Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Delivers On Promises AAA Titles Can’t Keep

Intro

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the standout releases of 2025. Developed by a 33-person team on a mid-size AA budget, this full-length, turn-based RPG arrives with zero bugs, a great score, and a story with surprising depth. In a gaming landscape crowded with bloated AAA titles and shallow storytelling, Clair Obscur offers more than meets the eye.

Story

The narrative blends philosophy, fantasy, and personal growth, following a group of characters whose journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about survival. Themes of mortality and hope anchor a story that lingers long after the credits roll.

The game centers on a band of unlikely heroes known as “Expedition 33,” named after the number painted on a distant tower each year by a mysterious figure called The Paintress. This number marks the age at which the people of Lumiere will die. Each year, a new expedition sets out to break the curse, and this year, it’s Expedition 33’s turn.

Among them is Gustauve, an aging engineer in his final year of life; Maelle, a red-haired orphan who’s always felt out of place in Lumiere; and Lune, a mage and the group’s lead researcher, driven by a desire to uncover the Paintress’s secrets.

Gameplay & Combat

Gameplay on the PS5 is smooth and completely bug-free. The game’s unique art style makes every area feel distinct, with fresh enemy designs and bespoke attack patterns. Unlike modern Assassin’s Creed clones or formulaic Soulslike titles, each enemy—even within the same species—fights differently. Take the Gestrals, for example: they may all be sentient paintbrushes, but the arena variants wield distinct attacks and parry timings, turning each encounter into a fresh challenge.

Combat blends classic turn-based strategy with real-time action. Every move counts, but so does your timing. Blocking, dodging, and executing attacks are fully interactive, transforming each battle into a kinetic performance. Each character’s unique abilities allow for creative combos and strategic flexibility.

Beyond combat, movement through the world is intuitive—hold R2 to run in both overworld and dungeon zones. Lune, in particular, stands out with her graceful gliding animation. There’s a map for the overworld, but none for the individual areas or dungeons. According to the developers, if the characters don’t get one, neither should you—a design choice that adds to the immersion.

Conclusion

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 seamlessly fuses elements from classic JRPGs with the real-time precision of modern Japanese action RPGs. The fluid parry and counter mechanics are unmatched, and the game’s aesthetic is vibrant. With compelling characters, a heartfelt story, stunning visuals, and top-tier voice acting, this title delivers a rare 10/10 experience. There’s nothing wrong with this game-Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 delivers on a promise it never made, and that AAA games can’t seem to keep.