The game that broke me. In the best way possible. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

This game, in no uncertain terms, consumed my life for about 75 hours and even after I finished it, I’m still thinking about it. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based roleplaying game made by Sandfall Interactive, a new studio out of France, and what they’ve crafted here feels like a statement piece. The game centers around several characters who hail from Lumiere, a city that seems to be the last vestige of human life. The world itself is presented as an almost surreal, dreamlike place—sometimes beautiful, sometimes unsettling, but always captivating. At what seems to be the center of the world, there stands a tall, black monolith. Once a year, the Paintress awakes and paints a cursed number on its surface. Everyone whose age is past that number fades away from existence. Every year, the number decreases, and more people are erased in an event called the Gommage. To stop this cycle, citizens of Lumiere band together in Expeditions to destroy the Paintress so she may never paint death again. None had succeeded, and in what feels like a final act of desperation, Expedition 33 sets off on a quest to break the cycle.

There’s so much I could say about this game that I’ve considered making a long-form video review just to unpack it all. But in short, Expedition 33 is far and away one of the best games I’ve ever played in my life. It’s that good. Visually, the game is nothing short of a masterpiece. The detailed character models, painterly environments, and shifting tones often had me stopping just to admire the view. The world feels like it was pulled from the strokes of a brush—bright, vibrant landscapes suddenly giving way to eerie, oppressive stretches that look like nightmares splashed across a canvas. Even small flourishes like how menus animate or how transitions between exploration and combat flow together carry a level of polish I normally associate with AAA studios. If you’ve ever been pulled in by the stylish menus of Persona 5, you’ll see some of that DNA here. Pair this with a musical score that ranges from hauntingly atmospheric to pulse-pounding in battles, and the game becomes an audio-visual experience as much as an RPG. The soundtrack in particular stuck with me—its sweeping orchestral themes felt timeless, while the battle tracks were energetic enough to make me excited for every encounter.

But the gameplay is where Expedition 33 really shines. On the surface, it’s a turn-based RPG, but Sandfall didn’t just stop at tradition. The combat combines tactical planning with real-time reflexes in a way that kept me on edge. You’ve got your standard options—melee, ranged attacks, and skills fueled by Ability Points—but what elevates things are the active mechanics layered on top. Timed dodges and parries can prevent incoming damage or even recharge your resources. Quick-time button presses during your own attacks let you land critical hits or extend combos. What this means is that combat isn’t just about selecting commands from a menu—it’s interactive and constantly engaging. Even in long grinding sessions (if you can call them that), I never once felt like I was just going through the motions. The added depth from the Pictos and Lumina systems, which let you equip buffs and experiment with builds, gave me the freedom to play the way I wanted, and it’s this customization that ensures no two players will approach fights the same way. It’s rare for a turn-based system to feel this modern and fresh, but Expedition 33 nails it.

Exploration also deserves mention. The world isn’t just a backdrop—it’s full of secrets, environmental storytelling, and remnants of past Expeditions that remind you of the stakes. Finding hidden areas or stumbling across journals from those who came before added a melancholy weight to the journey. There’s a constant reminder that your Expedition might not be different—that failure is always possible—which makes progress all the more satisfying. Critics have pointed out that the level design feels both intimate and expansive, with each new area offering fresh visual identity and challenges without ever feeling padded or bloated. For me, the pacing felt deliberate; nothing overstayed its welcome.

And then there’s the story—arguably the heart of the entire experience. Expedition 33 tells one of the most moving, poignant narratives I’ve encountered in gaming. It doesn’t lean on info-dumps or handholding; instead, you piece together the world through conversations, character growth, and the gradual unveiling of its mysteries. The writing respects the player’s intelligence, letting you draw your own conclusions before eventually confirming or subverting them. That slow burn approach made every revelation hit harder. I quickly became invested in the party—not just as game pieces, but as people. Their personalities and struggles felt authentic, and the game gives them room to breathe. I laughed at their banter, felt tension in their disagreements, and more than once, I honestly got choked up when things took a darker turn. The opening hours alone floored me with an emotional gut punch that set the tone for everything that followed.

What’s fascinating is how much the themes linger. Expedition 33 isn’t just about defeating some cosmic entity—it’s about mortality, sacrifice, and what it means to leave a legacy in the face of inevitable death. The Gommage is an unforgettable metaphor for aging, loss, and the cruelty of time. The way characters wrestle with that reality made me reflect long after I’d put down the controller. I think that’s why I can’t get this game out of my head—it’s not just an RPG, it’s a story that makes you think about your own place in the world.

Of course, no game is perfect. Some players may find the difficulty spikes frustrating, especially if they don’t take full advantage of the combat systems. The reliance on timed inputs might not be for everyone, particularly those who prefer more traditional, hands-off turn-based combat. And while I adored the narrative’s pacing, a few stretches did slow down more than I’d like. But honestly, these are small criticisms in the grand scheme of what the game achieves.

I could go on and on, but I’ll end with this: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has catapulted its way into my list of all-time favorite games, and I don’t say that lightly. It’s rare to find a game that excels in presentation, gameplay, and storytelling all at once, but Sandfall managed it with their debut title. If you haven’t played this game yet, put it on your radar immediately. Even after 75 hours, I can’t stop thinking about it, and I have no doubt it’ll stick with me for years to come.