By every measurement available, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a resounding success.
This turn-based RPG has sat on the calendar for a while with not much standing out about it except its unique name. Once the reviews started dropping, it drew immediate connections to older Final Fantasy games and The Legend of Dragoon.
Sales numbers and active Steam players soon skyrocketed, placing this freshman effort from Sandfall Interactive as one of the best of 2025.
There are many interpretations you can take from this success, but one that stands out to me is the indication of an appetite for new gaming franchises.
It’s not just Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Metaphor: ReFantazio also enjoyed universal acclaim late last year. We could go back further and point to both Ghosts of Tsushima and Horizon Zero Dawn as additional success stories.
And yet, there are also a number of cautionary tales out there — such as Forspoken — that may discourage experimenting with new IPs. With that said, that doesn’t dampen the idea of players being willing to try new IPs.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 shows that if the conditions are right, and developers make the effort, fans will reward that risk.
For one, Sandfall seems to have taped into some public opinions and filled a void. The fact that Clair Obscur is drawing comparisons to older Final Fantasy games shows the developer successfully tapped into its niche.
There was a large section of fans that were upset at Final Fantasy‘s continued dive into action combat. While Clair Obscur does employ real-time mechanics, it is still a turn-based game probably what many wanted Final Fantasy XVI to be.
Another great effort was the price. In a world where Nintendo is launching the Switch 2 with an $80 game, Clair Obscur went the other direction with a $50 price tag.
Again, Sandfall tapped into the market and addressed a growing concern among gamers: getting priced out of their hobby. The developer showed that gamers can still enjoy a great game at a lower price.
How does this relate? When developers make this type of effort, gamers are more likely to give new IPs.
Of course, marketing isn’t enough. Developers need to actually deliver on that promise.
Far and away, Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 seems to be running fine with a few issues here and there. That’s not something that can be said about many other larger games.
A constant complaint from gamers is title seem to release before they are ready. If a new IP does this, it will set it back ages and potentially won’t recover.
On the flip side, when a new IP shines, it can set it up for a healthy future and a potential to convert into a franchise. Clair Obscur delivered on this front.
All of this shows that gamers want to try new IPs, but developers need to do their part. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the latest title to accomplish that and fans are rewarding Sandfall Interactive for it.
Hopefully, this highlights a blueprint for others to follow especially given the fear of trying new IPs. Fans want those new titles, but developers need to put in the effort to show fans why its worth it.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is just the latest example of how best to satiate that appetite.
What about you? Do you think there is a desire for new IPs? What do developers need to do to make it worth your time to try them? What are your thoughts on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? Let us know in the comments below or head over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.
Featured Image: Kepler Interactive (via GamesRadar)
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