Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG game with a French flair, set to release on April 24. Already receiving high praise, with a Metacritic score of 92/100 and OpenCritic score of 92%, it’s shaping up to be one of the standout games of 2025.
Developed by the newly formed studio Sandfall Interactive in France, led by Guillaume Broche, known for his work at Ubisoft on titles like Ghost Recon Breakpoint, The Division 2, and the Might & Magic series, the game boasts a team of around 30 developers utilizing the Unreal Engine 5.
The plot unfolds in a fantasy world inspired by the Belle Epoque era of Europe, where a goddess named Paintress awakens and paints numbers on stone slabs. Those matching the numbers will perish, and the digits steadily decrease. The recent awakening of Paintress marks the number 33, corresponding to the age of the protagonist group, prompting them to embark on a journey to prevent the impending doom.
Drawing inspiration from classic RPGs like Final Fantasy, the game incorporates turn-based combat with elements from Persona and Sekiro, allowing players to evade or parry enemy attacks at precise moments.
In a sea of glowing reviews, notable gaming outlets like DualShockers and TheGamer have awarded Clair Obscur with perfect or near-perfect scores for its engaging storyline, music, unique combat system, and immersive world design. Criticisms mainly revolve around the absence of a minimap, a common point of contention among reviewers.
Other major gaming publications like Destructoid, Gamespot, IGN, Pushsquare, GameInformer, and GamesRadar+ have also applauded the game for its compelling narrative, diverse character abilities, stunning visuals, and challenging boss encounters, though some critique character lip-syncing and the lack of a minimap feature.
TLDR: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a top-notch turn-based RPG with a French twist, earning critical acclaim for its innovative gameplay mechanics, immersive story, and captivating world design.
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