I’ll be honest, the first time I saw the trailer for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, I thought it was a prank. It looks like a high-budget Sony first-party action game—think God of War or The Last of Us—but then the combat starts and it’s... turn-based? In 2025? It’s a bold move. Sandfall Interactive, a French studio you’ve probably never heard of, is swinging for the fences here. They are trying to blend the cinematic intensity of modern Western games with the strategic "wait your turn" DNA of classic JRPGs like Final Fantasy or Persona.
It’s weird. It’s gorgeous. And frankly, it’s exactly what the genre needs right now.
The Paintbrush of Death: What Expedition 33 is Even About
The premise is legitimately unsettling. Imagine a giant, god-like woman called the Paintress. Every year, she wakes up and paints a number on a monolith. This isn't art therapy; it's a death sentence. Anyone whose age matches that number instantly turns to smoke. Gone. Erased from existence.
Next year, she’s going to paint the number 33.
That is why you’re part of Expedition 33. You play as Gustave and his group of "Expeditioners" who are venturing into the heart of the Wasteland to find the Paintress and kill her before she can finish that stroke. It’s a literal race against time, but not in the way we usually see in games. It’s a generational countdown. Most of the characters are already in their late 20s or early 30s. They know they’re the next batch to be liquidated.
The world design is heavily inspired by Belle Époque France. You see it in the architecture, the ornate clothing, and the surrealist landscapes. It feels more like a dream—or a nightmare—than a standard fantasy world with dragons and taverns.
Turn-Based Combat That Doesn't Let You Nap
If you hate turn-based games because you find them slow, Sandfall is trying to talk you out of that opinion. They call it "Reactive Turn-Based Combat."
Basically, even when it’s the enemy's turn, you aren't just sitting there scrolling on your phone. You have to actively dodge, parry, or jump in real-time. If you time a parry perfectly, you can trigger a powerful counter-attack. If you mess it up, Gustave takes a sword to the face. It looks a bit like the Paper Mario or Sea of Stars "timed hits" mechanic but cranked up to a 4K, motion-captured extreme.
There's also a "Point and Shoot" mechanic for ranged attacks. You have to manually aim at enemy weak points during your turn. It adds a layer of mechanical skill to a genre that is usually just about menu navigation.
Why the Voice Cast is a Big Deal
Sandfall isn't playing around with the budget. They’ve brought in some heavy hitters for the voice work:
- Charlie Cox (yes, Daredevil himself) voices Gustave.
- Ben Starr (Clive from Final Fantasy XVI) plays Richemont.
- Jennifer English (Shadowheart from Baldur’s Gate 3) is Maelle.
- Andy Serkis even shows up as Renoir.
Having this level of talent suggests that the narrative is the core pillar here. You don't hire Andy Serkis to voice a generic shopkeeper. You hire him for emotional weight.
Breaking the JRPG Mold
Most JRPGs are built on the idea of a "journey." You go from Town A to Town B, help some NPCs find their lost cats, and eventually save the world. Expedition 33 feels more like a suicide mission. There is a sense of desperation that permeates the footage we've seen.
The developers have been very clear that while the game looks like an open-world epic, it’s actually a more focused, narrative-driven experience. Don't expect Elden Ring levels of wandering. Expect something more akin to the recent God of War titles—wide-linear paths with lots of secrets, but a very clear "north star" guiding the plot.
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One thing that has people worried is the difficulty. If the game requires frame-perfect parries to survive, will it alienate traditional RPG fans who just want to strategize? Sandfall has mentioned accessibility options, but the core design definitely leans into the "reactive" element. You have to stay awake.
Technical Specs and Expectations
The game is being built in Unreal Engine 5, and it shows. The lighting and particle effects are stunning. It’s coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S (it’s a Day One Game Pass title), and PC.
The fact that it's on Game Pass is huge. A new IP from a new studio with a weird combat system is a tough sell at $70. But as a "free" download for subscribers? It’s going to have a massive audience on day one.
How to Prepare for the Expedition
If you’re looking to get the most out of Expedition 33 when it finally drops, there are a few things you should do now.
First, brush up on your parry timing. If you haven't played Lies of P or Sekiro, at least try out some "active" turn-based games like Sea of Stars. The muscle memory for timing button presses with animations is going to be your biggest asset.
Second, don't go in expecting a 100-hour slog. The devs are aiming for a tighter, more polished experience.
Finally, keep an eye on the gear system. From what we've seen, "Lumiere" is the resource that powers your abilities, and managing your equipment looks more like a tactical puzzle than just "number go up."
Practical Steps for Players:
- Watch the combat deep-dive videos: Pay attention to the UI cues for parries. The window looks tighter than you’d expect for an RPG.
- Upgrade your storage: UE5 games are notoriously huge. You’ll likely need about 80GB to 100GB of high-speed SSD space.
- Follow the official Discord: Sandfall is surprisingly active there, answering questions about character builds and world-building.
- Check your Game Pass subscription: If you're on Xbox or PC, ensure your sub is active for the launch window to avoid that $70 entry fee.
This game is a gamble. It's a French studio's love letter to Japanese mechanics, wrapped in a Hollywood-quality shell. Whether it succeeds or fails, it’s undeniably one of the most interesting projects in the current gaming cycle.