Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Reviews
Clair Obscur feels big, it feels important, it feels like a game for now, that you’ll be thinking about for years to come. Expedition 33 might be built off of the groundwork laid by decades of creatives that came before, but its impact is wholly singular and essential in its own right.
Quite possibly the best RPG of its kind. Epic story with heartfelt moments, best-in class combat, gorgeous graphics and music that will linger for the rest of my life. I’ll be humming some of these tunes in the retirement home. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the real thing. This game will go down in history as a must-play RPG.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will captivate you from the very first moment. We are talking about a work that manages to stand out in the RPG landscape for its extraordinary ability to blend narrative, art direction, and game mechanics into a cohesive and deeply evocative experience. Sandfall Interactive gives us a tale dense with emotions and brilliant moments, where the pain of grief intertwines with resistance, memory, and the struggle for survival. However, it's not just the narrative aspect that works well: the combat system, a hybrid of turn-based and real-time action, represents one of the game's highlights, offering deep and never repetitive dynamics that enhance each character's unique traits and satisfy both RPG enthusiasts and those who want to enjoy a more relaxed experience. The art direction, on the other hand, is a true homage to Impressionist and Symbolist painting, with scenarios that look like they were taken from an art gallery and settings inspired by a dreamlike, deconstructed Paris. In short, Expedition 33 is not just a journey through decadent lands and evocative settings: it's a path that constantly challenges the perception of reality and dream, light and darkness, life and death. With solid longevity, a world rich in activities, and a surprisingly polished technical aspect, the title emerges not only as one of the most fascinating and significant surprises in the genre, but also as one of the best video games (so far) of this 2025.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 defied my expectations with its unique charm, offering an engaging narrative, beautiful design, and diverse gameplay that kept me entertained throughout, even if its ambition occasionally led to confusing mechanics and cluttered menus.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a masterpiece that clearly draws inspiration from other RPG's, but does so with such elegance and skill that it stands firmly on its own in an overcrowded genre – thanks in part, of course, to its own unique tricks. In an age of cynicism and uncertainty, it's wonderful to get our hands on something this magical.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 may be predictable at times, but it's bolstered by its excellent voice cast and compelling turn-based combat.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a beautifully inventive, heart-breaking experience of love, loss, and the will to survive
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 creates a touching experience with its engaging plot, great narrative and excellent soundtrack, but its gamification problems hindered its potential.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
After a swift 30 hours with the game, I will happily tell you how Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 exceeded my expectations and left me curious for more.
Thanks to its setting, its fantastic combat system and its emotional story, Expedition 33 is one of the greatest game I've played in the past few year
Review in Italian | Read full review
Sandfall Interactive delivers an impressive first game with this turn-based RPG that channels JRPG’s like Persona and Final Fantasy. The game tells a fantastic story and offers stunning visuals to boot.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a rare gem — the kind of game that rekindles your love for the medium. With a deep combat system, a moving story, and a stunning artistic direction, it stands out in today’s gaming landscape. It's not without flaws, especially in exploration, but what it achieves in emotion, design, and gameplay more than makes up for it. If you’re looking for a JRPG-inspired experience with a bold artistic soul and heartfelt storytelling, this is a journey you won’t want to miss.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a masterful RPG. It brings a stunning art style that stays front and center while revamping a classic combat system into something engaging and accessible. It's an easy contender for GOTY and a terrific debut for Sandfall Interactive.
Final Fantasy, Persona, Chrono Trigger are just some of the inherent influences, but it was the inspiration from Sekiro and the French heritage of Sandfall Interactive that made Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 feel like the dawn of a new era of turn-based RPG’s, as it equally pays tribute to those who came before, as much as it innovates for those who will come after. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a breath of fresh air because it prioritizes a compelling vision over following trends. It doesn’t resort to witty sarcasm in its dialogue or try to capitalize on current popular settings for the story, and there isn’t an attempt to infuse the latest real-time gameplay gimmicks. Sandfall have made a bold decision, especially considering it’s their debut title, to deviate from modern RPG conventions. Trends don’t age well, but artistic vision does and Expedition 33 has all the markings of becoming a timeless classic.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the most stunning surprises of this generation delivering a deep philosophical story set in a visually breathtaking world with gorgeous graphics and an addictive turn-based combat system! With its tense battles and unpredictable twists, it'll keep you on the edge of your seat. If you're looking for an experience that echoes the best of turn-based while adding modern and innovative touches then this game definitely deserves a spot on your must-play list.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 not only deftly improves upon the idea of active turn-based combat, but delivers it in a gorgeous and realized world. The characters are incredible, it dodges some of the more grating aspects of turn-based RPGs, and delivers a mature, and at times haunting, story, without falling into the traps of too much violence for the sake of maturity. A big narrative turn flattens the experience, and a few too many rough edges keep it from masterpiece status, but it is still an incredible experience.
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.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 feels truly unique and artistic, and reminds us how moving, exhilarating, and provocative big-budget adventure games can be.
I have to admit, when I first saw the title, I was expecting a solid game inspired by classic JRPGs—but I never imagined the level of emotion and quality that Sandfall’s debut would end up delivering. It’s almost like the Final Fantasy XVII of our dreams. It features one of the best narratives I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing, with gameplay that’s both engaging and addictive. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is, in many different ways, a masterpiece. When one falls, we continue.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a journey that blasts the senses from beginning to end. The melancholic and bleak moments are balanced by the characters' perseverance, which makes their triumphs shine much brighter. There's a profound sense of style and substance that only expands as more of the world is uncovered. What results is a true work of art that ties its brilliant components together into a complete package, which is awe inspiring to come from a freshman developer.