Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a 2025 turn-based role-playing game developed by Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive. Set in a dark fantasy Belle Époque world, the game follows the doomed volunteers of Expedition 33 as they battle the Paintress, a mysterious entity responsible for the annual “Gommage,” an event that erases everyone above an ever-decreasing age. Blending turn-based combat with real-time mechanics like quick-time events and timed dodges, the game offers a unique hybrid gameplay experience.
Inspired by JRPGs like Final Fantasy and Persona, Sandfall aimed to create a visually stunning turn-based RPG, a genre they felt was underserved by AAA developers. Initially built in Unreal Engine 4, the project later migrated to Unreal Engine 5, enhancing its graphical fidelity.
Released on April 24, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 garnered critical acclaim and sold 2 million copies within its first 12 days.
Gameplay
Players control a party of Expeditioners exploring an overworld and engaging in tactical turn-based combat. Each turn, characters can:
- Use items,
- Perform melee attacks to build Ability Points (AP), or
- Spend AP on ranged attacks or Skills.
Ranged attacks function like a third-person shooter, while Skills feature quick-time events for enhanced effects. During enemy turns, players can dodge, parry, or jump over attacks in real time. Parrying is riskier but rewards AP and counterattack opportunities. A stamina system allows players to “Break” enemies, temporarily stunning them.
As the game progresses, new mechanics like Gradient Attacks, Gradient Counters, and Gradient Skills are introduced. If the active party falls, reserve members can step in. Combat ends when one side is wiped out.
Character Customization:
Each Expeditioner has unique abilities:
- Lune, a mage, generates elemental “Stains” to empower her spells.
- Maelle, a fencer, switches between Stances that alter her skills and stats.
Players further customize characters with “Pictos” and “Luminas,” equippable perks that modify abilities.
Progress is saved at Expedition Flags, which heal the party, restock items, and allow attribute/skill allocation. Resting respawns most enemies. The game includes multiple difficulty settings and a New Game Plus mode.
Plot
Premise:
For 67 years, the island of Lumière has suffered the Gommage, an annual event where the Paintress erases everyone above a certain age. Each year, an Expedition is sent to kill her. Expedition 33 includes:
- Gustave (Charlie Cox), an engineer with one year left to live.
- Maelle (Jennifer English), his foster sister, haunted by visions.
- Lune (Kirsty Rider), a scholarly mage.
- Sciel (Shala Nyx), a serene warrior.
Their journey brings them into conflict with Renoir (Andy Serkis), a ruthless immortal from the first Expedition, and Verso (Ben Starr), his estranged son.
Story Summary:
After the Gommage claims Gustave’s lover, he joins Expedition 33, only to perish during an attack by Renoir. The survivors ally with Verso, who reveals the truth: the Paintress is his mother, Aline, and Renoir seeks to protect her.
To breach Aline’s barrier, the party slays powerful Axons to forge a weapon. After defeating Renoir and Aline, they erase the Gommage’s count, only to learn too late that the real threat was the true Renoir, a powerful “Painter” from another reality.
In a twist, Maelle is revealed to be Alicia, Renoir’s daughter, trapped in a magical “Canvas” world. The finale branches based on the player’s choice:
- Alicia’s Ending: She rebuilds Lumière but remains in the Canvas.
- Verso’s Ending: He destroys the Canvas, forcing Alicia to confront reality.
With its rich narrative and innovative combat, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 delivers a gripping dark fantasy saga.
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