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was announced last year, it came out of nowhere and immediately captured the attention of role-playing game enthusiasts. With traditional party-based role-playing games finding less and less representation in the AAA space, the debut game from Sandfall Interactive looked like the game that could bring the genre into the spotlight without being a nostalgia-fueled experience, as the setting, story and main cast of characters looked very unique, and far removed from those we are now used to see in similar games. In the end, the game's dark fantasy Belle Époque setting, the members of Expedition 33, and the turn-based combat system with a twist weren't just a fluke meant to lure in jaded fans of classic RPGs. They are the well-developed elements that make up one of the best role-playing games released recently.

[...]

Before launch, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 looked like a solid yet safe role-playing game, but Sandfall Interactive’s debut shattered expectations in the best possible way. With a gripping story, a beautifully written cast of characters, and engaging gameplay that breathes new life into familiar mechanics, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a journey that leaves a lasting mark on both the mind and the heart.

Score: 9.5/10

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The Outerhaven reviewed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review (PC) – Mastery Of The Medium

Right out of the gate, I was thrilled to see a new take on turn-based RPGS with the introduction of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This made me follow the cycle of this game closely, and so when it finally showed up in my email, I became ecstatic. It’s time to finally dig into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has you in the shoes of Gustave as he prepares for a festival with his adopted sister Maelle. This festival starts with a giant being known as the Paintress waking up and painting over the current 34 with the number 33. Once it is done, all the people who are 33 or older get turned into rose petals. Gustave joins an expedition called Expedition 33 that has a goal to try and take down the Paintress before she wakes up in another year. Maelle wants to join Gustave because she is bored with Life in Lumiére, the town they have lived in the entirety of their lives. Gustave wants to join because he is 32 and knows he won’t survive another year if the Paintress wakes up to make the number 33 into 32.

[...]

Summary

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an amazing experience and game, especially when you consider its development. Expedition 33 provides a narrative that gives you just enough to want to experience more, and combat gameplay that forces you to engage with its systems if you want to overcome everything that gets thrown at you.

Score: 5/5

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PC Gamer reviewed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is beautiful but it has a MASSIVE flaw

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Fextralife interviewed Ben Starr, Jennifer English, and Andy Serkis:

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 BEHIND THE SCENES - Cast Interviews (Maelle, Verso, Renoir)

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GamesRadar reviewed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review | THRILLING turn-based RPG with Sekiro parries

With high stakes story and epic turn-based battles, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will put you through the emotional wringer in a journey you won't soon forget. Developer Sandfall Interactive certainly looks to have a bright future ahead.

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Noisy Pixel reviewed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review - Everything You Could Have Wanted Out of an Adventure

I’ve been graced with living a life full of adventure through video games. One thing I’ve found over the years is that the best adventures are ones you don’t know you’re on. I understand the hype surrounding the release of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, but I don’t think gamers truly understand what they’re getting here. A developer needs to understand inspiration, but also know how to tie that back into their own means of storytelling, culture, and gameplay systems. Clair Obscur, from beginning to end, is unapologetically French. The game is both familiar and yet completely unique, thanks to its narrative pacing and combat systems. While I have a lot to say about the game, if you were at all hesitant about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, don’t be. It’s one of the greatest adventures I’ve been on, comparable to any mainline Final Fantasy release. But like any Final Fantasy, some elements may divide the player base.

[...]

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a deeply emotional and mechanically rich RPG that blends tragic storytelling with skill-based combat. Developed with unapologetic French flair, it stands as one of the most unique and unforgettable JRPG-inspired titles in recent memory.

Score: 9/10

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GameSpot checked out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Combat Is EXCELLENT

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Couchpotato spotted some reviews for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Eurogamer: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review
Score: 4/5

PC Gamer: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review
Score: 70/100

RPS: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review
No Score

Gamespot: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review - Light And Shadow
Score: 9/10

Dualshockers: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review
Score: 10/10

Siliconera: Review: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Embraces Its Premise
Score: 8/10

VG247: Clair Obscur Expedition 33 review: avoir le coup de foudre
Score: 5/5

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been released:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Lore Trailer

Lead the members of Expedition 33 on their quest to destroy the Paintress so that she can never paint death again. Explore a world of wonders inspired by Belle Époque France and battle unique enemies in this turn-based RPG with real-time mechanics.

Mortismal Gaming reviewed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Review After 100%

IGN reviewed the upcoming Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review

Couchpotato spotted a new trailer for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Official Trailer | Galaxies Gaming Showcase 2025

MinnMax checked out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Join The Deepest Dive On Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

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Learn more about the voice recording of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Behind the Voices

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GamingBolt is hyped about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

What I’m Most HYPED About In Clair Obscur: Expedition

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Sandfall Interactive released a new trailer for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Monoco Character Trailer

Couchpotato spotted a new trailer for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Expedition 33 | Sciel Character Trailer

Meet Sciel, the Cheerful and Serene Warrior. A farmer turned teacher, Sciel is warm and outgoing, enjoying life day by day. She is at ease with death, having long accepted the brutality of their world. But her teasing smile masks a dark and painful past. Though deeply committed to the Expedition, she is untroubled by the specter of failure. They will do all in their power, and it will either be enough, or it won’t.

GamingBolt checked out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition - 15 Things You NEED TO KNOW Before You Buy

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Noisy Pixel reports that more than one million gamers want to play Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

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TSA checked out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Final Preview – A journey through the devastation of loss

From the opening strains of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's beautiful title track, it’s clear that this is an RPG that’s embracing its own sense of style. With French-language vocals and sweeping orchestration, it sets a tone for a game that feels unequivocally French. When you see the twisted remains of Paris, you’ll understand why.

Clair Obscur begins in Lumiere, a city set within a fantastical interpretation of France. In this world, the oldest members of society die out, erased by the Paintress, who paints a number on her cursed monolith once a year, erasing everyone of that age. Each year, that number gets lower, slowly but surely edging towards zero. Clair Obscur opens with you bidding farewell to those aged 34, your love amongst them. Gustave, our central character, voiced by Daredevil star Charlie Cox, sets out as part of Expedition 33, a group dedicating the final year of their life to trying to combat this inevitable destruction of the human race, fighting back against the Paintress and her inexplicable taste for number-based death.

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Couchpotato spotted a new trailer for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Official Lune Character Trailer

Dualshockers checked out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Not Only Inspired By JRPGs, But Also By One Very Hard Souls-Like

Summary

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 blends real-time and turn-based elements in a unique RPG experience.
• The game draws inspiration from Final Fantasy, FromSoftware titles, and Belle Époque France.
• Expect immersive battles, unique character builds, and a rich fantasy world in this anticipated release.

Are you familiar with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? If not, you should be, as the RPG is turning heads, and what developer Sandfall Interactive has shown so far looks quite impressive.

At first glance, you might assume classic JRPG classics like the Final Fantasy games inspired the developers. While the legendary RPG franchise is indeed one of Sandfall's inspirations, it's not the only one.

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Maelle Character Trailer

ACG checked out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Expedition 33 Hands on Preview

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Learn more about Gustave:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Gustave Character Trailer

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Eurogamer checked out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Preview - Can an Incredible Battle System Make Up For Bland Exploration?

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Mortismal Gaming checked out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Early Preview

GameSpot checked out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Preview: Style and Substance

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Learn more about the combat of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Official Combat Gameplay Clip

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Couchpotato spotted a few Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 previews:

IGN: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – The Final Preview

Fextralife: Clair Obscur Expedition 33 FIRST LOOK - A Turn-Based & Real Time RPG?

RPG Site: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Preview - This may just be the standout RPG of 2025

RPGFan: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Hands-on Preview – The Brushstrokes of a Dream

Learn more about the music of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Behind the Music: Alicia [Official Music Video]

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Couchpotato spotted a Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 deep dive:

Deep Dive into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Official Xbox Podcast

For Ani-Game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the most anticipated game of 2025:

Why Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Has Become My Most Anticipated Game Of 2025

As soon as it was revealed mid last year, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 shot onto my radar as a game to keep an eye on. Its unique premise, high fidelity visuals, steampunk aesthetic and an interesting looking turn-based combat system had me wanting to know a lot more about the game. Further details about the game have been quite scarce in the months following the initial reveal, outside of announcing the main casting, but thanks to the recent Xbox Developer Direct, we now know a lot more about the game, it’s characters, and world. It’s now not just on my radar as a game to keep an eye on. It has now become my most anticipated game of 2025.

For those that may not have seen the latest trailer yet, give it a quick watch below:

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Couchpotato spotted new trailers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Game Overview

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Official Release Date Trailer

GamesRadar checked out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Saving the world with a baguette? | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

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Couchpotato spotted a new Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 trailer:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Baguette Trailer

Gamingbolt checked out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s Main Story is Over 30 Hours Long, Retails for $50

"We are a small team with an indie spirit, and we're creating something we believe is truly special," says Sandfall Interactive.

Sandfall Interactive recently debuted some new gameplay for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, its upcoming fantasy RPG, showcasing more combat and story-telling. It also revealed a star-studded cast of actors, including Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Ben Starr (Final Fantasy 16), Jennifer English (Baldur’s Gate 3), and even the legendary Andy Serkis.

Of course, the visuals and aesthetics also look downright amazing. However, when pre-orders went live, some were surprised to see it retailing for $49.99 on Amazon. The developer has since clarified on Twitter that this is correct while promising over 30 hours of playtime for the main game. Side content is extra.

“We are a small team with an indie spirit, and we’re creating something we believe is truly special. We aren’t an AAA studio, this is our first game, and we want as many people to discover our world as possible.

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Black Rune spotted a new trailer for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Cast Reveal Trailer

Eurogamer checked out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Gameplay Preview & Interview - WILL THIS BE THE NEXT BIG TURN-BASED RPG?

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Farflame spotted two previews for the J-RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

TSA: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Preview – A poignant and painterly RPG

IGN: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - The First Preview

Mortismal Gaming checked out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Gameplay Reveal & Initial Details

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Black Rune spotted some gameplay of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | First Look Gameplay

Farflame spotted an older Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 interview:

Sandfall Interactive highlights reactive turn-based mechanics, Japanese RPG inspirations, and stylish graphics for the RPG coming in 2025.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an upcoming RPG and the first release from French development team Sandfall Interactive. The game’s unique design combines fantasy and the French historical period of Belle Epoque. Currently, the stylish game is slated for a 2025 release on PS5, check out the reveal trailer if you haven’t already. 

To get a deeper dive into what’s going into this promising game, I spoke with Guillaume Broche, founder & creative director at Sandfall Interactive about the game’s unique approach to classic, turn-based RPG gameplay, classic inspirations, and even the unqiue game title itself.

What’s in a name?
One aspect of intrigue for the game is its title, so I asked Broche about the inspiration behind it. 

“‘Clair Obscur’ refers to the real-world artistic and cultural movement in France in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries,” says Broche. “It influenced the game’s artistic direction, and also refers to the overarching world of the game.” 

“Expedition 33 reflects the Expedition group led by the protagonist Gustave to destroy the Paintress,” says Broche. “The members of Expedition 33 are the protagonists of the game, and players will get to know each member of the Expedition in their journey. For years, the Paintress has painted a number on her monolith and erased everyone of that age in an event known as the Gommage, and each year a new Expedition ventures out to try to destroy her and stop the cursed cycle.” 

Other characters, such as the mage Lune, the genial warrior Sciel, and the young explorer Maelle are also part of the team, and you’ll be learning a lot about them and their histories throughout the game. 

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Rock Paper Shotgun checked out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an "evolution of JRPGs" set in 19th century France in which you fight a mad painter

Je suis perdu

We didn't get to Sandfall and Kepler Interactive's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 during our coverage of Microsoft's summer showcase, a couple of weeks ago. If memory serves, when they ran that particular trailer I was busy sponging swampwater out my eyes after writing up South Of Midnight, while Nic had become so vociferously agitated over the debut of Doom: Dark Ages that he was no longer solid and tangible enough to operate a keyboard. Graham had long since absconded with Joanna Dark to Immersive Sim Land and Matt, poor Matt, had fallen into a Locust sinkhole while "omnimanouevring" around Black Ops 6. But if one of us had been free and willing we might have had enthusiastic thoughts about this "evolution of JRPGs", in which you must thwart a self-serious artist who is about to magically murder everybody over the age of 32. It is, alas, too late for me.

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The Turn Based Lovers checked out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33:

CLAIR OBSCUR: EXPEDITION 33 IS ALREADY ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED RPGS. HERE IS OUR OVERVIEW

A few days ago, it was unveiled at the Xbox Games Showcase and has already become one of the most highly anticipated titles in the turn-based RPG genre and beyond. The game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 marks the debut of the French studio Sandfall Interactive, which includes former Ubisoft members among its team.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was introduced with a captivating trailer that highlights the innovative and compelling story at the heart of the game and its breathtaking world and responsive combat system. You can find an overview of the game with everything we know so far.

STOP THE PAINTRESS
Every year, the enigmatic and malevolent Paintress awakens and paints a cursed number upon her monolith. Each stroke of her brush erases those of that age from existence, turning them to smoke and shadows. This year, she will paint “33,” and with that, the members of Expedition 33 face their doom unless they succeed in their mission: to destroy the Paintress and end her deadly cycle.

The expedition is led by the engineer Gustave, accompanied by Maelle, who is also Gustave’s foster sister, and other characters that will be presented in the next month.

AN EXPANSIVE WORLD TO EXPLORE AND A REACTIVE COMBAT SYSTEM
Players will traverse a beautifully crafted world inspired by Belle Époque France, from the Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield, uncovering secrets, hidden quests, and new allies. The game features stunning Unreal Engine 5 graphics and, from what we heard from the trailer also a captivating soundtrack.

The combat system in Clair Obscur combines traditional turn-based mechanics with real-time actions, allowing for dodges, parries, and combos. Players can utilize a free aim system to target enemy weak points and craft unique builds for their characters through gear, stats, skills, and synergies.

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