Former Dragon Age narrative lead David Gaider said that both Baldur’s Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are “love letters to their genre,” and reflected on how games need “time to cook” in order to deliver memorable experiences. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the biggest surprises of 2025 so far, and Gaider believes there’s something in it—and in Baldur’s Gate 3—that the industry should take note of when developing games for large audiences.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 came out less than a month ago (April 24), taking the gaming community by storm by introducing a dark JRPG with a deep story and a polished hybrid combat system. The reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with over a million copies sold in its first 12 days and an impressive Metacritic score of 9.7. On the other hand, Baldur’s Gate 3 experienced a somewhat similar situation in 2024, selling over 15 million copies and mesmerizing RPG fans with its engaging gameplay and branching narrative. Now, a former Dragon Age writer has reflected on these two successful titles.
Clair Obscur’s platforming may frustrate some, but there’s intention behind it, and the game knows exactly what players will do for the...
