Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review

When I first saw the trailer for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, I thought to myself: it looks intriguing, but its turn-based combat probably won’t be entertaining for me, and I’m not likely to enjoy it much. Yet, as I’m writing this, I’ve sunk over 40 hours into the game, not only thoroughly enjoying its captivating experience but also considering it a top contender for Game of the Year.

How Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 managed to completely win me and others over, shining so brightly in a year packed with big titles, boils down to several factors tied to its development and the buzz surrounding it. But we’re here to dissect the game and see how Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 transformed from a simple turn-based RPG into the most significant game of 2025.

Broadly speaking, every element you see in the gameplay, combat system, or even the level design of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn’t entirely new. We’ve seen them before in games like Lost Odyssey, the Final Fantasy series, or Persona. Even the most distinctive feature of the combat system—defending against enemy attacks—has appeared in other games of this genre. Sandfall Interactive, to put it bluntly, didn’t reinvent the wheel.

Sandfall Interactive’s brilliance lies in how they cherry-picked the best elements from various games in the genre and seamlessly integrated them into their own. This was the smartest and most optimized approach a relatively small team could take to make their ambitious game a success. I can confidently say that the high quality of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hinges on these smart decisions. Every aspect of the gameplay and level design fits and works together like a Swiss-made watch, functioning with pinpoint precision. Sure, minor flaws like some unnatural body animations might stand out, but the point is, it’s hard to find any significant fault with the gameplay as a whole—everything is executed at its absolute best.

To fully appreciate the near-perfection of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, two additional aspects stand out. The first is the sense of exploration the game ignites in players. After two or three hours, Expedition 33 opens new doors, immersing you in an open-world map where not every area is immediately accessible. Through vivid imagery, it sparks a sense of adventure, subtly compelling you to tackle every challenge to uncover its unique and beautiful world.

Unlocking the restrictions and gaining access to the rest of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s world is only possible by progressing through the main story. By doing so, you acquire powers that allow you to explore more of the game’s world. Fortunately, these discoveries come with rewarding payoffs, which keep the sense of adventure and curiosity alive until the very last second. Few modern video games prioritize this aspect, and I believe one of the key reasons for this game’s success is tied to this captivating sense of exploration.

The second point worth discussing is how Expedition 33 masterfully hooks players, much like the most successful games in video game history. Many great games have a deeply addictive element in their gameplay loop. For instance, the raw violence of the older God of War titles, the fast-paced shooting of the recent Doom trilogy, the varied build-crafting in the Souls series and Elden Ring, or the creative construction in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom—all are prime examples of addictive gameplay loops that compel players to sink hours into these games.

This phenomenon occurs in two key areas in Expedition 33. Naturally, the first is the satisfying feeling of gameplay, particularly when parrying enemy attacks. The parry system functions much like Sekiro’s and delivers an equally thrilling experience. But even more engaging is the game’s damage system. Each hit you land on an enemy is accompanied by a displayed damage number. At first, this number is modest, but by crafting different builds, you can increase it significantly. However, after several hours, you realize there’s a cap on this number—you won’t see damage figures exceeding 10,000 in one hit!

This is where Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 plays its trump card late in the game. A new perk lets you break through limitations, allowing you to freely strike enemies based on the build you’ve crafted. Here, the addictive and delightful combat of Expedition 33 truly kicks into gear. From this point on, your mind becomes consumed with questions: How far can we push the power of our characters’ attacks? Can we take down bosses with a single blow? Or how can we surpass our previous damage records or even those of the world’s top players? These questions trap you in an addictive gameplay loop, and Expedition 33 fuels this by pitting you against formidable enemies, letting you discover the answers. This transforms the experience from a simple narrative-driven game into something deeply personal and meaningful, ensnaring you in its world for hours.

Beyond all this, the game’s exceptional story, rooted in the psychological concept of the “five stages of grief,” adds profound depth to every aspect mentioned so far. The narrative is crafted with remarkable finesse, and every character we encounter boasts well-developed depth in their characterization. Much of this character depth unfolds through conversations during the team’s downtime at camp. You can talk to most characters present, learning more about their stories and motivations. I wish these conversations had a bit more depth, but their current level is still compelling, fostering a stronger emotional connection to the characters we control.

The extraordinary impact of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s music cannot be overlooked either. The soundtrack is undoubtedly a strong contender for the best music of the year, with no serious competition in sight. As you can see, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a complete package, embodying everything a timeless game needs. It may have minor flaws, but its strengths are so overwhelming that they overshadow any shortcomings. Without a doubt, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is not only one of the best games of 2025 but, in my opinion, easily ranks among the top 10 games of the past decade, fully deserving a perfect score.

Score: 100/100