Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

About Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Sandfall Interactive and was released on April 24, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Once a year, the Paintress wakes and paints upon her monolith. Paints her cursed number. And everyone of that age turns to smoke and fades away. Year by year, that number ticks down and more of us are erased. Tomorrow she’ll wake and paint “33.” And tomorrow we depart on our final mission - Destroy the Paintress, so she can never paint death again.We are Expedition 33.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 i…

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Single-Player

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Reviews

97%Audience ScoreBased on 124,463 reviews

story26.5k positive mentions

grinding996 negative mentions

The emotional depth of the narrative and character development creates a deeply moving experience that resonates with players.
The soundtrack is widely praised as a masterpiece, enhancing the game's atmosphere and emotional impact.
The game is free of microtransactions and offers a rich experience at a fair price, showcasing a commitment to creativity and player experience.

The gameplay can become tedious and repetitive, particularly due to reliance on quick-time events and parry mechanics.
Technical issues such as stuttering, crashes, and graphical glitches detract from the overall experience for many players.
The pacing and direction of the story, especially in the third act, can leave players feeling disconnected and disappointed.

story
55,229 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48% positive mentions, 50% neutral mentions, 2% negative mentions
The story of "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" has been widely praised for its emotional depth, intricate plot twists, and strong character development, often described as a masterclass in storytelling. Players are drawn into a beautifully crafted world that explores themes of grief, loss, and the human experience, with many noting that the narrative resonates long after the game ends. However, some critiques highlight pacing issues, particularly in the third act, where the story's direction shifts dramatically, leaving some players feeling disconnected from the characters and their journeys. Overall, the game is recommended for those who appreciate rich narratives and immersive storytelling in video games.
- “You truly care about what happens to them, which makes the story hit so much harder.”
- “The story is deep, the art style is beautiful, the enemies are unique.”
- “The story is a masterclass in creative narrative with nearly perfect pace and absurdly well-placed story elements.”
- “And then act 3 comes along and obliterates the whole story with an overcomplicated plot twist and one truly baffling decision that defies any logic the storytellers have set up.”
- “The story is so full of itself it brings everything else down.”
- “The story ultimately boils down to this: a family drama, literally, with no connection at all to main characters, or to the whole premise of 'expeditions'.”
music
34,604 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55% positive mentions, 44% neutral mentions, 1% negative mentions
The music in "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising it as one of the best soundtracks in video game history. Composed by Lorien Testard, the soundtrack is noted for its emotional depth, variety, and ability to enhance the game's narrative and atmosphere, often evoking strong emotional responses from players. The integration of music into gameplay and storytelling is highlighted as a key strength, making it a memorable and immersive experience that players continue to enjoy even outside of the game.
- “The music is hauntingly beautiful and captures the atmosphere perfectly.”
- “The soundtrack is a masterpiece on its own.”
- “The music, the dialogues, the characters, everything is incredibly deep and well-crafted.”
- “The music while atmospheric sounds empty, and dialogues sound like AI generated.”
- “The music is the cherry on top.”
- “The soundtrack gets better the further you progress in the exploration and story.”
gameplay
24,827 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45% positive mentions, 52% neutral mentions, 3% negative mentions
The gameplay of "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its innovative blend of turn-based mechanics and real-time elements like dodging and parrying, which keep players engaged and add a layer of strategy. However, some players find the reliance on quick-time events (QTEs) and the parry system to be frustrating and repetitive, leading to a sense of monotony in combat. Overall, while the game excels in storytelling, visuals, and music, opinions on the gameplay experience vary widely, with some players loving the mechanics and others feeling they detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “Great mix of turn-based and real-time mechanics.”
- “The combat mechanics work and feel good (challenging and satisfying).”
- “I hate quick-time events because they're not gameplay, but there you have it.”
- “The gameplay is heavily focused on parries, and some might not enjoy that, but I found learning the timing of each fight a delight, especially as the movesets became more complicated later on.”
- “The gameplay loop quickly becomes a chore, forcing you to endure lengthy, identical enemy attacks.”
graphics
14,890 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61% positive mentions, 38% neutral mentions, 1% negative mentions
The graphics of "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning, painterly art style that evokes a sense of immersion and beauty, often likened to living artwork. Players have praised the game's visuals as breathtaking, with many noting the impressive attention to detail in character design and environments, although some have pointed out minor graphical glitches and performance issues typical of Unreal Engine 5 titles. Overall, the combination of exceptional graphics, a captivating soundtrack, and a rich narrative has made it a standout experience in the gaming landscape.
- “The visuals are stunning, the world feels like a living painting, and the soundtrack perfectly reinforces the game’s emotional weight.”
- “The graphics are absolutely stunning and the difficulty actually requires you to lock in when facing different enemies.”
- “The visuals are breathtaking—not only technically remarkable, but also artistically designed.”
- “The visuals feel so much like 'we dumped in everything we bought from the UE5 asset store' that no sane person would even call this an art style.”
- “The graphics are very pretty but the lack of world building details for most of the main story bugged me.”
- “The graphics are atrocious... it is unacceptable to deliver a game in this state.”
emotional
7,845 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" has been overwhelmingly praised by players, who describe it as a deeply moving experience that evokes a wide range of feelings, from joy to profound sadness. Many reviewers noted that the game's narrative, character development, and stunning soundtrack work in harmony to create an emotional rollercoaster, often leading to tears during pivotal moments. The story's exploration of themes such as grief, loss, and resilience resonates strongly with players, making it one of the most impactful and memorable gaming experiences in recent years.
- “It's a profoundly emotional experience that ties itself to you, and once you hit that certain point, I can assure you it will not let go and you'll have to see it through to the end.”
- “The delicacy to all of the emotion and genuine connection to all the main characters is immersive and heart-wrenching.”
- “I’m not going to spoil anything, but be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster... there were moments that genuinely moved me to tears.”
- “Take away the surreal landscapes and batshit setting and it's a very boring story about sad French people.”
- “The cutscenes are so boring; the story is mid and the characters are mid.”
- “Boring story, bland unmemorable characters; the music is good but it is plagued by annoying, repetitive, and monotonous lyrics.”
optimization
2,978 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35% positive mentions, 52% neutral mentions, 13% negative mentions
The optimization of "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" has received mixed feedback from players. While some report smooth performance and minimal issues on high-end systems, many others experience significant stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, particularly on lower-end hardware or during demanding scenes. The game, built on Unreal Engine 5, showcases impressive visuals but suffers from typical UE5 optimization challenges, leading to a reliance on mods for improved performance. Overall, while the game is praised for its artistic quality and engaging narrative, its technical performance remains a notable concern for many players.
- “Built-in mapping tools, accessibility sliders for parry timing, and better performance tuning would elevate this from incredible to untouchable.”
- “On top of that, expedition 33 is also very well paced, offers more than enough content for the asked price and is optimized very well.”
- “I ultimately had to rely on the optimized tweaks mod before the game finally looked and responded the way I wanted.”
- “Make sure your PC can run the game optimally, because UE5 in this case does not do the game justice in saving performance, although it definitely does do it a service in terms of visual fidelity and flair.”
- “The performance is not good, even on a 7900xtx I get a lot of stutter and massive frame drops in some areas.”
atmosphere
1,979 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53% positive mentions, 46% neutral mentions, 1% negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" is widely praised for its haunting beauty and emotional depth, effectively immersing players in a richly detailed world that blends melancholic and surreal elements. The game's stunning visuals, masterfully composed soundtrack, and thoughtful storytelling work in harmony to create an unforgettable experience that resonates long after gameplay. While some critiques mention occasional disconnection in character interactions, the overall consensus highlights the game's ability to evoke strong emotions through its atmospheric design and narrative.
- “The art and music create a really strong atmosphere, and the world feels both beautiful and unsettling at the same time.”
- “The music, atmosphere, and presentation work together so seamlessly that you don’t feel like you’re controlling a character—you feel like you are the character.”
- “The atmosphere is consistently dark and melancholic, and that’s exactly where its strength lies.”
- “After defeating the paintress, the reveal that everything was essentially inside a painting and that none of the characters were actually real sucked all the atmosphere out of the world.”
- “The world feels melancholic, artistic, heavy, maybe a little bit oppressive at some parts like the big swords cemetery where it feels like Elden Ring, but overall everything works together to create this surreal, tragic atmosphere that constantly reminds you that this world wants you dead.”
humor
1,304 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The humor in "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" is widely praised for its cleverness and timing, effectively balancing the game's darker themes with lighthearted moments. Players appreciate the unique and funny character interactions, as well as the absurdity of certain situations, which contribute to a rich emotional experience that oscillates between laughter and tears. While some humor may not resonate with everyone, the overall consensus is that it enhances the narrative without feeling forced, making it a standout aspect of the game.
- “The humor is great and very French - this is how to make genuinely funny details.”
- “The characters are funny, lovable, and have incredible on-screen chemistry & dynamics.”
- “The story, the characters, the twists and turns, the humor, the ending, the emotions... simply amazing and kept me wanting more.”
- “The jokes are not funny, the sad parts are saccharine, the characters have no depth, the plot is paper thin and barely coherent, and there is almost no work done to establish lore early on.”
- “My original review was an unfunny 'Final Fantasy but French' joke, but this game doesn't deserve that.”
- “It's a nit-pick and has been happening a lot in media over the years... please just stop being so cringe, it's not funny.”
grinding
1,202 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3% positive mentions, 14% neutral mentions, 83% negative mentions
The reviews on "grinding" in the game present a mixed perspective. While many players appreciate that the main story progresses smoothly without excessive grinding, they note that combat can become tedious and grindy, especially during boss fights and optional content. Some players find the need to grind for levels or resources to be a chore, particularly in the late game, while others enjoy the challenge and strategic depth it adds to the gameplay. Overall, the game offers a balance where grinding is not mandatory for progression, but can enhance the experience for those who engage with it.
- “The game is lightweight yet deep, with little to no grinding if you engage the systems.”
- “The gameplay is very fun, the story is good, the world is interesting, and best of all there is little to no grinding or filler content in the game.”
- “You’re not grinding levels, you’re living a journey.”
- “The combat gets tedious after 4 hours.”
- “The gameplay becomes incredibly tedious, retrying fights, and then if you get the two leads their best weapon, the game is completely broken at that point and no enemy will get a turn again.”
- “The combat system eventually becomes tedious and frustrating.”
character development
1,076 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50% positive mentions, 48% neutral mentions, 2% negative mentions
Character development in "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" is a focal point of praise among reviewers, with many highlighting its emotional depth and the meaningful growth of characters throughout the narrative. Players appreciate the unique and visually striking character designs, which enhance the storytelling experience, although some express disappointment in the uneven development of side characters compared to the main cast. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to create a compelling connection between players and characters, making the journey feel immersive and impactful.
- “The character development throughout the journey is the biggest strength of the game; every moment felt so impactful because you are invested in this world and its people.”
- “The story unfolds gradually and intelligently, rewarding attention and curiosity with meaningful character development and emotionally impactful moments that never feel forced.”
- “The character development is incredible, the lore is fantastic, the world is stunning, and the combat feels amazing.”
- “The character development is also pretty weak, in my opinion.”
- “Throwing away two big character developments right at the end left me confused and disappointed, and the ultimate dilemma doesn't actually make sense.”
- “The character development has been poor, and I couldn't care less about any of them.”
stability
382 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25% positive mentions, 1% neutral mentions, 74% negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting a range of issues including graphical glitches, crashes, and freezes, particularly during cutscenes and specific combat encounters. While some users experienced minimal bugs and praised the game's overall performance, others faced significant technical problems that hindered their gameplay experience. Overall, the game appears to run well on certain systems, but many players recommend caution due to the prevalence of bugs and stability issues.
- “Game looks and runs great, inputs are smooth and I've had no game-breaking issues (no crashes).”
- “The game runs great overall and feels very polished.”
- “In a world where most games release broken on PC, this runs great, looks great, and I have yet to encounter a bug.”
- “The game technically runs, but textures fail to load correctly, cutscenes stutter constantly, characters develop bizarre visual glitches, and glowing effects can overwhelm the screen, turning entire areas into flat pink or red spaces with invisible obstacles.”
- “Lots of bugs including game freezes, crashes, red screens, and black screen cutscenes.”
- “I’m running it on an RX 7800 XT (I guess it's important) and instead of playing, I ended up troubleshooting crashes and freezes for hours.”
replayability
358 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33% positive mentions, 63% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its diverse character builds, new game plus (NG+), and engaging combat mechanics that encourage multiple playthroughs. However, some reviewers noted limitations in replay value due to linear progression and a lack of significant changes in NG+, which can diminish the incentive to replay. Overall, while there are strong elements that support replayability, opinions vary widely on its longevity and depth.
- “The game also has new game + which means more replay value.”
- “The replayability is high, allowing you to craft various builds with the characters.”
- “There's so much replayability and 5-minute playability; this game won't be leaving my drive for years.”
- “Ending ruins the entire game and all replayability.”
- “The game has literally no replayability.”
- “My only real issue with the game, ng+ you become kind of broken very easily, and it doesn't really have a lot of replayability.”
monetization
305 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9% positive mentions, 59% neutral mentions, 32% negative mentions
The monetization model of "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" has been overwhelmingly praised, with users highlighting its complete absence of microtransactions, paywalls, or predatory practices. The game is offered at a fair price, providing a full and rich experience without the clutter of in-game purchases, which many players see as a refreshing departure from the current trend of exploitative monetization in the gaming industry. Overall, it is celebrated as a testament to what gaming can achieve when developers prioritize creativity and player experience over profit.
- “This is a single-player game completely free of microtransactions, cheaper than most AAA games, and equipped with a far richer experience for its fans to enjoy.”
- “No microtransactions, no filler quests—just a focused experience from a dev team clearly making the game they wanted to play.”
- “In a time where many games play it safe, cost a fortune, or lean too hard into monetization, Clair Obscur feels like a love letter to creativity and good game design.”
- “In an industry plagued by predatory microtransactions, battle passes, and paywalls, Expedition 33 is a beacon of hope.”
- “In a world filled with AAA releases that end up being soulless cash grabs, a studio comes along with passion and a vision to make something generational.”

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Play Times

34h Median play time

43h Average play time

10-66h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 460 analyzed playthroughs

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Game News

Pokemon with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's combat sounds like a bonkers idea, but one fan's now given us a taste test

August 30 on gamesradar.com

Tides of Annihilation devs confirm Resident Evil Requiem's Grace actor will replace Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 star Jennifer English

August 25 on gamesradar.com

Former PlayStation boss says it's "really funny" turn-based JRPGs are so in-demand after he advised Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 devs not to use the term

August 18 on gamesradar.com

'It's Incredibly Well-Made, But…' — Former PlayStation Boss Warned Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Devs It Would Be 'Overlooked' if They Called It a Turn-Based RPG

August 17 on ign.com

Ex PlayStation boss told Clair Obscur Expedition 33 devs not to call it a turn-based RPG: "That alone might cause players to overlook it"

August 17 on gamesradar.com

Tides of Annihilation seemingly casts Resident Evil Requiem's Grace actor as its new lead after Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 star Jennifer English left the role

August 17 on gamesradar.com

2025 GOTY Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is down to $33

August 14 on theverge.com

The "untranslatable" book that inspired Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been translated, and you can buy it later this year

August 12 on eurogamer.net

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Frequently Asked Questions

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a role playing game. Common tags for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 include gaming, story rich and epic.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 43 hours playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was released on April 24, 2025.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was developed by Sandfall Interactive.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a single player game.

Similar games include God of War, Black Myth: Wukong, NieR:Automata™, Transistor, Nine Sols and others.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

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About Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

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Reviews

story

music

gameplay

graphics

emotional

optimization

atmosphere

humor

grinding

character development

stability

replayability

monetization

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