Thread: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 [OT] - The French Connection (Good Internet Connection Recommended)
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Imagine trusting your game to Gamepass/Microsoft and they release a first party beloved fan favorite remaster from the same genre, two days before release. Not to mention all the modders that were working on bringing over Oblivion to Skyrim for years etc.

Sony also have made similar mistakes in the past and they just seem so easy to avoid.
Skyblivion team already addressed this actually when the rumors the remaster was about to shadow drop kicked into near certainty. Fans will have this offical remaster, and also Skyblivions mod as a still different version of the game. Win Win in theory.

Bethesda is way more lenient then Nintendo who would have ordered a cease and desist against the modding community and strangled it in the crib.
 
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MS has earned some serious credibility back with me after releasing Atomfall, 33, and Oblivion within a month or so.
 
Review Aggregator and Critic Reviews
Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 92 average - 96% recommended

Critic Reviews


Atarita - Alparslan Gürlek - Turkish - 75 / 100
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 creates a touching experience with its engaging plot, great narrative and excellent soundtrack, but its gamification problems hindered its potential.


But Why Tho? - Arron Kluz - 7 / 10
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a competent new JRPG with which genre fans will likely be pleased. However, it does very little to iterate on the foundation laid by those that came before it. Instead, it's content to offer its flavor of what has worked before.


CGMagazine - Chris De Hoog - 10 / 10
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a master-crafted RPG, blending several trends into a hybrid system that's as unrelenting as its heart-wrenching plot.


Capsule Computers - Dustin Spencer - 9 / 10
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an ambitious take on an old genre that is just as gratifying to look at as it is to engage in. A new franchise is born.


Checkpoint Gaming - Charlie Kelly - 10 / 10
Blasting the door down and becoming an instant masterpiece classic, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 defies all expectations and ambitions and then some. Looking at decades of genre refinement and somehow still managing to innovate, creating immensely tactical, thought-provoking and rich combat is nothing short of a miracle achieved at the hands of Sandfall Interactive. Accompanying it is an entirely fresh and magnificent world full of wonders and beauty, even despite its intricate and often harrowing narrative that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and so many RPGs that have come before it, the little expedition that could will be plastered across history with the greats. Bravo.



Daily Mirror - Aaron Potter - Unscored
Prior to my three hours of hands-on time playing this preview, I went in expecting Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to be an underdog, yet the deeper I delved into its mechanics and systems I came out thinking it had the potential to be one of 2025's standout titles.


DualShockers - Jake Valentine - 10 / 10
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Fextralife - Castielle - 9.5 / 10
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is a once in a generation title that transcends gaming, and approaches a work of art. From it's unique and compelling story, its cast of characters that are some of the best in the industry, a world design that feels more like a painting rather than a video game, and the other the top combat animations that are larger than life, Expedition 33 has it all! My personal favorite game this year, and now one of my all time favorite games as well. Don't miss out one of the most memorable experiences you can have in entertainment, and get this Day 1!


GRYOnline.pl - Maciej Pawlikowski - Polish - 9.5 / 10
If I were a teenager still, this game would ingrain itself into my brain the same way Final Fantasy VII did in 1997. Right now, when there are numerous predictions about the death of single player games, when creativity is shackled by the sales department, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a true gem worth every praise.


GamePro - Kevin Itzinger - German - 89 / 100
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GameSpot - Richard Wakeling - 9 / 10
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a phenomenal RPG, telling a heartbreaking tale while incorporating thrilling action into its tactical turn-based combat


Gameblog - French - 8 / 10
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Gameliner - Rudy Wijnberg - Dutch - 4.5 / 5
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.


Gamepressure - Giancarlo Saldana - 10 / 10
Simply put, Sandfall Interactive's debut game is a masterclass in presentation, storytelling, and gameplay. It's a game you need to play to experience.


Gamesource Italia - Fabio Valbonetti - Italian - 9 / 10
Thanks to its setting, its fantastic combat system and its emotional story, Expedition 22 is one of the greatest game I've played in the past few year


GamingBolt - Ravi Sinha - 9 / 10
Paying homage to those that came before yet bursting with its own creativity, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a must-play title for RPG fans.


Just Play it - Lamine BENYAHIA - Arabic - 9 / 10
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.


KonsoliFIN - Niko Lähteenmäki - Finnish - 5 / 5
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.


MondoXbox - Valerio Tosetti - Italian - 9.7 / 10
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is destined to become a classic, with a deep and well-written storyline, a spectacular soundtrack and top-notch graphics, along with a well-tuned combat system. One of the best JRPGs around.


MonsterVine - James Carr - 4 / 5
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.


Niche Gamer - Throgmorton Belmont - 10 / 10
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One More Game - Vincent Ternida - 10 / 10
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.


PSX Brasil - Bruno Henrique Vinhadel - Portuguese - 90 / 100
Masterful in artistic and narrative aspects and with an impeccable soundtrack, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the best surprises of the year and stands out positively in a market that has started to charge too much for experiences that don't deliver what they should.


PlayStation Universe - Timothy Nunes - 9.5 / 10
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.


Push Square - Liam Croft - 9 / 10
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.


Quest Daily - Shaun Fullard - 9.5 / 10
Expedition 33 is a game that spoke to my soul. I quickly fell in love with this awe-inspiring yet melancholic world and the survivors left in it, and even though it tore my heart to shreds multiple times, I'd happily do it all over again.


RPGamer - Ryan Costa - 5 / 5
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.


Restart.run - Logan Woerner - 4 / 5
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.



SavePoint Gaming - Zhiqing Wan - 7 / 10
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 may be predictable at times, but it's bolstered by its excellent voice cast and compelling turn-based combat.


Sirus Gaming - Erickson Melchor - 10 / 10
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a rare triumph for such a small studio. The devs at Sandfall Interactive aimed for the stars, and they delivered a game that JRPG fans have always wanted from a Western studio. I can't recommend this game enough.


Spaziogames - Domenico Musicò - Italian - Unscored
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 could really be the JRPG that 90s nostalgics wanted so much to have in its most evolved and not excessively contaminated form. All the elements seem to be in the right place, and although it is not one of the most expensive productions (which is a good thing), the potential to do things in a big way is quite evident.


TechRaptor - Erren Van Duine - 9 / 10
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a milestone achievement for Sandfall Interactive. Fans of turn-based RPGs should be right at home with its traditional stylings tuned for a modern age, and while difficulty can ramp up without warning, the challenge of getting through each battle makes it all worthwhile.


The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 10 / 10
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.


Tom's Hardware Italia - Giulia Serena - Italian - 9.5 / 10
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.


VDGMS - Darren Andrew - 9.5 / 10
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.


WellPlayed - Mark Isaacson - 9.5 / 10
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a confident new IP, bold in its execution and not afraid to mix old and new ideas. It's a stunning achievement, born from passion and raised within technical excellence equal to the best in the business. Go in unspoiled and be ready for a truly rewarding experience.


XGN.nl - Luuc ten Velde - Dutch - 9.4 / 10
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.



XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 9.5 / 10
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a beautifully inventive, heart-breaking experience of love, loss, and the will to survive


Zoomg - Afshin Piroozi - Persian - 9 / 10
All in all, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stands out as one of the biggest surprises of 2025 so far — a title that boasts a deep, unpredictable story, meticulously crafted gameplay and combat systems, and top-tier visual and audio presentation. This game isn't just for fans of turn-based RPGs; it has the potential to impress anyone who appreciates high-quality experiences. Even if you're not typically drawn to turn-based games, I highly recommend giving this polished gem a try — it's well worth investing at least 30 hours of your playtime.
 
Just bought the deluxe edition. I won't be able to play much with a newborn but I have to support the devs and original games when they come out.

Hopefully it runs decent on the deck.

I bought this on Series X, let me know how the Deck version runs. I went back and forth on it.
 
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With those reviews and gamepass and on multiple formats at a cheaper price there is no reason why a new IP can't become a massive franchise. Next release use the traditional method at a normal price and the sales will come, now it is a known commodity. This is how it's done.
 
Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 92 average - 96% recommended

Critic Reviews


Atarita - Alparslan Gürlek - Turkish - 75 / 100



But Why Tho? - Arron Kluz - 7 / 10



CGMagazine - Chris De Hoog - 10 / 10



Capsule Computers - Dustin Spencer - 9 / 10



Checkpoint Gaming - Charlie Kelly - 10 / 10




Daily Mirror - Aaron Potter - Unscored



DualShockers - Jake Valentine - 10 / 10



Fextralife - Castielle - 9.5 / 10



GRYOnline.pl - Maciej Pawlikowski - Polish - 9.5 / 10



GamePro - Kevin Itzinger - German - 89 / 100



GameSpot - Richard Wakeling - 9 / 10



Gameblog - French - 8 / 10



Gameliner - Rudy Wijnberg - Dutch - 4.5 / 5



Gamepressure - Giancarlo Saldana - 10 / 10



Gamesource Italia - Fabio Valbonetti - Italian - 9 / 10



GamingBolt - Ravi Sinha - 9 / 10



Just Play it - Lamine BENYAHIA - Arabic - 9 / 10



KonsoliFIN - Niko Lähteenmäki - Finnish - 5 / 5



MondoXbox - Valerio Tosetti - Italian - 9.7 / 10



MonsterVine - James Carr - 4 / 5



Niche Gamer - Throgmorton Belmont - 10 / 10



One More Game - Vincent Ternida - 10 / 10



PSX Brasil - Bruno Henrique Vinhadel - Portuguese - 90 / 100



PlayStation Universe - Timothy Nunes - 9.5 / 10



Push Square - Liam Croft - 9 / 10



Quest Daily - Shaun Fullard - 9.5 / 10



RPGamer - Ryan Costa - 5 / 5



Restart.run - Logan Woerner - 4 / 5




SavePoint Gaming - Zhiqing Wan - 7 / 10



Sirus Gaming - Erickson Melchor - 10 / 10



Spaziogames - Domenico Musicò - Italian - Unscored



TechRaptor - Erren Van Duine - 9 / 10



The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 10 / 10



Tom's Hardware Italia - Giulia Serena - Italian - 9.5 / 10



VDGMS - Darren Andrew - 9.5 / 10



WellPlayed - Mark Isaacson - 9.5 / 10



XGN.nl - Luuc ten Velde - Dutch - 9.4 / 10




XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 9.5 / 10



Zoomg - Afshin Piroozi - Persian - 9 / 10

Good to see it.

Last year we got Unicorn Overlord and Metaphor, and IMO both games fell a bit short of their potential. Hopefully E33 is able to stay consistent the whole way through.
 
Looks like a very strong GOTY contender. I'm playing through Xenoblade Chronicles X on Switch right now but I might pick this up, I remember the reveal trailer left me quite interested and I heard some positive things from people who managed to play over the last few weeks too. Would be cool if it ran on steam deck but I have a feeling it won't, or at least not well.
 
Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 92 average - 96% recommended

Critic Reviews


Atarita - Alparslan Gürlek - Turkish - 75 / 100



But Why Tho? - Arron Kluz - 7 / 10



CGMagazine - Chris De Hoog - 10 / 10



Capsule Computers - Dustin Spencer - 9 / 10



Checkpoint Gaming - Charlie Kelly - 10 / 10




Daily Mirror - Aaron Potter - Unscored



DualShockers - Jake Valentine - 10 / 10



Fextralife - Castielle - 9.5 / 10



GRYOnline.pl - Maciej Pawlikowski - Polish - 9.5 / 10



GamePro - Kevin Itzinger - German - 89 / 100



GameSpot - Richard Wakeling - 9 / 10



Gameblog - French - 8 / 10



Gameliner - Rudy Wijnberg - Dutch - 4.5 / 5



Gamepressure - Giancarlo Saldana - 10 / 10



Gamesource Italia - Fabio Valbonetti - Italian - 9 / 10



GamingBolt - Ravi Sinha - 9 / 10



Just Play it - Lamine BENYAHIA - Arabic - 9 / 10



KonsoliFIN - Niko Lähteenmäki - Finnish - 5 / 5



MondoXbox - Valerio Tosetti - Italian - 9.7 / 10



MonsterVine - James Carr - 4 / 5



Niche Gamer - Throgmorton Belmont - 10 / 10



One More Game - Vincent Ternida - 10 / 10



PSX Brasil - Bruno Henrique Vinhadel - Portuguese - 90 / 100



PlayStation Universe - Timothy Nunes - 9.5 / 10



Push Square - Liam Croft - 9 / 10



Quest Daily - Shaun Fullard - 9.5 / 10



RPGamer - Ryan Costa - 5 / 5



Restart.run - Logan Woerner - 4 / 5




SavePoint Gaming - Zhiqing Wan - 7 / 10



Sirus Gaming - Erickson Melchor - 10 / 10



Spaziogames - Domenico Musicò - Italian - Unscored



TechRaptor - Erren Van Duine - 9 / 10



The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 10 / 10



Tom's Hardware Italia - Giulia Serena - Italian - 9.5 / 10



VDGMS - Darren Andrew - 9.5 / 10



WellPlayed - Mark Isaacson - 9.5 / 10



XGN.nl - Luuc ten Velde - Dutch - 9.4 / 10




XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 9.5 / 10



Zoomg - Afshin Piroozi - Persian - 9 / 10

Shocked Ice Cube GIF


I need more time to play all these games, sigh. Totally awesome to see!
 
Grabbed the deluxe. Gonna support the shit out of these guys.

You know what's strange? You've got a development team of about 30ish people putting out an AAAish game their first go round and just crushing the reviews across the board. That's so weird that this is possible with that small of a team, right? RIGHT? I swear I thought you needed hundreds of people and a giant bloated budget to even come close to making something this quality.
 
Downloading on GamePass, might buy it on Steam if it's good and non woketarded.... Any confirmation about that?

In the trailer, quite a bit of pop in, very obvious and blatant. UE5.... let's see about that stutter. Good thing that I can check it out on GayPass.
 
Downloading on GamePass, might buy it on Steam if it's good and non woketarded.... Any confirmation about that?

It's super woke, you'll love it!

actually if you just look at the male and female party members, you'll notice they're conventionally attractive so it's likely not woke
 
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Consensus across reviews seems to be:

- fantastic, mature story with excellent voice acting. Putting the bigger AAA studios to shame.

- extremely deep and customizable character builds with numerous game-breaking options

- difficult end-game and post-game content that will appeal to old school JRPG fans

- battle system is complex and requires skill. Already seeing comparisons to Sekiro and Elden Ring from mainstreamers, while the JRPG veterans are comparing to Lost Odyssey, The Last Remnant, and Resonance of Fate

- each character is unique and even has their own unique mechanic. Folks who enjoy tweaking and pushing their character builds will be entertained

- graphics and music are way better than they should be for a 30-person dev team

- long-time fans of the genre will find many influences from Final Fantasy, Persona, Xenosaga, Legend of Dragoon, and Paper Mario
 
I heard Lost Odyssey inspired and after watching the first trailer, I'm going in blind. As much as I love Oblivion, I really hope it doesn't eat Ex33's lunch. What were they thinking with that launch date?!

Man, Trump wins and then we get such a banger year in gaming! Two non-woke games back to back that by all signs are set to outperform all the woke slop released the past several years... Lets hope this is a trend!
 
Baldur's Gate 3....?


please tell me you've played BG3
I bought it but for some reason I cannot get into any top down video game. Warcraft, starcraft, dota, lol, or even bg 3. Gave the game a solid 8 hours but still didn't get hooked. Great game but not for me.

I'm so stoked that they call out lost odyssey as inspiration as it's one my favorite games
 
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No seriously I thought Horizon Zero Dawn going up against Breath of the Wild, then Horizon Forbidden West going up against Elden Ring was bad.

No, Elder Scrolls IV Remaster shadowdropping 2 days before Expedition 33 launch window is absolutely the most fucking brutal timing I've ever seen with any game release, bar only games that had the sheer misfortunate to be impacted by the delays/cancellations brought about by the Covid19 pendemic.
I'll add one more.

NEO The World Ends with You the long awaited sequel to one of the outright best DS JRPGs being released on steam with zero marketing at pretty much the same time as Persona 5 Royal being shadowdropped on PC which was a gigantic deal.

NEOs situation was worse actually, Expedition 33 has had a lot of marketing and now a lot of good word of mouth. I'll still recommend both the World Ends with You and NEO.
 
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