Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Reviews
Channeling true JRPG excellence while putting its own western twist on the genre and turn-based combat, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an absolutely belting game. It has exquisite writing and story craft, wonderfully stylish and multifaceted combat, and is a blisteringly beautiful assault on all the senses from top-notch voice acting and audio to some of the most beautiful environments I’ve seen in years. It has the scope and execution of a game built by hundreds of developers, not a few dozen, and is easily an early game of the year contender.
Clair Obscur is not a genre revival, but it builds on proven foundations and brings a fresh wind of originality. With the combination of high-quality story and strong characters it makes a compact and bloated experience with the heart. Thanks to those a few flaws you'll gladly forgive it for.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
"Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" is one of the best role-playing games of the past ten years and a strong contender for Game of the Year. Developer Sandfall Interactive has created a true masterpiece with its debut game.
Review in German | Read full review
For anyone looking for an RPG that values story, timing, and character over spectacle, this is one worth seeing through. It’s smart without being complicated. Focused without feeling small. And when it ends, it stays with you.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a hybrid of tactical combat and real-time interaction that reinvents traditional turn-based systems with dodging, parrying, counters, and timed attacks. Through a highly stylized visual approach, dynamic storytelling, and a deeply flexible party system, Clair Obscur delivers a refreshing take on the genre, backed by a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack and surprisingly poignant character moments.
Sandfall Interactive has absolutely delivered a polished RPG with memorable characters and a unique world. Even with some pacing and polish issues, the experience sticks. If you’re into narrative-heavy games with strong vibes and can tolerate a few annoyances, it’s well worth it.
Just a while ago, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 could have been called a dark horse — a hidden gem with untapped potential. But not anymore. With its official release, it’s proven itself worthy of being a Game of the Year contender.
Review in Korean | Read full review
If Clair Obscur - Expedition 33 doesn't appear in all the best lists of the year despite its strange title at first glance, you still have a great year of new releases ahead of you, but I don't think that will happen. Because this game is almost perfect. A fantastic story in the truest sense of the word, great gameplay, constantly challenging battles, an incredibly intense atmosphere and visuals that you've almost certainly never seen before. The fact that Sandfall is reportedly already negotiating with a Hollywood studio for the film rights will come as no surprise to you by the end of the game. Thank you for this game!
Review in German | Read full review
To think that this is Sandfall Interactive’s first game is mind-blowing, as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 should be up there with the best RPGs of all time.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a triumphant homage to classic JRPGs, technically cutting-edge, artistically sublime, and narratively rich. Rather than chasing trends, Sandfall Interactive embraces tradition with passion, delivering a love letter to the genre that both honors the past and carves out a bold new future.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Clair Obscur is a genuine standout RPG, driven by courage, sacrifice, and the powerful bonds formed in the midst of tragedy. It pushes you to confront loss and hope in equal measure, resonating long after the credits roll. This is a beautifully tragic expedition that demands your emotional investment, repaying it with a story and characters that will reward the time it takes to develop the skills of not taking any damage in combat. This may be a divisive game within the community due to its skill-based combat system and a few questionable choices with the direction of the story, but all I can tell you is that this is one tragedy you’re going to want to see through.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is more than a great game, it's an artistic statement amidst common games without any trace of soul or originality.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I absolutely recommend Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and think it’s a gorgeous game, even if it has a few quirks.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a wonderful game crafted with love, excelling in every aspect. Its story is bold and emotional, masterfully written and supported by outstanding voice acting. Set in a unique world that captivates the eye with its beauty and sparks the imagination with its concept, the game is enriched by enchanting music that adds magic to the experience. All of this comes together in an innovative role-playing game that delivers its ideas exceptionally well, making it undoubtedly one of the biggest surprises of this generation—especially as the debut project from SandFall Interactive
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Emotional roller coaster with excellent turn-based combat.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will definitely be one of the nominees for the Game of the Year!
Review in Greek | Read full review
“Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” is a masterpiece and shows how role-playing games with turn-based battles can still feel fresh in 2025. It is very likely to be my JRPG of the year.
Review in German | Read full review
Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 borrows from tradition.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an unforgettable RPG, with a brilliant combat system, a powerful story and a visually unique world. It not only delivers what it promises: it surpasses it in almost everything. If you like demanding RPGs, with soul, personality and good taste, this is one of those titles you won't forget.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an exemplary turn-based RPG that nails everything right. From the beautiful visual presentation to the world-building, from the dynamic and active battles to the deep customization systems, it is a piece of work that knows how to take advantage of classic JRPG structures and stands out for taking them further in a unique approach.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review