Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Most streamers rate Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 worth playing.
8 streamer verdicts· Released 2025-04-24Streamer Verdicts
8 of 8
Unique mystery-driven RPG with compelling story but hampered by QTE design and audio issues.
Remarkable narrative game exploring loss and human connection. One of 2026s best.
A highly polished turn-based soulslike with a strong premise about a paintress who dooms everyone of a given age each year, paired with fantastic battle animations and striking, monstrous boss designs. It is undermined for some players by an overwhelming amount of early dialogue, characters that feel contrived and catwalk-pretty, and a world that can feel dead and empty between scripted events. For fans of this character style and parry-based turn-based combat, it is a premium, top-drawer example of the genre.
An ambitious, gorgeous JRPG-inspired debut whose sublime, layered turn-based combat blends Persona-style flair with Soulslike parrying and deep customization via weapons and pictos. The art direction, score, and modernized world map excel, though dungeon exploration is linear and repetitive and the convoluted, fragmented narrative withholds too much. Where it focuses, it truly shines, delivering a bold and striking vision.
Excellent new JRPG with compelling premise, great characters, and turn-based combat with active parry/dodge. Brutally difficult bosses and cluttered UI are drawbacks.
A standout turn-based RPG from a small 30-person team that masterfully combines classic Final Fantasy-style combat with innovative real-time mechanics and cinematic storytelling. The well-written characters, engaging story with a dark-but-hopeful tone, and rewarding exploration make it one of the best RPGs in years.
Visually stunning modern fairy tale in Deep South setting with exceptional music and platforming. Combat is adequate but repetitive and drags down otherwise excellent experience.
A supremely confident RPG that delivers thrilling, precision-demanding combat with thoughtful strategy, stunning visuals, and a heartfelt story of grief and camaraderie.
About
- Released
- 2025-04-24
- Genre
- Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Indie
Creator Mentions · 13
Razbuten😐 mixed
“A thematically rich adventure that explores purpose, existence, and generational sacrifice through the lens of fighting for a future you won't see. The philosophical hooks around aging and mortality deeply resonated with the creator.”
WatchDayoScript😐 mixed
“The creator appreciates the game's world-building, storytelling confidence, and unique premise, but criticizes its reliance on spectacle, outdated PlayStation 2-era design pacing, overly parry-focused combat that doesn't encourage strategic thinking, and the way it handles the thematic shift from collective mourning to individual family grief through epic combat rather than intimate narrative.”
Watch- おおーでしゲームレビューch😐 mixed
“An extraordinary RPG that revolutionizes the genre through its unique world, captivating story with Final Fantasy X-like emotional depth, stylish action-command hybrid combat system, and vast exploration content. Despite minor UI/localization issues, it's an essential masterpiece for RPG enthusiasts.”
Watch - BBacklog Battle😐 mixed
“An exceptional game that moved the creator from beginning to end. A defining generational title with a wonderful story, expansive world, memorable characters, engaging gameplay, and an emotional soundtrack.”
Watch - SSheshounet😐 mixed
“A masterfully crafted JRPG from a small 30-person French team that demonstrates exceptional talent and passion. Despite minor frustrations with platforming sections and complex UI, the game's combat depth, beautiful environments, philosophical narrative, and $45 price point make it a triumph that exposes the hypocrisy of the industry's bloated AAA pricing.”
Watch - SSensession😐 mixed
“A beautifully crafted double-A JRPG from Sanfo Studios that rivals AAA productions with its stunning art direction, innovative turn-based combat, engaging narrative, and excellent soundtrack. The reviewer strongly recommends it to JRPG fans.”
Watch - SSavun😐 mixed
“An excellent Double-A RPG with compelling writing, well-developed characters, engaging combat, and strong soundtrack despite minor flaws. The game delivers what players want: a well-rounded, polished experience without pretension.”
Watch - Aarhn.eu😐 mixed
“A European JRPG masterpiece with compelling narrative, outstanding voice acting, beautiful world design, and engaging turn-based combat that successfully proves JRPGs don't need Japanese heritage to excel in the genre.”
Watch - Qquaz9😐 mixed
“A stylish, well-written JRPG with excellent art direction and a compelling story, but held back by tedious turn-based combat and bland exploration that the reviewer found became work-like despite appreciating the game's artistic accomplishments.”
Watch - TThe Enemy👎 negative
“While the game's visuals are stunning and the story premise shows promise, the demo revealed fundamental design issues: exploration mechanics awkwardly mix incompatible PS1 and modern design philosophies, and combat tries to be both action-focused and RPG-like but fails at both, relying too heavily on quick-time event parry/dodge mechanics.”
Watch - DDost Kayaoğlu😐 mixed
“An exceptional CRPG with an engaging story, memorable characters, and an innovative turn-based combat system that rewards player reflexes and skill. Despite narrative stumbles in the third act and difficulty balancing issues, it remains a remarkable debut from Sandfall Interactive.”
Watch - TTierraGamer😐 mixed
“A standout indie RPG from a small studio with unique retro-inspired aesthetics, engaging active turn-based combat, one of gaming's best stories, and an excellent soundtrack.”
Watch - TThe GamerCritic😐 mixed
“A flawed but genuinely impressive masterpiece from a small indie studio that delivers an emotionally powerful story, stunning presentation, and engaging turn-based combat despite some pacing and navigation issues.”
Watch