Why is everybody buzzing about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? This debut title from the small French indie studio Sandfall Interactive, with fewer than 30 staff members, has managed to safe main partnerships in gaming and movie over the past 5 years. That includes a star-studded solid that features Andy Serkis, Charlie Cox, Shala Nyx, and Jennifer English, the sport’s meteoric rise has been laborious to disregard. It snagged an Epic MegaGrant in 2022, was picked up by Kepler Interactive in 2023, and have become a headline function of Xbox’s 2025 showcase. And although its launch isn’t till April, it’s already set to spawn a live-action movie with Story Kitchen.
All the thrill is sensible when you expertise Expedition 33. After simply three hours of gameplay, I’m hooked. It’s a wide ranging, progressive title that blends compelling writing, stellar voice performing, immersive mechanics, and a visually beautiful world.
Expedition 33 appears like a status drama dropped at life in a surreal, gothic 3D world. Its tone is drenched in melodrama, and its visuals merge Recreation of Thrones sensibilities with Belle Époque class and sinister magic. The narrative unfolds in Lumière, a kingdom terrorized by the Paintress, a robust entity who paints a brand new quantity on her tower every year, immediately killing everybody of that age. After half a century of this grim countdown, the quantity 33 looms ominously. Regardless of numerous failed makes an attempt to cease her, a brand new group of heroes units out on the thirty third expedition, with just one 12 months left to dwell.
The preview introduces Gustave, a weary hero whose get together is ambushed by a mysterious white-haired man — an anomaly in a world the place nobody ought to survive past the designated demise age. Gustave, geared up with a magical robotic arm and a dashing French moustache, journeys via lush forests and darkish caves to seek out the opposite survivors. Alongside the best way, he practically succumbs to despair however is saved by Lune, a decided mage with a scholarly edge. Collectively, they reunite with Maelle, Gustave’s introverted but formidable foster sister.
The preview highlights three playable characters out of the six out there within the full sport. The compelling interactions between Gustave, Lune, and Maelle drive the story’s emotional depth. One standout scene options Gustave and Lune arguing heatedly about utilitarianism round a campfire. Gustave’s uncooked frustration boils over as he shouts, “Fuck the mission!” Earlier than lengthy, the depth subsides, and Lune teases him with a smirk, “Fuck the mission? Actually?” These moments are fantastically animated, with lifelike textures and nuanced performances.
From its story-driven cutscenes to its fluid fight mechanics, Expedition 33 shines in each side. Gamers will traverse environments that develop extra surreal because the trio ventures nearer to the Paintress. Floating boulders, crumbling ornate buildings, and magical anomalies dot the landscapes, whereas anthropomorphized rock creatures roam freely. Exploration rewards curiosity with hidden upgrades and a foreign money referred to as chroma, although it’s extra about high quality over amount.
Switching between get together members is seamless, and every has distinctive traits. Lune, as an example, doesn’t run — she hovers gracefully above the bottom, making her really feel like a dream to manage. The sport’s traversal mechanics, together with grappling, climbing, and driving gentle elevators, are simply as satisfying.
The standout area within the preview is Flying Waters, a wide ranging space designed to imitate the ocean flooring. There’s no water in sight, but bubbles, shipwrecks, and colleges of fish float via the air. It’s a mesmerizing, otherworldly expertise.
Fight in Expedition 33 is a dynamic tackle turn-based methods, incorporating quick-time occasions (QTEs) to maintain gamers engaged. Every character has distinct mechanics: Gustave’s robotic arm costs for explosive assaults, Lune stacks elemental harm, and Maelle shifts between fencing stances. The addition of real-time QTE prompts provides an additional layer of technique, making battles really feel recent and thrilling. Dodging, parrying, and leaping require focus, making certain you’re all the time in your toes.
The fight’s aptitude is paying homage to Persona, whereas the soundtrack evokes the emotional resonance of Nier: Automata and Tetris Impact. Even boss battles carry a way of cinematic drama. In the meantime, its improve methods and leveling mechanics are intuitive and rewarding, providing an ideal stability of development and customization.
Technically, the sport feels polished, with considerate touches like haptic suggestions, immersive voice-acted recollections, and visually beautiful particulars. Even small options, comparable to the power to place a rose in Gustave’s hair throughout cutscenes, showcase the builders’ consideration to element.
Nonetheless, the sport’s bold visuals could push {hardware} limits. The preview ran easily at 1080p/60 on an RTX 4070 Tremendous, however 1440p stability proved difficult. It
