“Men Trip Not On Mountains; They Stumble Upon Stones.”

Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Developer: Sandfall Interactive
Publisher: Kepler Interactive
Release Date: April 22, 2025
Platforms: Xbox Series, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Xbox Cloud Gaming, NVIDIA GeForce Now Reviewed on Xbox Series X. Tested on PlayStation 5

When Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was first revealed at the 2024 Xbox Summer Showcase, it made a strong initial impression. It was visually striking and conceptually intriguing, standing out as one of the showcase’s most compelling games. However, like many AA titles, it seemed like a game that would quietly earn a cult following rather than redefine or revitalize an entire genre. I, like most people, thought it looked interesting enough—something I might eventually play on Game Pass during downtime between other games. What I didn’t expect was for Expedition 33 to completely shatter those expectations and not only become one of the best games of 2025, but also one of my favorite video games of all time.

What’s most impressive is how seamlessly Expedition 33 balances reverence with reinvention. The game knows exactly what it wants to be, drawing deeply from classic and modern JRPGs while using those influences as a foundation for something strikingly original. French studio Sandfall Interactive embraces genre staples like dramatic storytelling, atmospheric worldbuilding, and stylized turn-based combat—but filters them through a distinctly Western lens, reshaping familiar mechanics and tropes into a bold, surreal experience.

---

Spoiler Warning: This review contains no major narrative spoilers beyond the game’s Prologue, which sets up the central premise. Light spoilers may be mentioned to illustrate certain points, but significant story details will not be discussed. Watch our Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Spoilercast and Review Discussion for our full take.

---

SUMMARY

Set 67 years after a world-shattering event known as the Fracture, humanity survives only in fragments. One of these cities is Lumière—a surreal, haunting reimagining of a historical Paris, where familiar landmarks like the Eiffel Tower now stand warped and broken. Life here is fragile, overshadowed by the presence of the Paintress, a mysterious being who paints a new number onto the side of a colossal tower known as the Monolith each year. When a year passes, everyone of that age is erased from the world in an event known as the Gommage.

You begin the game as Gustav, a charming and charismatic character portrayed with quiet nobility by Charlie Cox (Daredevil). We quickly learn that he’s taken on the role of guardian to Maelle, a spirited sixteen-year-old—endearingly performed by Jennifer English (Baldur’s Gate III)—whose parents were Gommaged years ago. Maelle’s optimism and playful energy contrast beautifully with Gustav’s stoic, often solemn demeanor, though he has his lighter moments too.

Hidden within these early character interactions is the game’s first tutorial, cleverly disguised as a lighthearted sparring match with Maelle that also introduces the grappling mechanics. It’s a smart, intuitive approach to onboarding players without disrupting the narrative—a technique the game continues to use effectively throughout. Even the battle mechanics, like parrying in the “dance” for the artist in the harbor or the first fight with a mime, feel natural within the scope of the story. What makes this introduction especially strong is how effortlessly it establishes Gustav and Maelle’s relationship. Their bond feels genuine, capturing the warmth and complexity of a chosen family’s love.

As the story opens, the two make their way to the harbor to meet Sophie, a former lover of Gustav’s, at a festival that celebrates life and remembrance. Marked by the red and white flower necklaces worn by the soon-to-be Gommaged, the event is both beautiful and tragic. Sophie’s time has come, and Gustav is determined to make peace and say goodbye before she disappears forever.

As someone who has experienced the pain and heartache of loss—as most of us have at some point—this story struck a deeply personal chord. Watching Gustav suppress his sorrow, anger, and heartbreak was genuinely difficult, made all the more powerful by the actor’s extraordinary facial performance.

Seeing both characters gripped by fear—fully aware of what was coming and powerless to stop it—was devastating. And when Sophie’s ashes transformed into flower petals and drifted into the wind, that’s when it became especially difficult to hold back my own tears for Gustav. I felt every ounce of his pain, knowing all too well that we don’t always get the chance to say goodbye. The fact that such an emotional punch lands within the first 45 minutes of a 30+ hour story is a testament to the game’s ability to connect us with its characters so quickly.

After the Gommage, Gustav and the Expedition set out for the Continent to destroy the Paintress before humanity is wiped out for good. By the end of its prologue, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 makes one thing clear: this is a story that will continually defy player expectations, time and time and time again. Gustav’s sister—and Lumière’s governess—Emma delivers a haunting farewell, condemning the Expedition as a guillotine cloaked in patriotic rhetoric. Her words reflect the growing disillusionment in Lumière, a city long scarred by the Gommage and weary of false hope.

Her cynicism proved well-founded. The moment the team sets foot on the Paintress’s shores, the mission unravels almost instantly, scattering our heroes across the Continent before the journey has even truly begun. For all its sorrow, Lumière feels like a sanctuary compared to this harsh new reality. The threat here is immediate, overwhelming, and relentless—a stark reminder that no one is safe. This closing sequence to the prologue floored me and left me more intrigued than ever about what I was really in for.

As for the rest of the narrative, I didn’t expect it to land as hard—or as often—as it does. Expedition 33 paints a powerful emotional canvas, touching on grief, identity, the meaning of family—both the ones we choose and the ones we’re born into—and the role of art in helping us confront loss and make sense of our tragedies. These moments hit me on a deeply personal level and are best experienced without any further spoilers. This is a narrative that must be experienced firsthand—without spoilers—because its power lies in discovery.

ANALYSIS

The Characters and Play Styles (No Spoilers)

I won’t go into detail about every character or their individual story arcs, but I do want to highlight a few of my favorites from my time with the game. Let’s start with the rest of the playable party. In addition to Gustav and Maelle, your team includes four other members: Lune, a red mage–type character; Monoco, who fills the blue mage role; Sciel, who specializes in luck and agility; and Verso, a mysterious figure brought to life brilliantly by Ben Starr.

Lune is the first party member you recruit after the prologue, and she immediately leaves a strong impression. She’s intelligent, determined, and carries herself with the confidence of someone who understands exactly what’s at stake. As the daughter of renowned researchers, Lune has dedicated her life to completing their work and uncovering the truth behind the Paintress. Tasked with charting the Expedition’s course through the Continent, she visibly bears the weight of every decision, and her unwavering focus sets the tone for much of her arc.

One of Lune’s most charming traits is her silly yet endearing curiosity about the Gestrals—a race of wooden, humanoid creatures with paintbrush-like hair. Her reaction upon seeing one for the first time is pure joy, like a child on Christmas morning. Her relationship with Maelle also becomes increasingly heartwarming as she gradually steps into the role of mentor, role model, and big sister—revealing her own capacity for change and emotional growth. She quickly became one of my favorite characters—maybe ever.

Lune also stands out in how she plays. She wields elemental magic—fire, ice, lightning, and earth—through a unique “stain” system that powers up her abilities. Versatile and reliable, she can dish out heavy damage or heal the party as needed. Her gameplay perfectly reflects her personality: focused, complex, and strong. As I progressed, I found some very powerful builds—one in particular let me cast her devastating “Hell” spell nearly every turn by pairing energy-boosting pictos with careful stain management. Watching Lune tear through enemies while keeping my team alive was incredibly satisfying.

Played brilliantly performed by Shala Nyx, Sciel’s charm and optimism shine just as brightly as her strength in battle. She brings levity to the team with her playful curiosity—especially through her endearing, platonic bond with Gustav and her sister-like connection with Lune. Though she’s made peace with the world’s brutality, her smile masks her painful past. The story that unfolds throughout the game reveals a depth that’s both unexpected and powerful, proving she’s far more than just another pretty face.

I used Sciel in a variety of scenarios because she’s a powerful and versatile damage dealer, with access to Dark magic and her devastating Foretell and Twilight mechanics. Her ability to stack Foretell cards and detonate them for massive damage—especially when paired with Twilight’s damage boost and expanded limits—makes her a tactical powerhouse. With the right loadout, she can quickly wipe out enemies, exploit elemental weaknesses, and keep constant pressure on bosses. She’s also one of the few characters who can reliably harness Dark energy, making her indispensable in most encounters.

I won’t say much about Verso due to plot spoilers, but he absolutely deserves praise. Voiced brilliantly by Ben Starr, he’s a mysterious yet charismatic figure who adds depth to the world by offering insight exactly when it’s needed. He often serves as the team’s dependable shield—both in combat and in difficult moments. His quiet confidence and strong sense of duty help ground the group, balancing their dynamic with his defensive skills and thoughtful presence.

I really liked his abilities, though I usually kept him in my reserve party since I’d found a good rhythm with other members. Verso is a powerful and dependable character who can subtly control the flow of battle. He’s all about consistency, utility, and smart, reactive move sets. His Light-based abilities give strong elemental coverage, which pairs perfectly with Dark-users like Sciel and Monoco to trigger Twilight mechanics. Verso can be one of the more satisfying characters to master.

When it comes to humor in Expedition 33, Monoco absolutely steals the show. Brought to life by Rich Keeble’s brilliantly dry performance, he’s easily one of the funniest video game characters I’ve ever encountered. His deadpan delivery and constant, sarcastic sparring with Verso deliver some of the game’s sharpest—and most genuinely hilarious—moments. But Monoco is far more than comic relief. His Muppet-like design and eccentric personality make him instantly memorable, yet it’s the emotional weight he quietly carries—masking pain with wit—that gives him real depth. Beneath the jokes is a thoughtful, world-weary soul who cares deeply for the team, and that’s what makes him truly endearing.

While I didn’t use Monoco much in my first playthrough, he’s become a key part of my New Game Plus party. His unique Mask mechanic functions like a twist on the classic Blue Mage archetype, allowing him to shift personas mid-fight and take on different roles depending on what the team needs. Whether he’s casting powerful Dark magic, supporting allies, or debuffing enemies, Monoco is a flexible powerhouse with immense potential once you start experimenting with his build. Between his mechanical versatility and his endearing personality, it’s no wonder he’s such a fan favorite. Monoco isn’t just a favorite—he’s a reason to play the game again.

We can’t talk about Expedition 33 without mentioning arguably its best character: Esquie. I love Esquie—he’s a unique and charming presence in a world meant to be dark and hopeless. On one hand, he’s a legendary and incredibly powerful being. But Esquie surprises you with his laid-back, even lazy demeanor, making him incredibly relatable and fun, while providing much-needed comic relief. His playful, whimsical nature adds a lot of personality, and there’s something truly special about how he quietly carries the team—often quite literally—showcasing both his strength and heart.

What stands out about Esquie is the depth beneath his cheerful nature. His connection to the world’s magic, channeled through his pet rocks, grants him powerful abilities that enhance exploration throughout the game, but it’s his kindness and loyalty that truly distinguish him. Esquie serves as both guardian and friend—a unique blend of myth, heart, and strength that made him one of my favorite characters. Maxence Cazorla deserves all of the credit for bringing this incredible character to life.

I also want to give some love to Noco, one of those quietly lovable characters who brings heart and warmth to Expedition 33. His cheerful personality and merchant dreams add levity, but there’s a real depth beneath it all. He’s not flashy, but his kindness, loyalty, and enduring charm make him an adorable part of the adventure.

There are so many other characters I could talk about, but any discussion of Renoir—played immaculately by the legendary Andy Serkis—Clea, the Paintress herself, Alicia, Simon, or the Curator would venture too far into spoiler territory. What I will say is that each of them plays a meaningful role in the story, and every performance is genuinely outstanding. They all deserve recognition and praise for the depth and emotion they bring to the game as well.

Combat

As for the combat, I find it to be exceptional—intuitive, yet deeply complex. At first, it follows familiar turn-based conventions: you spend action points on ranged attacks and special abilities, regain them through basic strikes and parries, and use skills or items to control damage and healing. But what really distinguishes it is the level of interactivity in every move. Quick Time Event-like timing mechanics during attacks and skills means I’m not just choosing actions—I’m actively performing them. This creates a lively, almost rhythmic flow that makes each battle feel like an incredibly well-choreographed duel.

The defensive side of combat is just as engaging. As you progress, you unlock three core defensive tools: Dodge, Parry (later upgraded to Gradient Parry), and Jump. Dodging is the safest way to read enemy patterns without taking damage, but parrying offers a far more exhilarating payoff. Perfectly timing a parry lets you negate incoming damage, restore action points, and unleash a cinematic counterattack. I feel a genuine rush of adrenaline every time I land one—there’s a thrill in that split-second precision, amplified by explosive visual and audio feedback that makes each successful parry feel powerful and earned.

Not every attack can be parried, though. Jump strikes and powerful Gradient skills require different responses, so I’m constantly making quick, high-stakes decisions. Fortunately, the game provides clear visual cues that help me read which defensive move to use, which makes all the difference in reacting correctly under pressure. For those worried about strict parry timing, the difficulty settings offer options to widen the window or automate inputs. The result is a combat system that remains challenging, but always adaptable—without ever losing its impact.

What really elevates Expedition 33’s combat is how it invites experimentation and rewards character synergy. Every party member brings their unique mechanics to the combat, but the real magic happens when their abilities start feeding into each other. I constantly found myself mixing and matching different pictos and skills, trying to discover how one character’s move could set up another’s. It was incredibly satisfying when these aspects came together—everything clicked and my team became a well-oiled machine.

Lune’s elemental “Stains” might prep enemies for Gustave’s devastating lightning strikes, while Sciel manipulates turn order and timing with sun and moon charges to create openings Maelle can exploit through her fluid stance shifts. These systems aren’t isolated—they’re built to complement one another, and the game encourages you to lean into that overlap. The level of customization is something I really loved as I experimented more. It reminded me a lot of Lost Odyssey on the Xbox 360, shaping how each character functions. Finding the right picto combinations gave the combat a strategic depth that felt both creative and personal.

Enemy and boss design was another standout for me. The creatures you encounter aren’t just cool to look at—they’re bizarre, layered, and often unsettling in the best ways. It’s the same feeling when I got when I came across a boss in Bloodborne or Elden Ring, though not nearly as grotesque. Some bosses introduced unique mechanics that felt like combat puzzles—one early fight had me sniping flowers to prevent the boss from gaining shields, while another slowly devoured my party members until I was fighting solo. Those encounters felt clever, not just mechanically but thematically, reinforcing the world’s dreamlike, often indifferent tone. Paired with a gorgeous soundtrack that mixes piano, accordion, and French folk influences, Clair Obscur isn’t just a beautiful game—it’s one that knows exactly what kind of experience it wants to be and delivers it with style.

Between that flexibility, the encounter design, and an atmospheric soundtrack, Expedition 33 delivers a combat experience that is dynamic, expressive, and endlessly rewarding, especially for those who master it.

World Design

The world Sandfall Interactive has created here is one of the most beautifully realized and cohesive game worlds I’ve seen in years. It is infinitely creative—from the Ancient Sanctuary to the Flying Waters, the Forgotten Battlefield, and even within the Monolith itself—an artistic masterclass in imaginative design. The fusion of classical French architecture with surreal, dreamlike fantasy creates environments that feel simultaneously grounded and otherworldly. Every location is striking, purposeful, and full of personality. What impressed me most is how this wildly diverse world still feels unified, everything in the world was built with intention.

While the art direction is undeniably impressive, the level design itself leans heavily on a linear structure—very much in the vein of Final Fantasy X & XIII. You’re guided along clear, narrow paths that open into combat arenas or story moments, echoing a design philosophy common in the Xbox 360 and PS3 era. Most areas offer only a handful of small side paths or alcoves to explore. But over time, I came to appreciate that constraint. Since exploration isn’t a core focus, the hidden areas I did uncover felt more deliberate and rewarding. I genuinely enjoyed stumbling upon optional bosses, uncovering mimes and pictos, or spotting a tucked-away bit of chroma. These quiet discoveries made the world feel more lived-in—like it held secrets for those willing to slow down and look.

Sandfall’s art direction weaves together a stunning variety of styles in a way that feels effortlessly cohesive and almost magical. This surreal, fantastical vision creates a world that is vibrant, unified, and full of wonder, inviting players to lose themselves in its carefully crafted beauty and hidden secrets.

Music

I don’t usually think much about game soundtracks—honestly, with some games, I’ll even put on a podcast while I play most games. But Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was different. The music felt like it never let go. Every track, whether it was in a tense boss fight or setting the tone for a quiet emotional moment, felt like it mattered. The styles varied a lot, but somehow it all felt unified, like every piece belonged in this world.

What makes it even more remarkable is how Lorien Testard came onto the project. He wasn’t a big-name composer—he was a guitar teacher making game-inspired music on the side, uploading tracks to SoundCloud each week. One of those found its way to the game’s director on a forum, and just like that, he ended up scoring the whole game. Knowing that story made the music feel even more personal and genuine.

Even without knowing anything about music theory or composition, I could feel how much the soundtrack added to the experience. The first time it really hit me was during the prologue—when the music swelled alongside Sophie’s death, I found myself holding back tears. The French vocals, the range of instruments, the emotional weight—it all came together in a way that felt deeply emotional, powerful, and at times even downright hype.

The soundtrack wasn’t just background noise—it became one of the main reasons so many moments from the game stayed with me. I’ve found myself listening to it at work to help me focus, late at night when I can’t sleep, and even while sketching or working on my own creative projects. I didn’t expect to even notice the music going in, but as I kept playing, as I’m still playing, it feels truly iconic—right up there with some of the best game soundtracks ever composed. To me, Lorien Testard deserves to have his name mentioned alongside legends like Koji Kondo, Yasunori Mitsuda, Nobuo Uematsu, Marty O’Donnell, Michael Salvator, and Grant Kirkhope.

---

FINAL SCORE

There is so much more that I could say about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33‘s narrative, characters, tiny things that make the difference in making this world believable. It’s is a rare and remarkable achievement—a debut game developed by a small team with the help of many others that dares to be different, and succeeds not in spite of its ambition, but because of it. It doesn’t chase trends or nostalgia. It builds something entirely its own, then invites you into its world with open arms and quiet conviction. And once you’re in, it holds you there—not with bombast, but with beauty, sorrow, and soul.

This is a game that believes in the power of its storytelling. Of found family. Of art as resistance. It believes that quiet moments can be just as powerful as loud ones, and that even in a broken world, the act of holding on—to each other, to purpose, to hope—is heroic. Expedition 33 defies expectations. It doesn’t just tell you what’s at stake; it makes you feel it, every step of the way.

I came in expecting something interesting, stylish, and strange. What I got was a deeply human story wrapped in one of the most creative, emotionally resonant games I’ve ever played. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn’t just one of my favorite games of the year, it’s one of my favorite games of all time, period. And I know I’ll be thinking about it for a very, very long time.

Tomorrow comes, and I’ll be there when it does.

---

Corey Dirrig is the Founder and President of Boss Rush Media. He is the host of The Boss Rush Podcast, Nintendo Pow Block, Tower Casuals: The Destiny Podcast, and cohosts a variety of other podcasts and content. You can follow Corey on Bluesky, on X/Twitter, and on Instagram or connect with him on LinkedIn for Business Inquiries.

---

---

Featured Image Source: Sandfall Interactive