Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review

If you’re someone who loves playing story-rich games and enjoys fantasy worlds, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is something you should know about. This new game, made by a team in France called Sandfall Interactive, came out in April 2025, and it’s been getting a lot of attention. People are loving how it looks, how it plays, and the story it tells.

Table of Contents

In this post, we’ll break down what this game is, what makes it good, and if it’s worth playing, all in simple words.

What is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?

This game is like a mix between an art piece and a fantasy story. It’s not just about fighting enemies or doing missions; it’s about going on a deep, emotional journey. The world is strange and beautiful, and the story is quite different from most other games.

Here’s the main idea: In this world, there’s a powerful woman called the Paintress. Every year, she “paints away” a certain number, for example, 33, and anyone who is that age disappears from the world, just like they never existed. It’s scary and sad.

You play as a group of heroes who are tired of this curse. Their job is to go on an adventure and stop the Paintress before she paints the next number.

Who Made the Game?

Here are some quick facts:

Game Name: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Developer: Sandfall Interactive
Publisher: Kepler Interactive
Director: Guillaume Broche
Composer: Lorien Testard
Release Date: April 24, 2025
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Game Type: Single-player role-playing game (RPG)

Graphics That Look Like a Painting

The first thing you’ll notice in this game is how beautiful it looks. The art style is based on a time in history called the Belle Époque (fancy French for “beautiful era”). It’s like walking through an art museum — the buildings, the sky, the characters — all look like they’ve been painted with love.

It’s not just good-looking, though. It also feels emotional. Sometimes you’ll look at the screen and just stop to admire what you see. The light, the colors, even the monsters — everything looks like it came out of a dream or painting.

Music That Touches Your Heart

The game’s music is also very well made. It’s not just background noise — it fits the mood. When something sad is happening, the music feels soft and emotional. When you’re fighting, it gets loud and intense.

They even used opera singers and metal vocalists in the soundtrack. That’s a strange mix, but it works really well here. The music helps you feel what the characters are feeling.

Let’s Talk About Gameplay—Is It Fun to Play?

Yes! The gameplay in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a mix of turn-based combat (where you take turns to attack or defend) and real-time action (where you have to dodge or block quickly).

For example:

You can press a button to dodge when an enemy attacks.
You can charge up a punch to hit harder.
You can parry (block) at the right time to stop damage.

Every character in your team has their own style:

Gustave uses a big mechanical arm to smash things.
Lune uses magic like fire or ice.
Maelle is fast and clever in fights.

You also get to upgrade skills using something called “Lumina.” It’s like getting stronger as you go. You choose what powers you want to improve, like health, attack, or magic, which means you can make your characters suit your play style.

A World Full of Strange and Cool Places

The places you visit in this game are very different from regular cities or forests in other games. You’ll see floating islands, upside-down buildings, glowing rivers, and more. Each place looks like it came out of a fantasy dream.

You also meet many interesting characters. Some are friends who help you. Others are enemies or people who have given up hope. The game tells their stories too, and some of them are really touching.

How Long Is the Game?

If you just follow the main story, it’ll take around 20 to 25 hours. But if you like exploring or doing side missions, you can play for 40 hours or more.

Good Things About This Game (Pros)

✅ Beautiful Graphics—It looks like a painting.

✅ Great music—emotional and fits the story.

✅ Unique Story—Something new and creative.

✅ Fun Combat—Mix of turn-based and real-time action.

✅ Customizable Characters—Choose how they grow and fight.

✅ Strong Emotions—Makes you feel things, not just fight.

Not-So-Good Things (Cons)

❌ Might Be Too Emotional for Some – The story is heavy and sad in parts.

❌ No Multiplayer – It’s a solo game only.

❌ Combat Can Get Tricky—You need to focus and react quickly.

What Other People Are Saying

A lot of gamers and websites are calling it one of the best games of 2025. On Metacritic, a site that collects review scores, it has a 91/100, which is very high.

People are loving the art, music, and story the most. Some say it reminds them of famous games like Final Fantasy or Persona, but with a very different feel.

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Should You Play It?

If you love games that look beautiful, tell a deep story, and mix action with strategy, then yes, this is 100% for you.

Even if you usually play simple action games, this one might surprise you. It’s easy to get into, but hard to forget. The story sticks with you, and the way everything looks and sounds makes it more than just a game. It feels like you’re inside a painting that’s alive.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is not just a game. It’s an experience. It’s emotional, powerful, and unforgettable. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a big RPG fan, this game is worth checking out.

So if you’ve got a PS5, Xbox Series, or a decent PC, go ahead and give it a try. It might just become one of your favorite games ever.