Ever since the first trailers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dropped, the gaming community has been obsessing over one specific, enigmatic figure: Simon. If you've spent any time on Discord or Reddit lately, you know the name. He isn't just another NPC. He’s the catalyst. Players are already scouring every frame of footage to pin down the Simon location in Expedition 33, trying to figure out where this guy actually is and what his disappearance means for the Paintress’s grim cycle.
It's a weird one. Sandfall Interactive hasn't just handed us a waypoint marker and a "go here" prompt. Instead, they’ve built an entire narrative hook around the fact that Simon—a former member of the expedition—is missing.
Where is Simon? Tracking the Breadcrumbs
Let's get real for a second. In a game inspired by Belle Époque France and surrealist art, "location" is a relative term. We know the expedition is moving toward the Paintress to stop her from erasing more of humanity. Simon was part of a previous group. He’s the reason Gustave and the current crew have a fighting chance, yet he’s nowhere to be seen when the game kicks off.
Most of the early-game clues point toward the Lumière district and the outskirts of the Flying Waters. If you look closely at the environment design, there are specific environmental cues—discarded gear, notes, and echoes of the past—that suggest Simon didn't just die. He went off-script. The Simon location in Expedition 33 isn't just a spot on a map; it's a trail of breadcrumbs through a world that is literally being painted out of existence.
You'll likely find the first major breakthrough regarding his whereabouts near the "Peak of the Reach." This is where the verticality of the game really starts to show off. You’re not just walking; you’re climbing through the remains of a civilization that feels both beautiful and deeply haunted.
Why Everyone is Hunting for Him
Why do we care? Honestly, it’s the mystery. Simon represents the "failure" of the previous expedition, but he also represents hope. He left behind mechanics and insights that the player uses.
The game uses a unique "reactive" turn-based system. While you’re out there looking for the Simon location in Expedition 33, you aren't just watching animations play out. You’re parrying, dodging, and countering in real-time. It’s snappy. It’s tense. And according to the lore snippets we've seen, Simon was the one who mastered these techniques first. Finding him—or at least finding where he fell—is usually tied to unlocking more powerful combat abilities or "staurolites" that beef up your stats.
The Theory of the "In-Between"
Some players think Simon is trapped in a rift. Given how the Paintress operates, erasing ages of people by painting a number on a monolith, it’s possible Simon found a way to exist between the brushstrokes.
If you're exploring the Wasteland areas, keep your eyes peeled for high-contrast blue light. In the trailers, this color often signifies something "out of place" or related to the expedition's previous efforts. Finding the Simon location in Expedition 33 might involve solving a spatial puzzle that requires you to look at the environment from a specific angle—sort of like those perspective paintings that only make sense from one spot.
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It's brilliant level design, really. It forces you to actually look at the world instead of just staring at a mini-map.
The Narrative Weight of the Search
Gustave, the protagonist, has a personal stake here. This isn't just a military objective. The relationship between the expedition members is the heart of the game. Maelle, Lune, and Scipio all have their own theories about what happened to him.
When you finally approach the suspected Simon location in Expedition 33, the music shifts. The orchestral swell gets a bit more melancholic. It’s clear that Sandfall wants us to feel the weight of those who came before us. We are the 33rd attempt. Thirty-two groups before us failed. Simon was the star of the 32nd. If he couldn't make it, what chance do we have? That’s the question that drives the tension in every exploration segment.
How to Prepare for the Discovery
If you're gearing up to find the Simon location in Expedition 33, you need to be ready for a fight. The areas surrounding his last known coordinates are crawling with "Paintings"—the twisted creatures born from the Paintress's brush.
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- Focus on Agility: The enemies in the later stages of the search hit hard. If your parry timing isn't frame-perfect, you're going to have a bad time.
- Check the Corners: Sandfall loves hiding lore notes in the shadows. These notes often give you the "why" behind Simon's movements.
- Resource Management: Don't blow all your AP (Action Points) on the first wave of enemies. The "boss" guarding the path to Simon's trail is a legendary-tier encounter.
The search for the Simon location in Expedition 33 is essentially the search for the game's soul. It’s a journey through grief, art, and the stubborn human refusal to just fade away. Whether he's alive, a ghost, or something else entirely, his presence looms over every step you take toward the monolith.
Actions for the Dedicated Scout
To get the most out of this questline, stop fast-traveling. The developers put an insane amount of detail into the transition zones between the major districts. That’s where the real story is told. Look for the "Golden Lily" markers—these were Simon's personal sigils. Following them won't just lead you to the Simon location in Expedition 33; it'll lead you to the best gear in the game and a much clearer understanding of why the world ended up in this beautiful, tragic mess. Keep your parry finger ready and your eyes on the horizon. The 33rd expedition depends on what you find in the footsteps of the 32nd.