Just a few minutes into the first hands-on preview ofClair Obscur: Expedition 33, I wanted to put down the controller and stop playing. Not because the experience wasn’t enjoyable - the complete opposite.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33is such a unique and thrilling experience that even a few minutes with it was enough to prove that this is something special and, ideally, it would be better to experience this all in its complete form. Of course, in the interest of discovering what developer Sandfall Interactive has to offer with its first game, I pushed on, and as the preview continued, things only got better.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33is a turn-based RPG that borrows from its predecessors in smart ways. Its influences are many, from the fantastical premise at the center of its narrative to the timing-based mechanics of its combat. The game demands your attention in almost every facet of its experience, and rewards you for smartly engaging with its systems. Beautiful graphics are just the cherry on top of what is shaping up to be one of the most excitinggame releases of 2025.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s Story is Filled with Intrigue
To avoid spoilers, it’s not worth going too deep into story details. We know from trailers thatClair Obscur: Expedition 33centers on the titular expedition. There have been many expeditions before this one, each looking todefeat the Paintressand stop her from killing everyone of a certain age by painting a number on her monolith. At the start of the game, that number has shifted to 33, which means that anyone aged 33 (anyone older is already gone) will soon be dead. Expedition 33 sets out to stop that number from ticking down any further.
The preview included an introductory cutscene explaining the story so far, which had a pretty staggering revelation, and then we were thrown into Act 1. There is a prologue in the main game, but this was a unique build meant to get right to the action.
Combat in Clair Obscur Keeps You in Your Toes
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s combathas a lot in common withSuper Mario RPG. Its turn-based encounters require precise timing for the greatest success and offer a bit of strategy when it comes to tackling foes. In a general sense, combat revolves around choosing whether to use a direct attack, ranged attack, or ability against an enemy. Each type of attack has its own active element – direct attacks and abilities utilize quick time events for greater damage, whereas ranged attacks let you target weak points. There is also item usage and defense, when necessary. On the left side of the screen is a timeline to indicate turn order, so players can plan out their targets.
Choosing which attack to use is dependent on the enemy and the party member’s available AP. The ranged attack consumes a point of AP, but can be used to hit weakpoints on an enemy before rushing in for a melee strike (these don’t use AP). Abilities require more AP per use, but can exploit weaknesses, buff/heal teammates, and more. There are a few things to consider for each party member during their turn, but the general cadence I found was to lead with range, get in close for a melee hit (which generates AP), and then on the next turn, unleash an ability. But you can change up strategies however you like.
In many RPGs, when it’s the enemy’s turn, the player puts down the controller and accepts the punishment. InClair Obscur: Expedition 33, you can negate any damage with timing-based actions. There is a dodge, which has the party member or whole party moving out of the way of the attack; a parry that usually results in a counterattack to damage the enemy; and later, the preview introduced a jump, which dodged the attack and also had its own counterattack. It’s a supremelysatisfying set of mechanics that are flashywhen you get it right and crucial for survival, because enemy attacks can pack a wallop. Each enemy can have a few different attacks, with a distinct wind-up to help with timing, and then it’s up to you to mitigate that damage however you choose.
An on-screen prompt will usually tell you whether the enemy is attacking quickly or slowly, which changes up the pace of the dodge/parry.
It’s an approach that isn’t new for a turn-based RPG, but it’s one that, when married with the effects and the visuals, is engaging and exciting. Parries, when done well, can be some of the most exhilarating moves to pull off in video games, andClair Obscur: Expedition 33has a great one.
Every Party Member is Different, But All Are Fun to Play
At first, the preview only featuredGustave (voiced by Charlie Cox)in the party, whose main mechanic involves generatingOverchargeenergy by completing attacks against an enemy. At full power, the Overcharge is the most devastating, but you can choose how best to use it at any point. Eventually, the party grows to include new members, like Lune the Mage and Maelle the duelist.
Lune’s mechanic is completely different from Gustave’s in that her abilities generate elemental stains. For example, if you use Lune’s fire-based attack, it might generate a fire stain or ice stain. These are then used as fuel for stronger elemental abilities, which have their own stain cost. Similar to Gustave, it’s all about the build-up with Lune.
Maelle is all about mixing offense and defense. Her abilities will either put her in an offensive, neutral, or defensive stance, which, in turn, impacts her abilities. So while in offensive stance, you might want to go in for big damage, but the risk is that she finishes the turn in that same offensive stance and is therefore more vulnerable.
With the reactive, timing-based parry and dodge mechanic,Clair Obscur: Expedition 33gives the player more agency, and attacking has some strategy without being overly complex. Generating AP on attacks means you aren’t constantly worried about a mana pool, and can instead focus on exploiting weaknesses with elements or finding the highest priority target. It’s just plain fun to get into combat, and that isn’t always true for turn-based RPGs.
Exploring the Hauntingly Beautiful World of Clair Obscur
Outside of combat, exploring theworld ofClair Obscur: Expedition 33is a wondrous experience. The design of the world mixes the familiar with the fantastical, like an area that sees the party walking as if they are under the water. Distorted architecture, alluring landmarks in the distance, and a jaw-dropping color palette create a sense of place that is exceptional. It’s a world that is oppressive but inviting. You want to know more, but you know horrors are awaiting the group.
While the distinct areas ofClair Obscurare mostly linear corridors and pathways, its overworld has a clever tilt-shift perspective. Here, the party can partake in battles, develop relationships at makeshift camps, and upgrade gear. It’s the game’s twist on the open world map, but brought to life with a unique flair. I didn’t see a lot of it, but it’s very cool.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33ticks a lot of the standard RPG boxes as well, like finding new loot, equipping gear that offers passive buffs, and hitting rest points to save your progress. Rest points also reset enemy spawns and replenish healing elixirs (think Soulslike), offering a way for you to grind out XP and make the party stronger. For as much as the game has a unique flavor, it doesn’t venture too far off the tried-and-true either. Execution is whereClair Obscur: Expedition 33will be most appealing, and so far, that execution is incredibly exciting.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Preview - Final Thoughts
The best previews provide you with the most conflicting feelings. They offer a chance to play a small slice of a game - highlighting its mechanics, teasing its story, and giving a sense of the world - but then you realize that this isn’t the full game and still need to wait to play that final product.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33took only a few minutes to showcase what it brings to the table, and that was enough to convince me that this is something special.
Active combat and a world that you want to learn everything about are two of the highlights, but each element that is a small part of the larger whole is enticing and just complex enough that you want to see how it evolves over time.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33has all the makings of a Game of the Year contender; it’s strikingly beautiful, packs an intriguing story, and is a ton of fun to play.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33releases April 24, 202 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Game Rant was provided a PC preview code for this coverage.
