The world of JRPGs has evolved considerably over the years, giving way to games created outside Japan such as Child of Light, Sea of Stars or The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age. Today, it’s French studio Sandfall Interactive‘s turn with Clair Obscur – Expedition 33, a JRPG that’s already shaping up to be a small revolution and has already won the hearts of a million players.
A Worthy Heir
After the first few hours spent on Expedition 33, one thing is clear: the game deserves its popularity. A worthy heir to the JRPG genre, its polished aesthetics, addictive gameplay and multiple references perfectly integrated into the game make it an ideal GOTY contender.
At first, the game could seem a little slow, but the context is clear, and we understand immediately what is going on in this peculiar and beautiful world and with the characters introduced to us. In fact, the pitch is simple and effective right from the start. The world of Expedition 33 is a harsh one. Every year, a goddess named the Paintress paints a new number on a huge rock pillar. Anyone older than this number disappears, vanishes into thin air. This year, the number has been reduced, going from 34 to 33.
Gustave, the main character, loses his ex-girlfriend Sophie, aged 34. He, 33, escapes the fate, but it’s only a one-year reprieve. In the hope of putting an end to this cruel annual event, every year, an expedition is organized to try and take down the deity. Several members of the community train and develop technologies to eliminate the Paintress. While it’s a first for Gustave and his teammates, the expeditions have been happening for a very long time, without achieving their goal and wiping away dozens, if not hundreds, of people in the process. Every year for the past 67 years, an expedition has been sent out and never returned. The Paintress, however, is still alive.
An Explosive Recipe
The team at Sandfall thought big for a game that was born in the bedroom of its original creator, Guillaume Broche. The voice cast includes some well-known names in the industry, including Jennifer English (Maelle), Ben Starr (Verso) and even Andy Serkis (Renoir). Gustave, the lead role, is voiced by actor Charlie Cox, recently seen in Daredevil: Born Again, and for whom this is the first role in a video game. A fine line-up for the first game from this young studio created in 2020, and the result does not disappoint. The highly polished aesthetic is strongly inspired by the Belle Époque, mixed with fantasy elements, all set in a city reminiscent of Paris through its architecture and various elements, right down to its trash cans, kiosks and place names!
As for combat, the turn-based mechanic is highly dynamic, thanks in particular to the ability to parry or dodge attacks outside of the player’s turns. While timing can be a little tricky, the payback is all the more enjoyable! If you succeed in parrying, the character sends back an attack that is often fatal for low-level mobs, but equally devastating for bosses. This mechanic pays off very quickly, and makes combat even more fun.
The music of the game and its influences of Japanese games shine through, with compositions by Lorien Testard and the bewitching voice of Alice Duport-Percier. Between orchestral, typical French accordion and more catchy tunes, the musical universes follow one another in a coherent soundtrack that is almost a character in itself. The only drawback is the sound levels, with the music drowning the dialogues, but this can be easily corrected in the options.
With an average lifespan of around 37 hours, Expedition 33 could be what the JRPG genre needed to take a new step forward, and has already established itself as a reference.
Clair Obscur – Expedition 33 was released on April 21, 2025, and is available on PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
