After 47 hours of exploring The Continent and uncovering most of Lumiere’s secrets, I can safely say that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a groundbreaking addition to the turn-based genre. While I haven’t played any of the Persona or Final Fantasy games that inspired it, Sandfall’s take on JRPGs is a work of art that I simply cannot believe was made by a studio of just thirty developers.
It’s a testament to Sandfall’s talent that I put down my controller to stare slack-jawed at my screen on many occasions, stopping to think about what had just unfolded as my party overcame challenge after challenge in their desperate bid to save humanity from extinction. Clair Obscur balances grand set-pieces and quiet, poignant moments with aplomb, making it a game that everyone should experience at least once.
The Perfect Balance Between Light and Dark
The first five minutes of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are a perfect showcase of how its story is able to weave humor and desperation together to present a narrative that is both well-written and presented with style and substance. An extremely dark joke is made at a moment when two characters try to accept the grim reality of their situation, injecting morbid humor into an otherwise hopeless situation. It’s a balance that Sandfall gets right again, and again, and again, as the game’s story unfolds.
However, this balance may have fallen flat if Clair Obscur’s characters failed to capture my attention. Fortunately, a talented cast of voice actors has ensured that each member of Expedition 33 will be among my favorite characters in video games. Charlie Cox’s take on Gustave brings out the character’s awkward, introverted nature, while Kirsty Rider makes Lune an absolute badass. Ben Starr does a stellar job at bringing Verso’s inner turmoil to life, while Shala Nyx made me fall in love with Sciel.
However, it is Jennifer English and Andy Serkis who are my personal favorites from this talented cast. The former leaves the cynical, cold, and calculating nature of Shadowheart behind to bring warmth, vulnerability, and implacable determination to Maelle. The latter brings gravitas, earnestness, and a touch of arrogance to Renoir, an antagonist whom I found myself almost rooting for by the end of the story.
The narrative and excellent voice acting are backed up by a world that simply begs to be explored, hiding secrets and loot at every turn while deadly enemies give the Expedition a reason to pause and reconsider returning when their skills and gear are better. I would be remiss not to give a special mention to composer Lorien Testard, whose video game debut could not have been better. I’m listening to the game’s soundtrack as I write this review, for crying out loud!
Hidden Details in a Compelling Painting
If I were to complain about anything in Clair Obscur, it’s that Sandfall lied to us all before the game launched. One of the memes I came across on the game’s subreddit sums this up nicely by saying that while the studio presented it as a turn-based game inspired by Soulslikes, it’s actually a Soulslike title inspired by turn-based games.
The combat in Clair Obscur gradually ramps up in difficulty the more you progress into the story, with the endgame bringing a massive spike to enemy stats that make dodging and parrying attacks the only way to ensure your party’s survival.
While that may not sound too ominous on its own, each enemy in the game displays a ferocity that even FromSoftware would admire, coming at you with attack animations that can be very hard to time your defense against. Make no mistake, Clair Obscur is a game that forces you to engage with its systems, rewarding you for your perseverance and skill.
While I tackled the game on the hardest Expert difficulty, turning it down to Expeditioner (normal) or Story (easy) made only a slight difference in how its combat tested my reflexes and presence of mind. However, Sandfall has done well to introduce harder enemies slowly and steadily, ensuring that I was always encountering a new type of Nevron in each of the game’s areas, while a few secret bosses continue to remain at the back of my mind.
Clair Obscur’s combat works well with its story to present a land that is fraught with peril, making it necessary for Expedition 33 to seek out every advantage they can in order to triumph over The Paintress and Renoir. Once again, it is a balance that has worked very well for Sandfall, elevating the experience for its players while making the Soulslike fan in me jump for joy when I overcame a particularly difficult fight. I must mention that the build potential for individual character is insane, and is probably going to be a reason for me to dive back into New Game Plus once I unlock the Platinum Trophy on this masterpiece.
It’s also brilliant that the game performs like a charm, with nary a graphical glitch or dropped frame interrupting the immersion during my playthrough. While Maelle could stand to show a little more expression during her cutscenes and the Continent’s landscape could do with a little polishing, these are minor complaints that did not affect my gameplay or diminish the experience in any way.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Is Sure to Inspire Those Who Come After
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a title that is sure to inspire other studios who aim to create a new turn-based title, or perhaps even a Soulslike in the future. Its characters and story as as appealing as Lumiere’s colorful landscape and bizarre locations. It is a labor of love that brings out the human side of its cast while still allowing them to unleash a very impressive set of moves on their enemies.
I cannot think of another title that can live up to Clair Obscur’s particular brand of chaos. And I highly doubt that I will play anything else like it in the near future. I would recommend it without a second thought to anyone interested in diving into games or to a veteran looking for the next big adventure to take on.
I’m very curious to see what Sandfall comes up with next. And after playing through this masterpiece, I’m definitely going along for the ride!
Summary
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a masterpiece that continues to grow from strength to strength as its incredible story progresses, making it an unmissable title for 2025 and beyond. It is a work of art that must be experienced at least once. Its story, cast, gameplay, and music blend together to create an experience that raises the bar for video games across genres, while its combat and levels are a dream come true for RPG fans.
HOURS PLAYED: 47
PLAYED ON: PS5
- A story that is as great as its combat.
- A visually stunning world with unique locations and a ton of secrets and loot.
- Well-designed RPG systems that bring a lot of build potential.
- A soundtrack that elevates the overall experience to an almost cinematic level.
- A massive spike in difficulty towards the end of the final act and epilogue.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is out now and available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
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With a passion for gaming that is equaled only by his love for writing, Varun has either a controller, keyboard, or a guitar in his hands when he is not out exploring the middle of nowhere on a motorcycle. Soulslikes, RPGs, and action-adventure titles keep him awake at night and get him out of bed in the morning. He will never stop lamenting the lack of a Bloodborne sequel even as he spends another couple of hours exploring the Lands Between in Elden Ring.
