Expedition 33: Journalists Share Initial Impressions of Clair Obscur

The highly anticipated game from the young French studio Sandfall Interactive, titled Clair Obscur, is already making waves in the gaming community with early evaluations rolling in. Critics are showering praise on the game for its engaging narrative, mature themes, and exhilarating combat, drawing comparisons to a modern Final Fantasy.

RPG Gamer's reviewer was particularly struck by the depth of experience delivered in just a couple of hours, noting that Clair Obscur matches the quality of games from studios with decades of experience. If this high standard is sustained, the reviewer believes Expedition 33 (a likely typo for Clair Obscur) has a strong chance of being a contender at The Game Awards 2025.

IGN's journalist was left wanting more after their demo session, eager to delve deeper into the game's world and engage in additional battles. They were astounded by the accomplishments of such a young development team.

Kotaku's author went as far as predicting that Clair Obscur could become a classic in the turn-based genre, likening it to a new Final Fantasy. They lauded the innovative integration of Quick Time Events (QTEs) into the traditional turn-based combat system.

The game's visual style and mature narrative have also received high acclaim from many reviewers.

Clair Obscur is scheduled for release on April 24, 2025, and will be available on current-generation consoles (PS5 and Xbox Series) as well as PC via Steam.