Video games are often stuck in a loop of playing it safe. We get the same sequels, the same open-world checklists, and the same combat systems we’ve mastered a thousand times over. Then something like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 shows up out of nowhere. Honestly, the first time the trailer dropped, most people thought it was a high-budget action game from a massive studio like Sony or Capcom. But it’s not. It’s the debut project from Sandfall Interactive, a French studio that clearly has a chip on its shoulder and something to prove.
The premise is dark. It’s weird. It’s basically "what if a painting could kill the world?" Every year, a being known as the Paintress wakes up and paints a number on her monolith. Everyone of that age? They just vanish. Turn to smoke. Gone. This year, she’s painting 33. Our protagonists, the members of Expedition 33, are the ones tasked with trekking through a surreal, Belle Époque-inspired wasteland to kill her before the brush hits the canvas again.
It's a suicide mission. Everyone knows it.
Why the Combat in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Changes Everything
Usually, turn-based games involve a lot of waiting. You click "Attack," you watch a bar fill up, and you check your phone while the animation plays out. Sandfall is trying to kill that boredom. They’re calling it "reactive turn-based" combat.
What does that actually mean? Well, think of Paper Mario or Sea of Stars, but crank the intensity up to eleven and give it the visual fidelity of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. When an enemy swings at you in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, you don’t just sit there and take the hit based on a math equation. You have to actively parry, dodge, or jump in real-time. If you mess up the timing, you’re dead. If you nail it, you open up a window for a devastating counter-attack.
It’s an evolution.
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You’ve got characters like Gustave, the leader who looks like he walked off the set of a Victorian drama, using his massive blade to execute "Stance" attacks. Then there’s Maelle, who uses a rapier and focuses on speed. The flow of battle feels less like a spreadsheet and more like a choreographed dance. You’re managing AP (Action Points), sure, but you’re also sweating over a perfectly timed dodge. It’s stressful in the best way possible.
The Belle Époque Aesthetic and Surrealism
The world design isn't just "fantasy forest" or "dark cave." It’s heavily inspired by 19th-century France—the Belle Époque—but twisted through a lens of surrealism. We’re talking about giant, floating statues, architectural ruins that defy gravity, and landscapes that look like they were pulled directly from an oil painting.
This isn't just window dressing. The environments in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 tell the story of the previous failed expeditions. You’ll find remnants of Expedition 32 and those who came before them. It creates this crushing sense of scale. You realize you aren't the first hero to try this. You’re just the latest one.
The Cast and the Stakes of the Paintress
The voice cast for this game is surprisingly stacked. You’ve got Ben Starr (who voiced Clive in Final Fantasy XVI) playing Gustave. Then there’s Andy Serkis—yes, Gollum himself—playing a character named Renoir. Having actors of this caliber suggests that Sandfall is betting big on the narrative.
They aren't just here for a paycheck.
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The dialogue we've heard so far feels heavy. There’s a specific kind of melancholy that comes with knowing your "expiration date" is literally painted on a wall. It changes how characters interact. They aren't just adventuring for gold; they’re fighting for the right to exist past the age of 33.
- Gustave: The veteran. He's focused, maybe to a fault. He carries the weight of the previous failures.
- Maelle: Younger, faster, and desperate to see a world where the Paintress doesn't exist.
- Lune: A scholar and mage-type who researches the mechanics of the Paintress’s power.
- Scipio: A more mysterious figure whose motivations aren't entirely clear yet.
Breaking the "Indie" Mold
It's hard to believe this is an Unreal Engine 5 project from a relatively small team. The lighting, the textures, the way the fabric moves—it looks like a $100 million production. But Sandfall is independent. They’re using the tools available to them to punch way above their weight class.
The industry is watching this one closely. If Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 succeeds, it proves that you don't need a thousand-person team to create a "Triple-A" experience. You just need a specific vision and the technical chops to execute it.
Common Misconceptions About the Gameplay
A lot of people are asking if this is a Soulslike because of the parry mechanic.
No.
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It’s a traditional RPG at its heart. You’ll have gear, you’ll have skill trees, and you’ll spend plenty of time in menus optimizing your build. The real-time elements are a layer on top of that, not a replacement for the strategy. If your stats are garbage, a perfect parry isn't going to save you from a boss with 50,000 HP. You still need to engage with the RPG systems.
Also, don't expect a 100-hour bloated open world. The developers have been vocal about wanting a focused, high-quality experience. Think closer to 30-40 hours of "all killer, no filler" content. In a world where every game wants to occupy 300 hours of your life, that’s actually a relief.
Actionable Next Steps for RPG Fans
If you’re hyped for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, there are a few things you can do right now to prep.
First, go watch the "Technical Showcase" videos. Pay close attention to the UI during combat. Notice the prompts for the dodge and jump. Training your eyes to look for those visual cues early will help you when you finally get your hands on the controller.
Second, if you haven't played Final Fantasy X or Lost Odyssey, give them a spin. These are clearly the "DNA" of what Sandfall is building. Understanding how turn-order manipulation works in those older titles will give you a massive leg up in mastering the "Expedition" system.
Finally, keep an eye on the release window. The game is slated for 2025 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S (including Game Pass), and PC. Wishlist it on Steam or your console of choice to ensure you get the day-one patches and performance updates. This is the kind of game that rewards early adopters who can help build the community and figure out the complex "Stance" combos.
The Paintress is coming. Make sure you're ready to fight back.