Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, you'll pilot the members of Expedition 33 on their mission to destroy the Paintress and save Lumière. You'll battle unique, fantastical beings in turn-based combat with quick-time events sprinkled into fights. Meet curious creatures, hunt for collectibles, and unearth the secrets of this strange, yet beautiful world on your journey to end the Paintress's devastation.

RELEASE DATE

April 24, 2025

PUBLISHER

Kepler Interactive

DEVELOPER

Sandfall Interactive

9.5

Destructoid Rating

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Community Rating

GAME STORY

Each year, the Paintress paints a new number, and everyone in Lumière of that age dies. Dozens of expeditions have tried—and failed—to stop her. Expedition 33 hopes to put an end to the Paintress's reign of devastation, but the island holds truths far more unsettling than anyone expected.

PLAY HOURS

30 Hours

Main Story

41 Hours

Main + Extras

72 Hours

Completionist

9.5

Destructoid Rating

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Official Review Guide

A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.

The turn-based RPG and debut title from French studio Sandfall Interactive delivers on all of its promises in refreshing the decades-old genre, taking inspiration from games of the past and the Belle Époque era of French history to craft a beautiful, tragic, and memorable experience that should be considered one of the best games of 2025 and a tremendous first entry for a very talented studio.

Pros

Addictive, satisfying spin on turn-based combat
Building each character for specific battle strategies is a delight
Gorgeous, stylish world filled with dread and wonder
Stellar voice cast and soundtrack
Mysterious, bleak plot that drives the urge to learn and play more

Cons

Battle QTE's sometimes take the focus off of glorious, cinematic scenes mid-fight
Necessary exposition sometimes buried in optional scenes
Cutscenes are locked to 30 FPS

A copy of this game was provided by the publisher for review. Reviewed on PC.

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