Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, an RPG with a soul that will stay tattooed in our memories

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Since our first impressions, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 made it clear that it was a title with a soul and something to transcend. It is one of those memorable games because of its characters, its story, its gameplay, and the universe it builds around it. For all of these reasons, this new IP is shaping up to be one of the most impressive RPGs of the last decade.

What does Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has that other games in the genre don’t?

The game is instantly engaging thanks to the power of its narrative, creating a real emotional connection with the player. In addition to its elaborate and well-told plot, its premise moves away from the hackneyed conflict between good and evil. In this story, we take on the role of Gustave, a member of Expedition 33, accompanied by characters such as Maelle, Luna, and Sciel. Their mission is to leave Lumière, a sort of devastated Paris, to stop “The Painter,” an enigmatic figure who each year sentences people of a certain age to death by painting them on a monolith.

From its first hours, the game immerses the player in a story of survival and human connection. This is where the work of Sandfall Interactive shines, a small studio that has managed to build an immersive narrative with an extraordinary level of detail and care.

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A turn-based RPG that takes the best of the genre

For lovers of turn-based RPGs, the combat system features elements reminiscent of Paper Mario and requires active participation. It’s not enough to select attacks or magic: you have to press buttons at precise moments to amplify your actions. Active defense—which includes dodging, jumping, blocking, or counterattacking—is a fundamental part of the gameplay, requiring reflexes and synchronization.

The progression system allows you to adjust the difficulty at your own pace. In our case, we chose to replay battles to gain experience and make the main confrontations easier. The game rewards learning enemy patterns and choosing the right skills.

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Character development is based on leveling up, assigning points to attributes such as Attack, Defense, HP, and Luck, and unlocking special abilities, many of which are tied to the weapon equipped. Unlike other RPGs, there are no traditional equippable items. Instead, Pictios grant passive abilities that, once learned, can be shared between characters in exchange for Lumina points, allowing for unique strategic customization.

The French essence in a fantasy world

One of the game’s great successes is its setting. The French influence is clear, from the Belle Époque as the dominant aesthetic to enemies inspired by mimes and a collapsed Eiffel Tower. This fantasy world is enhanced by stunning visuals. We played it on a PC with the following configuration:

With this configuration, we achieved more than 70 stable FPS at 4K resolution. The game also ran smoothly on an ASUS ROG Ally X at HD resolution and a 17W profile, with over 40 FPS for long portable sessions.

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 undoubtedly transcends everything that makes it up—the story, the visuals, its biomes, the incredible soundtrack, its voice acting with voices like those of Charlie Cox, Jennifer English, Shala Nyx, Ben Starr, and Andy Serkis—but above all for the love that has been put into the art, which is reflected in the characters, the enemies, and even the interface itself. It is undoubtedly a strong contender for Game of the Year and a title that will be remembered for its originality and masterful execution.