Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

It's only every few years you experience something this damn captivating that it leaves you utterly speechless. No review could do it justice, so I'll just say this: thank you, Sandfall.

I literally had no idea about this game last year when it released. I just thought it would be a random turn-based game from unknown developers. There was little to no hype for this game, as it wasn’t one of those AAA IPs we are already familiar with. But then came The Game Awards 2025—this game got nominated for Game of the Year. I was shocked, as it was competing with some of the greatest games released that year, like KCD 2, Hades 2, as well as Silksong. But when the day came, it literally swept almost every award, and the next month it overtook Elden Ring to become the most awarded game of all time. My mind was completely blown away by the success of this unfamiliar title, so I decided to give it a try through Game Pass. First of all, if you are planning to buy this game, play it for free on Game Pass first to get a basic idea of what it’s all about, because it’s not for everyone. Many people may find its real-time turn-based combat boring and repetitive (which is not true in my case). I played Pokémon games for years, and this was a huge upgrade for me, as now we are parrying and dodging enemy attacks rather than just taking them. I never found this game’s combat boring; it always felt fresh to me. Getting new pictos, trying new skills, and making different builds for characters were engaging. This game has so much content—even after finishing the main story, there are many locations, side bosses, and mysteries left to explore. That’s why I purchased this game on Steam even after finishing the main story on Game Pass. And then comes its music—"OH MY GOD." Every soundtrack in this game is GOATed. Literally, when I opened this game for the very first time, I just sat watching the main screen, listening to its music. From there, I knew it was going to be one of the best games I have ever played, because I absolutely love listening to video game soundtracks. I didn’t understand a single word from it, but the feelings it gave to my ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ears were incredible. It’s also shocking that such great soundtracks were composed by an unknown artist hired from SoundCloud. Sometimes I just hum the music of this game when doing nothing. For the story and characters (NO SPOILERS), it’s the same as the music—"PEAK." I don’t remember the last time I had tears in my eyes while playing a game, and that too within the first hour. There are some games that start off slow and rough but make sense in the end; this game, on the other hand, literally hooked me from start to finish. No fillers—just absolute cinema moments every time. You are not playing this game but living in it. And OMG, the cast—Ben Starr, Jennifer English, Charlie Cox, and Andy Serkis—such a packed lineup. You already knew this was going to be peak. The emotions I felt for them—their fear, joy, and sadness—touched my heart, and I will never forget the beautiful experience this game gave me through its story and characters. This is the pinnacle of storytelling in this form of media. If you play this game in the future, just don’t rush through the story. Always engage in character conversations and optional cutscenes. Even if you completely move on from this game, its story and characters will stay with you forever in your heart. Now, the gameplay, as mentioned earlier, will not satisfy everyone. But if you have played turn-based games in the past, this game is definitely for you. The Lumina system is excellent—you can stack different abilities and effects to create an OP build. After all the positives I mentioned earlier, the only weakness I feel this game has is that by using the Picto and Lumina systems, the difficulty can feel weak. You become so strong that you can easily beat the main story without even dying. However, the post-main-story content gets a bit harder, and that difficulty spike compensates for the earlier limitation. All I can say is: don’t look for guides—they can ruin your experience. As this game is made in Unreal Engine 5, it looks visually beautiful, but it can be demanding in terms of hardware. Still, it is optimized—no bugs, glitches, or performance issues. Everything is fine. I can’t believe this was their first game, and they delivered one of the masterpieces of this generation. Now I hope the developers can maintain this level of quality with their future releases. Final Verdict— This game is easily in my top three of all time, second only to Elden Ring. The experience it gave me will forever remain in my heart. I wish I could erase my memories of this game so that I could feel those emotions again for the first time. After playing this game, I now understand why it won nine awards at TGA—it completely outshined its competition. Even if you don’t like the gameplay, play it for the story. It is what everybody says—"Absolute Cinema." It’s one of those games you should play before dying. As a wise man once said: [h1] "FOR THOSE WHO COME AFTER" [/h1]

[h2] Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took the Turn-Based genre into the next level with its remarkable real-time mechanics, offering the freedom to explore both its rich world and enhancing each character builds. [/h2] [h2] Writing & Plot [/h2] The narrative is set in an aesthetic and artistic dark fantasy world inspired by the Belle Époque period of France, creating a unique dreamlike world. Every year, a mysterious entity known as the Paintress awakens to paint a number on a monolith, and everyone of that age fades away. Each year, this number decreases, leading to a desperate mission commissioned to end the cycle before the next number is written. Expedition 33 embarks on this perilous journey like those before them to save future generations of Lumiere, an isolated city on an island in the ocean. Our heroes, Gustave, Maelle, Lune, and Sciel, find themselves in crisis after an unexpected encounter that led to the annihilation of most of their members upon reaching the shore of the continent where the Paintress resides. However, new friendly creatures join them on their adventure to destroy the Paintress. Initially, the story appears to be about survival, but as you delve deeper, it reveals itself to be something entirely different. It emerges as a portrayal of grief, and once that realization hits, everything changes. Even the ending you choose doesn’t deliver a simple closure; instead, it mirrors the various ways we cope with loss. It’s beautiful and poetic in its own right. The characters you once viewed as antagonists reveal themselves to be humans trying to mend broken bonds. No ending is inherently right or wrong, so feel free to choose the one that resonates with you the most. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3710138113 [h2] Character Building [/h2] The character building and writing work hand in hand to reinforce the game’s emotional core. Each character distinctly responds to grief, conveyed not through dialogue but through subtle visual details and restrained performances. Rather than relying on heavy exposition, the game lets small gestures define who these people are. What truly adds depth to the narrative is how the game handles its character bonds. Their relationships aren’t just supportive, but they are complex and realistic. They are deepened by the shared burden of not only saving Lumière but also coping with loss and despair. [h2] Aesthetics & visuals [/h2] The art direction and world design are unrivaled, bringing to life a vivid reality out of a canvas. As you embark on your adventure through these beautifully crafted realms, you can't help but be enchanted by the breathtaking landscapes and sense their sheer beauty. Not only do these stunning views catch your attention, but also the meticulously composed music that elevates your gaming moments into a one-of-a-kind experience that lingers in your memory long after you've explored every corner. It's truly an unforgettable exploration of beauty and creativity. One area that truly captivates the attention is Sacred River, a mystical and serene realm where creatures await their rebirth. In this enchanting landscape, a dazzling aurora waves across the night sky. Its vibrant hues of green and blue paint a magical portrait along the stars. Enormous glowing bells suspended midair cast a gentle, soft blue light that illuminates the land in an otherworldly glow. The environment is abundant with life, yet it leaves you with a sense of lost memories of each reborn creature. There are trees and crystal-clear water that flow through the land, reflecting the beauty of the moon high above, surrounded by the glow of the bells. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3710133457 [h2] Gameplay Mechanics [/h2] The gameplay combines the traditional turn-based RPG combat system with unique real-time mechanics, making each encounter dynamic. In battle, players can utilize free aim, parrying, and dodging, which are crucial skills to master. Specifically, the parry and gradient counter can inflict significant damage if executed with perfect timing. Additionally, players can earn extra XP if they avoid taking any hits. The game also offers the freedom to strategize your battles and builds. Each character possesses unique abilities, skill trees, and synergies. Pictos are tools that increase the character's stats and grant various effects, such as boosting attacks and defenses, as well as conditional effects, for instance, dealing more damage to the enemy at the cost of doubling the damage the character receives. Each character can equip up to three pictos, making the selection process a strategic decision. Luminas are passive abilities that can be activated once you fully master a picto without equipping it to a character. This feature allows you to customize your build to fit your playstyle by improving your stats, skills, and gear. Outside of combat, the game features open-world exploration. Players can adventure through the world by going on foot or travel with their giant companion by swimming and flying to discover hidden paths, battle bosses, engage in side quests, mini-games, collect materials for upgrades, hunt for collectibles, and interact with party members to deepen the connection and get new skills as a reward. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3696599627 [h2] Conclusion & Final Thoughts [/h2] I could analyze every character, area, and event, and connect them to various layers and themes; yet, I would still feel that I hadn't explored enough. It's a mesmerizing tale, perfectly executed, and I am in awe of the countless details the developers, writers, and composers worked so hard to create. The soundtrack is rich in lyrics, and it is one of the elements that initially drew me in because they convey the characters' emotions and hardship. Overall, it features a strong and profound narrative while enjoying its world. 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