
I'm coming in a little bit late on this review because Bethesda decided to drop good old Oblivion in a fancy new outfit right before embargo, so forgive me!
However, and continuing with the Bethesda link as a lazy-ish way to kickstart this review, it's lucky for the masters at Sandfall Interactive that their brand-new action-RPG is so absolutely incredible, as otherwise they'd really have been totally done in by Bethesda's announcement timings. Were Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 not such an awe-inspiring feat, it'd surely be totally lost to the late-April release mix almost immediately.
Having played through it now, though, I reckon we'll all be singing this one's praises long after the excitement of a fancy-pants return to Cyrodill has died down. Because what Sandfall has produced here, is undoubtedly one of the most stylish, all-encompassing and richly evocative games I've played in ages.

Telling the tale of a bedraggled band of misfits led by a Robert Pattinson lookalike, who set out to destroy a malevolent entity known as The Paintress, Clair Oscur: Expedition 33 revels in a dirty, gritty style that leans into a sort of quiet realism during cutscenes and conversations. It grounds you in its world by surrounding you with characters who are wonderfully normal, scared and full of emotion, and then it does horrible video game things to them, for maximum effect.
It feels both sumptuous in its wonderful Japanese take on flamboyant Belle-Epoque stylings and, at the very same time, stripped back like a lean, mean, Final Fantasy machine. If that makes any sense. It does all the good stuff from those games, and the likes of Persona. It gives you the cool locations, the memorable party members, the excellent (and very flashy) turn-based combat and exploration within spaces that control the flow of the action - all mixed with the odd chance to "wile out" (still down with the kids) in more open areas.
In terms of the story, I'm not going to ruin anything about this one but, I reckon, the fact that it's been brought to life by a small indie team, even though it looks and sounds like some great big AAA effort, has worked out well for the narrative aspects of this tale. This is a game that has focused, due to this small team, we're sure, on what they could realistically do well, on making sure its world is brought to life in the ways that count the most. And so the small stuff, that often gets overlooked, is on-point.

Writing is uniformly excellent, the characters are a delight, and it's a world you'll 100% want to explore as you go, picking up lore and getting to know more about its history and situation in interesting ways. So even without the excellent combat, which I'll get to, and without any spoilers whatsoever, this is a narrative journey that digs its hooks into you from the very first ultra-stylish cutscene. It continues to beguile throughout, and it gives you a world full of majesty and weirdness, beauty and terror to breathe in. We promise you'll gasp at a certain "underwater" bit.
Oh, and speaking of cutscenes, the style here really does remind me of that Tom Cruise movie "Edge of Tomorrow", in how it's so fantastical but gritty and realistic at the same time, if you catch my meaning. There are outfits and other aspects here that also remind me of that movie, but maybe that's for another day. I don't want you falling asleep.
Onto the combat, then, and it's absolutely gripping from the get-go, both in terms of its mechanics and in how it puts up a challenge right from the start. Yes, the freakish roster of bosses will test you from the off, not in a soulslike way, no, but in a "have you learned all the controls properly yet?" way, which is fine. It's nice to feel tested, and it keeps you involved in learning what is a very slick battle system.

Indeed, the real star here, apart from the all the other good stuff I've mentioned thus far, is the fighting. Clair Obscur: Expedition pushes way out in front of so many other games of this style, because it seeks to excite at every opportunity. You take turns in a queue, and charge up "stains" and AP points in order to unleash varying degrees of elemental and weapons-based damage on foes which, yes, is all fairly standard. But it's in the extras, the little flourishes that you can make in attacks, and the twitchy, real-time defending you'll need to do against a host of excellent enemy designs that really bring this whole thing to life.
Getting to know the rhythms of enemy attacks, or when to jump over a sweeping tentacle (and then tap RT very quickly for a mid-air riposte), these things just make engagements far more fun. You need to consider a ton of other stuff too, with each character rocking various elemental boons and ways to help the team - again, standard for the genre - but here it's all so slick, it all makes sense, the combos stack in ways I understand and want to engage with. I love it. It's the sort of combat you can just idly do forever without being annoyed. Know that way? But it's also show-stoppingly exciting a lot of the time if you are sat up and being engaged, too.

In its weapons and "pictos" the game is cleverly designed, as well. Pictos can be found throughout the world as you explore, and given as a reward at times, and these can be equipped in bunches to your party members to give them all-new attacks and spells to work with. Pictos have a lot of flexibility in how they can be set up and swapped about, so there's a ton going on, lots of moving parts and things to fix and get exactly the way you like it. Weapons are kept engaging by having boons and stats tied to them, so you'll want to think ahead and choose your loadout and pictos carefully to max your effectiveness. For those of you, like me, who simply must have the best party setup going, there's a lot of time to be sunk into this lovely stuff right here.
I've also got to mention the gorgeous world map. The world of Clair Obscur is set up in separate instances, big locations that you travel to by using this world map, which is a zoomed-out little toy-model-esque affair, it reminds me of Ni No Kuni, in how you wander around this lush map on your way to the next main location, and you can fight and explore, find pictos and all-sorts. It's also just a nice way to mix things up after a big scrap, and it looks great. So there.
And so, onto the bad bits. There aren't many! I hate the Mimes, that's the first thing I want to say. There are creepy Mime guys, who wear sunglasses, and they pop up out of scenery and fight you. Get rid of them, you're creeping me out. Beyond this horror, and more seriously, the characters in your party, although I have grown to love them, and I fancy Ben Starr as well, but they aren't as grandiose, I guess, as those found in Persona, or Final Fantasy. They aren't quite up to the same memorable standards. It's also a bit cloying at times, a little melodramatic, especially early on as you get to know the protagonist.

Oh, and before I forget, performance - in performance mode - has been fine for me. It's not perfect 100% of the time, to be clear, and there are the odd drops here and there, but it's nothing to worry about, it's not going to interfere with your fun.
Overall then, and considering this is a debut from an indie studio...it's hard not to go with a 10/10 score, really, and so with a perfect score I must thusly go.
Conclusion
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 brings a sumptuously stylish world, intricately woven narrative and top-notch combat to the table, and it's a winner on every level. The additions to combat make for fights that feel proactive, engaging and exciting at all times. The world is a constant revelation of incredible new regions and vistas, and the story will keep you hooked in until its emotional resolution. Sandfall Interactive's debut is a masterpiece, really, an odyssey that'll stick in your mind long after you're done, and one of the most enjoyable and fresh RPGs we've played in aeons.
Comments 44
We've got a classic right here! Let's go, turn-based bois!
I'm so excited to play this one!
Sounds very good I'll be playing between this and oblivion over the next while for sure glad I didn't pick up anything big in the sales now ha!
Great review PJ 👏
Wasn't expecting this, wow!
So I'll add this to my collection this year.
Amazing! Well done to all the passionate team at Sandfall, they did it! Currently the highest rated game of the year with a 92 Meta/Open Critic
Great! Another huge game that I want to play but no extra time to dedicate to it at the moment.
There are soooo many awesome games and just too little time.
@Lup turn based on the only way 😎
Roll on Thursday 😀
Very excited to play this. Giving me Lost Odyssey vibes.
An outstanding RPG that lasts 35-50 hours? Yeah, count me in!
When's this out? Tomorrow? Damn! I only just downloaded Oblivion 😫
Thanks PJ - I know I can trust your reviews as our tastes seem to align. Not only that but you write a good review!
I was pretty sure I was going to like this game anyway - I pre ordered it and I rarely do that...
Now if I can only find the time to play everything!
I wish I could get into turned based games.
I really hope this one escapes the unfortunate fate that befell Titanfall 2. It looks truly amazing but the timing, oh my...
Boom. This is it folks. Can't wait for tomorrow.
@cburg this seems to be the Happy medium for the genre. It's active enough
Day one download and play for me!
Why would Microsoft drop oblivion the day before this ..bet the developers aren't to happy about that....I have about 5 games I want to play right now FFS...this wasn't even one I thought I would play tbh with so many games on my plate ..but after all the brilliant reviews ..this game is going to be the one I'm playing...hope I can get into it
Will add it to my back log. Still need to finish Avowed and Diablo III before starting another game.
This is surely the strongest few months Gamepass has ever had. I want to resub but no idea what to play first!
@K1LLEGAL This right here is exactly what i told my boy this morning ! Lost Odyssey itch will be scratched for sure !
Wow, this is something quite special going by the review.
Well done for the dev team, they are clearly incredibly talented 👏.
I will first play and finish this on GamePass, then, I'll buy it outright. Fingers crossed (this way) the talented folks at Sandfall will get rewarded twice for their effort🙂
GOTY is going to be very interesting this year. Ah too many good games, if you've got Game Pass you're spoilt for choice right now.
clinks in 10/10 Nice work PJ!
PC Gamer 70% hmmm not great…..🤦🏻♂️
I’ve canceled plans with friends the past 2 weekends to sit inside and play video games like a total nerd and looks like there going to have to make do without me at the bar for the forceable future as well with all these stacked releases
Gotta feel a little bad for them as this looks like a belter and it's impossible to deny that its thunder has been stolen by Oblivion. I would have been all over this day one but I can't start another big game right now.
Well absolutely get around to it though. Glad that it's good.
Smashing review, for what seems to be an absolutely near-flawless game. I certainly hope this game makes GotY lists re: awards.
eurogamer critical of game being to linear..
I feel bad that this game got undercut by Oblivion remaster, but I plan on playing this first. Besides, the remaster sounds like it needs some patches as expected.
Another 10/10 turn-based banger!
This has been getting rave reviews. I always appreciate a great turn-based RPG.
Unfortunately for me, Bethesda decided to put out Oblivion just before this, so this will have to go on my wishlist for now but I'm looking forward to playing it when I get the chance
how long is it approximately? like 20-30 or more like 50ish? kinda torn between this and oblivion.
"wonderful Japanese take"
Dude, it's a French studio.
@johnedwin I have the opposite issue. The only problem I have with the game is that's it's too easy to get lost.
After five hours of playing, a very rare occurrence for me these days, if this doesn’t end up being my GotY I’ll be shocked. I’m loving every second of it.
This is better than that other outstanding RPG that came out earlier this year, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2? Damn, indie and small AA studios are really providing stiff competition to the well established AAA devs such as Ubisoft, EA, Bethesda. Also they are the only ones who innovate, rather than bring out endless sequels to franchises.
Good lord I played a couple of hours of this in the evening, and then dreamt about it all night, it has it's hooks into me bad. Spectacular so far.
If I love this game as much as I suspect I will then Infinite Wealth, Metaphor, and Clair Obscur is IMO the best string of JRPGs in 30 years going back to Phantasy Star IV, Final Fantasy VI, and Chrono Trigger.
@PJOReilly ... I just met my first mime. They must be hidden because I'm near the end of the game. I wholeheartedly agree with your statement. I hate them.
@Kaloudz oh, there are some right near the start, too!
@PJOReilly Thanks man. I'm going to power through the end and mop all them up post-game. They've taught me that I'm either way underpowered or they're way overpowered 🤣
Just finished the game tonight and for me it's the best game I have played in recent years , deserve all the praise and the title of GOTY for 2025. Gameplay 20/20, story 20/20, visuals 20/20, audio 20/20, value 20/20, wich gives a score of 100%, or 10/10 on pure xbox score.
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