Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Reviews
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a cinematic RPG experience that showcases both visual and audio prowess.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a addition to the turn-based RPG genre, one that boasts challenging, engaging combat mechanics and plays out in a distinct and utterly beautiful fantasy world. From start to finish, I was fascinated by the sights,sounds and tasks that lay ahead. If you love RPGs, it should be at the top of your list; I really can't recommend it enough.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has exceeded every one of my expectations. Sandfall Interactive's debut title is one of the greatest accomplishments in gaming, delivering a well-paced, polished, and unforgettable experience.
Expedition 33 is one of those experiences that redefine your concept of what an RPG can be. What Sandfall Interactive has achieved in their debut is simply astonishing: a narrative that captivates you from the first second with adult characters facing complex moral dilemmas; a revolutionary turn-based combat system that transforms each encounter into a strategic dance full of tension; and a visually stunning world that masterfully blends Belle Époque with dark fantasy. The conversations at the campfires have made me laugh, cry, and reflect on life itself. Its bosses have challenged me like few games manage to do. And its soundtrack continues to resonate in my head weeks after finishing the adventure. More than a game, it's an interactive work of art that will remain in my memory for years. Without exaggeration, one of the best debuts from a studio that I've seen in decades as both a player and critic.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Using the classics as a canvas, Sandfall Interactive has painted the modern turn-based RPG we've been dreaming of for years. And, like all great paintings, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will remain etched in our memory for a long, long time.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a story I needed in a world that feels like it’s falling apart. Things are not always what they seem, and there's always hope, no matter the odds. A better world is possible; you just need people willing to fight for it. When one falls, we continue.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a stunning, ambitious first outing for Sandfall Interactive.
Sandfall Interactive's debut RPG perfectly fuses the deep strategy of turn-based combat with the satisfying challenge and mastery of real-time action games, resulting in a wholly unique experience that sets itself apart. Together with the game's stellar storytelling, jaw-dropping presentation, and good overall performance, that makes it one of 2025's must-play titles — and a huge release for Xbox Game Pass.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 gets it right in all the areas that matter. Its storytelling carries emotional depth, and the characterization makes you care about everyone you meet on your journey through this beautifully imagined world. Throw in a combat system that puts mastery above grinding, and you’ve got a classic RPG that, like Baldur’s Gate 3 before it, should appeal beyond its target audience, so much so that a game of the year nomination feels inevitable.
This is a story of heartbreak and loss, yes, but also the importance of persevering. That’s not a hard thing to want to do when a game looks and plays as wonderfully as this.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a strong debut title for Sandfall Interactive, with compelling characters and an original, unsettling story that’s part allegory, part surreal fantasy. Its turn-based/real-time hybrid combat is well thought out and grows more interesting as the game progresses. Some narrative pacing issues and repetitive enemy encounters pull Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from the brink of greatness. Still, it remains a unique and engaging take on both fantasy storytelling and JRPGs.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a title of rare beauty. An unexpected masterpiece that will appeal to all fans of turn-based RPGs.
Review in Italian | Read full review
I do not say this spontaneously or hyperbolically: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a generational RPG. The quality of writing is pitch-perfect at every step, vividly depicting the somber world and its tragic circumstances with glorious technique. Combat always feels rewarding when successful, but it can feel like a slog if you don't get the hang of the parry and trait systems. The linear nature of the game helps to balance out the lack of mini-map, so try and not let those factors keep you away from at least trying this brilliant game.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the most refreshing and original RPGs in years, even if it's not immediately obvious from the outside looking in. The intriguing setup expands to provide an engrossing, excellent narrative with lovable and charismatic characters. The exemplary combat goes above and beyond its turn-based traditions with flashy fights and new ways to damage. This is the kind of experience that proves there's still so much potential and creativity in the bigger-budget video game space - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is simply sublime.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a thunderous debut from Sandfall Interactive. Its palette is brimming with cleverly engaging turn-based combat, impeccable art direction, and voice performances that rival feature films. The result is an incredible work of video game art. This game is worth more than the asking price, and I highly recommend it.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 feels like a real next step for modern RPG games. Sandfall has achieved something truly special.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The developers give us everything they have, everything they want, and we receive it with pleasure and emotion. Ultimately, all it would have lacked was a nice balance and a little more polish to make it a true masterpiece. It remains nonetheless an excellent game and, above all, a serious contender for the most prestigious awards of the year.
Review in French | Read full review
Perhaps talking about GOTY may be a bit hasty, but it's almost certain that it's a title that will be among the candidates.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is a monumental work, perfectly balanced in length and pace of play, with an engaging combat system and a progression system among the best in its category. Equipped with an exciting story, full of twists and a profound final message, it will bewitch anyone who decides to embark on Expedition 33. We wholeheartedly recommend it to any fan of "Japanese-style" RPGs.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Despite its occasionally confounding UI and weak level design, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an essential turn-based RPG that is both a love letter to its inspirations and a potential vision of the genre's future.