Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 delivers a gripping RPG adventure that seamlessly blends a rich narrative, engaging gameplay mechanics, and incredible production values. Developed by a small team of only 30 people, this game is nothing short of a masterpiece and sets an impressive standard for indie studios.
Without giving too much of the story away (as it is best experienced first hand) it revolves around a haunting premise where a giant entity, the Paintress, erases an entire age group each year.
Playing as Gustave and his team from Expedition 33, players are thrown into a world filled with grief, sacrifice, and hope as they fight to end her tyranny. The narrative is both emotionally resonant and thematically layered, exploring loss, denial, and human resilience. With stellar voice acting including Daredevil himself Charlie Cox as Gustave and Andy Serkis as Renoir. The strong character development and story do an amazing job of hooking you from the start and keeps surprising you with satisfying twists.
Combat is another major highlight. Borrowing stylistic cues from Persona but incorporating real-time mechanics, the system feels fresh and rewarding. From perfectly timed quick-time events to strategic builds enabled by the Picto system, the gameplay is highly engaging.
However, once you master dodging and parrying, the game becomes noticeably easier, even during boss fights. While the combat complexity dips late-game, the mechanics and character specialisations remain inventive and fun.
Visually, Clair Obscur is breathtaking. Built with Unreal Engine 5, its environments are richly detailed, and the art direction is nothing short of stunning. Each locale feels unique, blending fantastical elements with inspired French motifs. The haunting soundtrack pairs beautifully with the visuals, amplifying the emotional highs and lows of the experience, it’s a true cinematic experience and a joy to play.
Featuring a streamlined progression and carefully curated mechanics, Clair Obscur ensures nothing feels wasted or overly complicated, letting you fully immerse yourself in the story and action. Sandfall Interactive has crafted a western RPG that is utterly captivating and brimming with heart, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an easy contender for Game of the Year 2025 at this early stage already.
Score: 9.5/10
