French indie game developer Sandfall Interactive’s ambitious debut title is shaking up the gaming market this year. Released on April 24, 2025, “Claire Obscur: Expedition 33” achieved commercial success, selling one million copies in just three days and two million in just twelve days. As of the end of May, it has sold over 3.3 million copies.
With a Metacritic critic score of 93, it achieved the highest score in the first half of 2025, and user reviews are also at an all-time high. The PS5 version received an impressive 9.6 and the PC version received an impressive 9.7, placing it in the top 1% of Metacritic’s history.
Additionally, at The Game Awards 2025 (TGA 2025), held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, USA on the 12th, it even won the Game of the Year (GOTY) award. Furthermore, in addition to the Game of the Year award, it won a total of nine awards, breaking the record set by “The Last of Us Part II” for most TGA wins.
With this win, Expedition 33 has now won Best Game in two of the five categories at major gaming awards ceremonies. It also swept seven categories at the Golden Joystick Awards last November, including Game of the Year.
Unique worldview and story
The game is set in a world shattered by a cataclysmic event known as the “Crack.” Once a year, a colossal being known as Paintless awakens and writes a cursed number on a monolith. All people whose age matches that number turn to smoke and vanish. Each year, the number decreases, and more people die.
The countdown that began at 100 has continued for 67 years, now reaching 33. The inhabitants of Lumiere, humanity’s last city, have dispatched expeditions every year to eradicate the Paintless, but not a single one has returned. Now, with only one year left to live, Gustave and his companions, the “Expedition 33,” embark on an impossible journey in their last hope.
The game’s title, “Clair Obscur,” is the French name for “chiaroscuro,” a technique that became an important artistic technique in Europe from the Renaissance to the 17th century. The developers explained that the title embodies the philosophy that a world is truly complete when light and darkness coexist. This philosophy is embodied throughout the game as a theme of unwavering hope, even in the face of loss and sorrow.
A battle system brimming with innovation: a blend of turn-based and real-time action.
Claire Obscur’s most acclaimed aspect is its unique combat system. While the game is based on turn-based combat, it incorporates real-time action elements. Precisely timed strikes in combat increase damage, and defensive actions like attacks, evasions, and parries must be performed in real time.
Gamers can utilize equipment, stats, skills, and character synergies to create unique expeditionary builds, deploying aggressive attacks with real-time evasion, parrying, and countering. Ranged attacks offer free aiming, much like in a third-person shooter, and skill effects can be amplified with quick-time events.
Evasion is relatively safe but offers little reward, while parrying is risky but offers great reward. Gamers learn enemy patterns and are encouraged to take increasingly risky approaches, maximizing the fun of combat. Each character has their own unique skill tree and combat style, allowing for a high level of strategic fun through the synergy between party members.
Overwhelming visuals and sound: A recreation of the Belle Époque
The game’s world design draws inspiration from the Belle Époque era in France. The architecture and art styles representative of France’s golden age from the late 19th to early 20th centuries are infused throughout the game, creating the feeling of walking through a vast work of art throughout the game.
The graphics, powered by Unreal Engine 5, boast near-photorealistic quality, and diverse environments such as oceans, forests, deserts, and plateaus are beautifully rendered. The heart-wrenching soundtrack further enhances the game’s immersion.
The game’s monsters and bosses are grotesque, yet not repulsive. Rather, they exude a unique artistic quality. The game’s unique characteristic is the sense of antiquated beauty within its bleak world.
From the moment the first trailer was released, many commented that the combination of photorealistic graphics, fantasy artwork, apocalyptic worldview, and turn-based battles was reminiscent of Japanese RPGs. Following its release, the game received critical acclaim and commercial success, but criticism poured in regarding the Final Fantasy series’ shift to real-time action.
The human relationships of the expedition members and the stylish directing are reminiscent of the Persona series, earning it the nickname ‘Fransona’.
Platform and Accessibility
The game is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (Steam, Epic Games, Stove), and officially supports Korean. The developers had in-depth discussions with the Korean localization team about the story, theme, characters, and tone, and adjusted the tone to suit the Korean version.
The game offers three difficulty levels—Story, Expedition, and Expert—to appeal to a wide range of gamers. Story mode weakens enemies and offers ample dodge and parry timing, allowing players to focus on the narrative.
It seems that the game will lead to the production of a movie.
In January 2025, Story Kitchen announced a live-action adaptation of the game in collaboration with Sandfall Interactive. Buoyed by the game’s success, the film project is moving quickly.
The developers have stated that they are currently focusing on the current platform rather than DLC or future titles, but given this level of success, it is quite possible to expect sequels or expansions to the world.
Recommended as one of the best must-see films of 2025
Claire Obscur: Expedition 33 is the biggest surprise in gaming in 2025. It’s hard to believe it’s the debut work of a new developer, but its mastery of the game, unique worldview and story, innovative combat system, and stunning visuals all come together to establish it as a masterpiece representing the year.
This game, which tackles the weighty themes of loss and death while conveying a message of unwavering hope, is a must-play for all RPG enthusiasts. A modern reinterpretation of the allure of turn-based RPGs, this masterpiece will be remembered for years to come.
