Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Developed by Sandfall Interactive, a small French studio of around 30 developers, this is their very first game. And it makes one heck of a first impression.
It’s a turn-based RPG that blends in real-time mechanics to breathe new life into a well-worn genre. Honestly, it pushes the turn-based formula to a place I haven’t seen before. I’ve had the Persona series on my list for a while, and now I’m wondering if this game might have spoiled them for me.
There’s been a lot of hype around Expedition 33 lately. But hype can be dangerous. It can raise expectations and ruin even great games. My goal here isn’t to add to the hype. It’s to give you a clear, honest review.
The Story: A World on a Countdown
Sixty-seven years ago, the world fractured. Your hometown, Lumière, was torn away from the mainland and left stranded in the middle of the ocean. Just as survivors began rebuilding, a new terror arrived: the Paintress.
"Once a year, the Paintress wakes and paints upon her monolith. She paints her cursed number. And everyone of that age turns to smoke and fades away. Year by year, that number ticks down, and more of us are erased. Tomorrow she’ll paint ‘33.’ And tomorrow, we depart on our final mission.
We are Expedition 33."
This annual death became known as the Gommage – the Erasing – a guaranteed expiration date for everyone. And as the number ticks down, eventually no one will be left.
You play as members of this expedition. After the Paintress awakens and paints the number 33, your team sets out to end the cycle once and for all. But upon arriving you are met by a man, an old man. A powerful man. He attacks and quick incapacitates you are your team. You wake alone, disoriented, and begin your journey to find your team and complete the mission.
And all of this? That’s just the first hour of the game.
What follows is a deep, mysterious story that unfolds slowly and deliberately. You meet new allies, face powerful enemies, and uncover secrets through journals left behind by past expeditions. I won’t spoil the details, but I will say this – the pacing is excellent, the worldbuilding is immersive, and the reveals always leave you wanting more.
Gameplay: Reinventing Turn-Based Combat
Turn-based RPGs aren’t new. And let’s be honest – a lot of them feel the same after a while. That’s not the case here.
Within minutes, you’re tossed into a mock battle that introduces a unique combat system. It’s turn-based at its core, but adds real-time elements like dodging, jumping, and parrying incoming attacks. This isn’t just a gimmick – it adds genuine tension and interaction during enemy turns.
You start with Gustave, a character whose attacks build up energy in his mechanical arm. When charged, he can unleash a powerful stun attack. Other characters in the expedition have their own mechanics and playstyles, but the beauty of this system is that you’re never locked into one role or strategy.
Gear and Customization
Weapons have up to three passive traits – things like bonus hits or status effects.
Pictos act like armor – they provide health, defense, crit boosts, and a passive trait. Once used in four battles, their passive can be learned permanently and used across the entire team as a Lumina.
Lumina Energy limits how many passives you can equip, but you gain more as you level or find special items.
There’s a full stat and skill tree system – both of which can be reset at any time.
This all combines to give you wild flexibility in how you build your team. Want an example?
You can give a character AutoDeath – they instantly die when combat starts. Pair that with Burn on Death, Shield on Death, Break on Death, and so on. That character dies and immediately debuffs enemies while buffing your allies. Then, just resurrect them. Or go all in – have two characters do this and load the third up with solo buffs that only trigger when they’re the last one standing.
The combinations are insane.
My only gripe is that there’s no way to save and load builds. I found myself hesitating to test out new weapons or passive setups because it was so tedious to change everything, then change it all back if I didn’t like it. A simple build loadout system would solve this.
Exploration is Worth It
This game rewards curiosity. If the main path goes left, go right. You’ll find treasure, lore, or something unexpected. That said, a quick tip – near the end of the game, and you’ll know when you’re close, don’t put off the final boss.
Talk to your companions, finish their quests, then take on the final fight. Why? Because overleveling makes the boss too easy. The emotional and mechanical payoff is best when it’s a fight that pushes you.
Don’t worry – after you finish, the game reloads just before the ending. You can go back, do everything else, and even see the alternate ending.
Graphics: Small Team, Big Visuals
This game looks fantastic – especially considering it was made by only 30 people.
Most small teams stick to a single visual style. Not here. You’ll travel through snowy peaks, dark caves, vibrant forests, underwater ruins, and more. Everything feels distinct and well-crafted.
It also runs incredibly well. I recently upgraded my monitor and accidentally played and recorded the whole thing in 4K without even noticing. No frame drops, no hiccups. Just smooth, beautiful gameplay.
My One Gripe
Pre-rendered cutscenes. It’s a personal pet peeve, but it’s unfortunately common in modern games. These scenes are locked to 30 frames per second and seem to be a lower resolution – likely 1080p. It’s jarring when you go from buttery smooth 60fps gameplay to a sluggish, compressed cinematic.
It’s funny – back in the day, cinematics looked way better than gameplay. Now, it’s often the opposite.
That said, these moments are rare. And most are emotionally charged enough that you can look past the drop in quality.
If you’re planning to play on Steam Deck, performance reports suggest around 30fps in combat and 35 to 40fps in exploration. For a turn-based RPG, that’s perfectly playable. Just make sure it fits your expectations.
Sound: A Soundtrack and Cast Worth Remembering
The voice cast here is seriously impressive – Andy Serkis, Charlie Cox, Ben Starr, Jennifer English, and more. Every performance hits. The characters feel real and relatable, which adds a ton to the emotional impact of the story.
And then there’s the music.
Composed by Lorien Testard, an artist Sandfall discovered on SoundCloud, this soundtrack is incredible. It moves from orchestral to intimate choirs to full-on rock guitar, adapting to every moment of the story perfectly.
These are the kinds of tracks you’ll remember long after the credits roll. They’ll come back in New Game Plus or later scenes, and when they do – you’ll feel it.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth Your Time?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is currently available for free on Xbox Game Pass or for $50 on Steam.
Yes – fifty dollars. In a market where $70 and $80 price tags are becoming the norm, this is refreshing.
I finished everything – including optional bosses – in just under 60 hours. There’s still New Game Plus if I want more.
Let’s be honest – I’ve been praising this game the entire review. What Sandfall Interactive has created here is stunning. And the fact that this is their debut title makes it even more impressive.
So yes – this is absolutely worth your time.
But don’t go in expecting a masterpiece just because I said it. Go in curious. Ask yourself if it lives up to the praise. Play it. Finish it. Then come argue about it with me in the comments.
Thanks for reading. If you enjoy reviews like this, feel free to subscribe or stick around for more content. I’ll see you next time on Is It Worth Your Time?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Developed by Sandfall Interactive, a small French studio of around 30 developers, this is their very first game. And it makes one heck of a first impression.
It’s a turn-based RPG that blends in real-time mechanics to breathe new life into a well-worn genre. Honestly, it pushes the turn-based formula to a place I haven’t seen before. I’ve had the Persona series on my list for a while, and now I’m wondering if this game might have spoiled them for me.
There’s been a lot of hype around Expedition 33 lately. But hype can be dangerous. It can raise expectations and ruin even great games. My goal here isn’t to add to the hype. It’s to give you a clear, honest review.
The Story: A World on a Countdown
Sixty-seven years ago, the world fractured. Your hometown, Lumière, was torn away from the mainland and left stranded in the middle of the ocean. Just as survivors began rebuilding, a new terror arrived: the Paintress.
"Once a year, the Paintress wakes and paints upon her monolith. She paints her cursed number. And everyone of that age turns to smoke and fades away. Year by year, that number ticks down, and more of us are erased. Tomorrow she’ll paint ‘33.’ And tomorrow, we depart on our final mission.
We are Expedition 33."
This annual death became known as the Gommage – the Erasing – a guaranteed expiration date for everyone. And as the number ticks down, eventually no one will be left.
You play as members of this expedition. After the Paintress awakens and paints the number 33, your team sets out to end the cycle once and for all. But upon arriving you are met by a man, an old man. A powerful man. He attacks and quick incapacitates you are your team. You wake alone, disoriented, and begin your journey to find your team and complete the mission.
And all of this? That’s just the first hour of the game.
What follows is a deep, mysterious story that unfolds slowly and deliberately. You meet new allies, face powerful enemies, and uncover secrets through journals left behind by past expeditions. I won’t spoil the details, but I will say this – the pacing is excellent, the worldbuilding is immersive, and the reveals always leave you wanting more.
Gameplay: Reinventing Turn-Based Combat
Turn-based RPGs aren’t new. And let’s be honest – a lot of them feel the same after a while. That’s not the case here.
Within minutes, you’re tossed into a mock battle that introduces a unique combat system. It’s turn-based at its core, but adds real-time elements like dodging, jumping, and parrying incoming attacks. This isn’t just a gimmick – it adds genuine tension and interaction during enemy turns.
You start with Gustave, a character whose attacks build up energy in his mechanical arm. When charged, he can unleash a powerful stun attack. Other characters in the expedition have their own mechanics and playstyles, but the beauty of this system is that you’re never locked into one role or strategy.
Gear and Customization
Weapons have up to three passive traits – things like bonus hits or status effects.
Pictos act like armor – they provide health, defense, crit boosts, and a passive trait. Once used in four battles, their passive can be learned permanently and used across the entire team as a Lumina.
Lumina Energy limits how many passives you can equip, but you gain more as you level or find special items.
There’s a full stat and skill tree system – both of which can be reset at any time.
This all combines to give you wild flexibility in how you build your team. Want an example?
You can give a character AutoDeath – they instantly die when combat starts. Pair that with Burn on Death, Shield on Death, Break on Death, and so on. That character dies and immediately debuffs enemies while buffing your allies. Then, just resurrect them. Or go all in – have two characters do this and load the third up with solo buffs that only trigger when they’re the last one standing.
The combinations are insane.
My only gripe is that there’s no way to save and load builds. I found myself hesitating to test out new weapons or passive setups because it was so tedious to change everything, then change it all back if I didn’t like it. A simple build loadout system would solve this.
Exploration is Worth It
This game rewards curiosity. If the main path goes left, go right. You’ll find treasure, lore, or something unexpected. That said, a quick tip – near the end of the game, and you’ll know when you’re close, don’t put off the final boss.
Talk to your companions, finish their quests, then take on the final fight. Why? Because overleveling makes the boss too easy. The emotional and mechanical payoff is best when it’s a fight that pushes you.
Don’t worry – after you finish, the game reloads just before the ending. You can go back, do everything else, and even see the alternate ending.
Graphics: Small Team, Big Visuals
This game looks fantastic – especially considering it was made by only 30 people.
Most small teams stick to a single visual style. Not here. You’ll travel through snowy peaks, dark caves, vibrant forests, underwater ruins, and more. Everything feels distinct and well-crafted.
It also runs incredibly well. I recently upgraded my monitor and accidentally played and recorded the whole thing in 4K without even noticing. No frame drops, no hiccups. Just smooth, beautiful gameplay.
My One Gripe
Pre-rendered cutscenes. It’s a personal pet peeve, but it’s unfortunately common in modern games. These scenes are locked to 30 frames per second and seem to be a lower resolution – likely 1080p. It’s jarring when you go from buttery smooth 60fps gameplay to a sluggish, compressed cinematic.
It’s funny – back in the day, cinematics looked way better than gameplay. Now, it’s often the opposite.
That said, these moments are rare. And most are emotionally charged enough that you can look past the drop in quality.
If you’re planning to play on Steam Deck, performance reports suggest around 30fps in combat and 35 to 40fps in exploration. For a turn-based RPG, that’s perfectly playable. Just make sure it fits your expectations.
Sound: A Soundtrack and Cast Worth Remembering
The voice cast here is seriously impressive – Andy Serkis, Charlie Cox, Ben Starr, Jennifer English, and more. Every performance hits. The characters feel real and relatable, which adds a ton to the emotional impact of the story.
And then there’s the music.
Composed by Lorien Testard, an artist Sandfall discovered on SoundCloud, this soundtrack is incredible. It moves from orchestral to intimate choirs to full-on rock guitar, adapting to every moment of the story perfectly.
These are the kinds of tracks you’ll remember long after the credits roll. They’ll come back in New Game Plus or later scenes, and when they do – you’ll feel it.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth Your Time?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is currently available for free on Xbox Game Pass or for $50 on Steam.
Yes – fifty dollars. In a market where $70 and $80 price tags are becoming the norm, this is refreshing.
I finished everything – including optional bosses – in just under 60 hours. There’s still New Game Plus if I want more.
Let’s be honest – I’ve been praising this game the entire review. What Sandfall Interactive has created here is stunning. And the fact that this is their debut title makes it even more impressive.
So yes – this is absolutely worth your time.
But don’t go in expecting a masterpiece just because I said it. Go in curious. Ask yourself if it lives up to the praise. Play it. Finish it. Then come argue about it with me in the comments.
Thanks for reading. If you enjoy reviews like this, feel free to subscribe or stick around for more content. I’ll see you next time on Is It Worth Your Time?
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