A third-person jRPG featuring a fantasy world inspired by the French belle epoque period. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 allows us to lead a team of diverse characters tasked with defeating a hostile deity called the Paintress. We engage in turn-based battles with action elements (parries, dodges, QTE's). The game runs on Unreal Engine 5.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a third-person jRPG with a turn-based combat system. The title is inspired by the Belle Epoque, a French artistic period from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. This is the debut project of Sandfall Interactive studio. The game was released by Kepler Interactive, which has Pacific Drive in their portfolio.
Game
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was made available on the release day on subscription services PC Game and Xbox Game . It is also available for purchase through traditional distribution, including Steam.
Story
In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 we arrive in a fantasy land full of surrealistic opponents. A powerful, deadly creature called the Paintress watches over the land. Once a year she awakens and paints a number on her Monolith. Everyone who is at this age turns into dust and dies.
The plot of the game focuses on an expedition, the goal of which is to defeat the Paintress and stop the cycle before it consumes the generation of 33-year-olds. The expedition includes engineer Gustav, his sister Maelle, researcher Lune, and warrior Sciel. They travel the ruined continent during their journey and other companions and friendly legendary creatures them.
Gameplay
We watch the action in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from behind our character (TPP view).
Team, exploration
During the adventure, we lead a three-person team (formed from six playable characters), improving the statistics, skills and equipment of its . Depending on the style of play, we can create unique configurations and synergies between heroes. Each member of the team specializes in a different way of fighting.
Exploring diverse locations, we discover secrets, such as mysterious places and hidden tasks, as well as learn the fate of previous expeditions sent against the Paintress.
Turn-based combat with QTE's
Turn-based combat typical for the jRPG genre is interwoven with real-time skill elements, mainly implemented in the form of QTE sequences. Battles involve rhythmic creation of defensive combinations, consisting of dodges and parries, as well as launching counters and series of attacks, during which we can manually aim at the weak spots of enemies.
Romances
Unlike many traditional team-based RPG games, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 does not offer extensive romance options with companions. Romantic bits are woven into the main storyline and individual side quests. However, there is no shortage of classic relationship building with companions and learning about their past while resting at the camp.
Engine
The game is powered by Unreal Engine 5 technology, which allowed for the creation of detailed and artistic locations.
Last updated on April 24, 2025
Last Update: April 11, 2025
Expedition 33 Guide
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 guide is the best tips and tricks, for combat, character development. We describe all characters, upgrades, weapons, skills, all enemies and bosses, system requirements, game length, trophies.
April 23, 2025
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review: A beautiful tour de force
Sandfall Interactive’s debut game is a masterclass in presentation, storytelling, and gameplay. It’s a game you need to play to experience.
April 2, 2025
Games of April 2025 - Commandos goes on Expedition 33, and more exclusives are no longer exclusive
It's remaster time, again! There are also several ambitious AA games on the horizon and a highly awaited RTS.
Videos and Screens
[2:22] Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Launch Trailer
[10:41] Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Behind the Scenes - Voices
Gamepressure Review
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
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.
PlayStation 5
OpenCritic Rating
Game is Recomended by 100% of Critics. There are 169 Critic Reviews.
DualShockers: 10 / 10 by Jake Valentine
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has exceeded every one of my expectations. Sandfall Interactive's debut title is one of the greatest accomplishments in gaming, delivering a well-paced, polished, and unforgettable experience.
Hardcore Gamer: 4.5 / 5 by Cory Wells
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a cinematic RPG experience that showcases both visual and audio prowess.
Stryftek: by Ryan "Stryftek" Bullock
The main pros of the game
- Artistic Excellence: The game features stunning visuals and a unique art style, often compared to paintings from the Belle Époque era. Many players noted that the environments are breathtaking and filled with detail.
- Engaging Storytelling: The narrative is compelling, with emotional depth and well-developed characters that resonate with players. The story revolves around themes of life, death, and the impact of choices, captivating players from the prologue.
- Innovative Combat System: The combat blends turn-based mechanics with real-time elements, requiring players to dodge and parry attacks, which adds a layer of engagement and strategy. Many players praised this hybrid system as revolutionary for the genre.
- Outstanding Soundtrack: The music is described as beautiful and evocative, significantly enhancing the game’s emotional impact. Players highlighted the extensive soundtrack and its ability to complement various game moments.
- Polished Performance: The game runs smoothly with minimal bugs, showcasing a high level of polish for a debut title from a small studio. Many players reported a good frame rate and overall performance.
The main cons of the game
- Difficulty and Mechanics: Some players found the combat mechanics, particularly the timing for dodging and parrying, to be challenging. This could lead to frustration, especially for those not accustomed to action-oriented gameplay within a turn-based framework.
- Lack of Navigation Tools: Players expressed a desire for features such as a minimap or journal to help keep track of quests and locations, as the game encourages exploration but can be confusing without these aids.
- Manual Save Limitations: The absence of a manual save option was noted as a drawback, with players wishing for more control over save points, especially after difficult encounters.
- Clunky Menus: Some reviews mentioned that the interface and menus could be confusing or poorly laid out, making it difficult to manage character builds and skills.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to s
- Quick Restart for Battles: Players suggested an option to quickly restart encounters instead of going through lengthy game-over screens.
- Enemy Compendium: A feature that provides information about enemies and their weaknesses would enhance the gameplay experience, helping players strategize better during battles.
- Photo Mode: Given the game’s stunning visuals, players expressed a desire for a photo mode to capture beautiful moments in the game.
- Training Room: A space to practice combat mechanics and refine skills without the pressure of actual battles was suggested as a valuable addition.
Summary
- Overall, "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" has been highly praised for its artistic vision, engaging storytelling, and innovative gameplay, while also receiving constructive on areas for improvement.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 266 votes. 16 players anticipated the game.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Summary
Platforms:
PC Windows
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X/S
Developer: Sandfall Interactive
Publisher: Kepler Interactive
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: (30 fps, 1080p) Intel Core i7-7800K / AMD Ryzen 5 1600X, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 6 GB GeForce GTX 1060 / Radeon RX 5600 XT, 55 GB SSD, Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended: (60 fps, 1080p) Intel Core i7-12700K / AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 8 GB GeForce RTX 3060 Ti / 16 GB Radeon RX 6800 XT, 55 GB SSD, Windows 11 64-bit
Lumina points in Expedition 33 are often in short supply, but there is an easy-to-miss way to get them more
In Gestral's village, there is an easy-to-miss source of Lumina points, hidden by the blue Gestral in the Bazaar.
How to
May 23, 2025
Strongest build that doesn't require grind in Clair Obscur, and will burn your enemies even without playing in synergies
The mechanical depth of Expedition 33 can overwhelm, but one of the most effective end-game builds is unlocked automatically.
How to
May 21, 2025
“I haven't felt this way about a game in a very long time,” game designer Adrian Chmielarz shares his views on Sandfall Interactive’s hit
Expedition 33, the RPG everyone’s talking about, including industry veterans. Now Adrian Chmielarz has given his take.
video games
May 19, 2025
What links Baldur's Gate 3, Elden Ring and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? Best games of the last decade have an interesting thing in common
Baldur's Gate 3, Elden Ring, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are true powerhouses of the RPG genre. Interestingly, they all have one element in common.
video games
May 16, 2025
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 devs warn of scammers monetizing game's success. Outstanding RPG may be coming to another platform
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on Nintendo Switch 2 is an interesting idea for the developers, who also have plans for an official gadget related to one of the RPG's characters.
video games
May 16, 2025
Five years ago, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 devs boasted about their first game idea. „We are really dedicated to make this project into something big in a close future”
A working trailer for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from five years ago has been shared online. Back then, the game featured steampunk and sci-fi elements, some of which stayed for the full version.
video games
May 14, 2025
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has sold 2 million copies. Extraordinary popularity gives high hopes for franchise's future
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is selling so well that stores are starting to run out of boxes. The huge success makes the developers not rule out creating an expansion.
video games
May 6, 2025
Some of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's graphic shortcomings have been fixed by a fan
A moder named Lyall has developed a modification that fixes a number of graphical shortcomings of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, including a 30 frames/second limit during the intermission scenes.
Files and Mods
May 4, 2025
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 „is to jRPGs what Baldur's Gate 3 is to cRPGs,” says Dragon Age trilogy and Baldur's Gate 2 co-creator
The scriptwriter of the Dragon Age series praises Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, claiming that this game is like Baldur's Gate 3 in its sub-genre.
video games
April 30, 2025
Fatal Error in Expedition 33? Here's something you should try
Fatal Error is haunting Clair Obscur Expedition 33 players. Is there any way to fix this bug?
How to
April 29, 2025