Review Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Review Thread

[John Elden Ring]

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Q: At what time does the Review Embargo for Clair Obscure 33 Drops?
A: he Review Embargo for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 drops at 2PM CST​

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PS5

Get it at Amazon - $49.99
Get it at Best Buy - $49.99 (free $10 gift card)
Get it at GameStop - $49.99
Get it at Target - $49.99

Xbox Series X|S

Get it at Amazon - $49.99
Get it at Best Buy - $49.99 (free $10 gift card)
Get it at GameStop - $49.99
Get it at Target - $49.99

PC
Get it at Fanatical (Steam) - $39.99

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Atarita - Alparslan Gürlek - Turkish - 75 / 100

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 creates a touching experience with its engaging plot, great narrative and excellent soundtrack, but its gamification problems hindered its potential.

But Why Tho? - Arron Kluz - 7 / 10

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a competent new JRPG with which genre fans will likely be pleased. However, it does very little to iterate on the foundation laid by those that came before it. Instead, it's content to offer its flavor of what has worked before.

CGMagazine - Chris De Hoog - 10 / 10

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a master-crafted RPG, blending several trends into a hybrid system that's as unrelenting as its heart-wrenching plot.

Capsule Computers - Dustin Spencer - 9 / 10

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an ambitious take on an old genre that is just as gratifying to look at as it is to engage in. A new franchise is born.

Cerealkillerz - Nick Erlenhof - German - 9.5 / 10

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a special role-playing game that is full of love and passion. It's beautiful, the soundtrack is a splendor, the battles always challenge you without being unfair or losing the fun and the story offers an unusually adult approach. With great acting performances, hard-hitting twists and all kinds of endgame content, you'll have fun for a long time. If you've ever planned to play an RPG, play this one.

Checkpoint Gaming - Charlie Kelly - 10 / 10

Blasting the door down and becoming an instant masterpiece classic, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 defies all expectations and ambitions and then some. Looking at decades of genre refinement and somehow still managing to innovate, creating immensely tactical, thought-provoking and rich combat is nothing short of a miracle achieved at the hands of Sandfall Interactive. Accompanying it is an entirely fresh and magnificent world full of wonders and beauty, even despite its intricate and often harrowing narrative that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and so many RPGs that have come before it, the little expedition that could will be plastered across history with the greats. Bravo.

Console-Tribe - Luca Saati - Italian - 90 / 100

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a rare gem — the kind of game that rekindles your love for the medium. With a deep combat system, a moving story, and a stunning artistic direction, it stands out in today's gaming landscape. It's not without flaws, especially in exploration, but what it achieves in emotion, design, and gameplay more than makes up for it. If you're looking for a JRPG-inspired experience with a bold artistic soul and heartfelt storytelling, this is a journey you won't want to miss.

Daily Mirror - Aaron Potter - Unscored

Prior to my three hours of hands-on time playing this preview, I went in expecting Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to be an underdog, yet the deeper I delved into its mechanics and systems I came out thinking it had the potential to be one of 2025's standout titles.

Digitale Anime - Raouf Belhamra - Arabic - 10 / 10

"An adventure that stands proudly among the giants of the RPG genre."

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an adventure that stands proudly among the giants of the RPG genre, despite being an independent project. It combines unique strategic combat, a moving narrative emotion, and stunning art direction inspired by Symbolist art of La Belle Époque. The game succeeds in creating an experience rich in meaning and deep mechanics without sacrificing the quality of the presentation or the narrative focus. Some technical flaws are present, but they do not overshadow the overall visual power.
GRYOnline.pl - Maciej Pawlikowski - Polish - 9.5 / 10

If I were a teenager still, this game would ingrain itself into my brain the same way Final Fantasy VII did in 1997. Right now, when there are numerous predictions about the death of single player games, when creativity is shackled by the sales department, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a true gem worth every praise.

Gamepressure - Giancarlo Saldana - 10 / 10

Simply put, Sandfall Interactive's debut game is a masterclass in presentation, storytelling, and gameplay. It's a game you need to play to experience.

Gamesource Italia - Fabio Valbonetti - Italian - 9 / 10

Thanks to its setting, its fantastic combat system and its emotional story, Expedition 22 is one of the greatest game I've played in the past few year

GamingBolt - Ravi Sinha - 9 / 10

Paying homage to those that came before yet bursting with its own creativity, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a must-play title for RPG fans.

Just Play it - Lamine BENYAHIA - Arabic - 9 / 10

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the most stunning surprises of this generation delivering a deep philosophical story set in a visually breathtaking world with gorgeous graphics and an addictive turn-based combat system! With its tense battles and unpredictable twists, it'll keep you on the edge of your seat. If you're looking for an experience that echoes the best of turn-based while adding modern and innovative touches then this game definitely deserves a spot on your must-play list.

Kakuchopurei - Jonathan Toyad - 100 / 100

Veterans will love the callbacks and tributes Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 pays to its inspirations, and get a sublime experience out of it. Even if you're new to the genre, its narrative and unique world will draw you in, with its turn-based and combat mechanics spellbinding you like a world class French arthouse flick would to film critics.

Très magnifique, une expérience merveilleuse, as they say.
Loot Level Chill - Mick Fraser - 9.5 / 10

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 feels truly unique and artistic, and reminds us how moving, exhilarating, and provocative big-budget adventure games can be.

Manual dos Games - Juliana Barreira Barbosa - Portuguese - 10 / 10

I have to admit, when I first saw the title, I was expecting a solid game inspired by classic JRPGs—but I never imagined the level of emotion and quality that Sandfall's debut would end up delivering. It's almost like the Final Fantasy XVII of our dreams. It features one of the best narratives I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing, with gameplay that's both engaging and addictive. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is, in many different ways, a masterpiece. When one falls, we continue.

MondoXbox - Valerio Tosetti - Italian - 9.7 / 10

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is destined to become a classic, with a deep and well-written storyline, a spectacular soundtrack and top-notch graphics, along with a well-tuned combat system. One of the best JRPGs around.

MonsterVine - James Carr - 4 / 5

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 not only deftly improves upon the idea of active turn-based combat, but delivers it in a gorgeous and realized world. The characters are incredible, it dodges some of the more grating aspects of turn-based RPGs, and delivers a mature, and at times haunting, story, without falling into the traps of too much violence for the sake of maturity. A big narrative turn flattens the experience, and a few too many rough edges keep it from masterpiece status, but it is still an incredible experience.

One More Game - Vincent Ternida - 10 / 10

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a resounding triumph from Sandfall Interactive. It delivers a refreshingly bold RPG experience that stands out in a genre often crowded with titles that miss the mark. With meticulous balance, the game offers a blend of old meets new while crafting a tightly woven narrative alongside an excellent turn-based combat system that is simple to learn and strategically deep.

Oyungezer Online - Eren Eryürekli - Turkish - 10 / 10

Expedition 33 is magnificent in every possible way. I was in love with it whole time and while playing I've became so engaged with characters and the story surround them I forgot the flow of time entirely. This is clearly the future for JRPG's and it's sense of scale is outstanding. Definitely a classic for years to come.

PSX Brasil - Bruno Henrique Vinhadel - Portuguese - 90 / 100

Masterful in artistic and narrative aspects and with an impeccable soundtrack, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the best surprises of the year and stands out positively in a market that has started to charge too much for experiences that don't deliver what they should.

Push Square - Liam Croft - 9 / 10

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the most refreshing and original RPGs in years, even if it's not immediately obvious from the outside looking in. The intriguing setup expands to provide an engrossing, excellent narrative with lovable and charismatic characters. The exemplary combat goes above and beyond its turn-based traditions with flashy fights and new ways to damage. This is the kind of experience that proves there's still so much potential and creativity in the bigger-budget video game space - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is simply sublime.

Quest Daily - Shaun Fullard - 9.5 / 10

Expedition 33 is a game that spoke to my soul. I quickly fell in love with this awe-inspiring yet melancholic world and the survivors left in it, and even though it tore my heart to shreds multiple times, I'd happily do it all over again.

RPGamer - Ryan Costa - 5 / 5

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a journey that blasts the senses from beginning to end. The melancholic and bleak moments are balanced by the characters' perseverance, which makes their triumphs shine much brighter. There's a profound sense of style and substance that only expands as more of the world is uncovered. What results is a true work of art that ties its brilliant components together into a complete package, which is awe inspiring to come from a freshman developer.

Restart.run - Logan Woerner - 4 / 5

After a swift 30 hours with the game, I will happily tell you how Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 exceeded my expectations and left me curious for more.

SavePoint Gaming - Zhiqing Wan - 7 / 10

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 may be predictable at times, but it's bolstered by its excellent voice cast and compelling turn-based combat.

Sirus Gaming - Erickson Melchor - 10 / 10

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a rare triumph for such a small studio. The devs at Sandfall Interactive aimed for the stars, and they delivered a game that JRPG fans have always wanted from a Western studio. I can't recommend this game enough.

Spaziogames - Domenico Musicò - Italian - Unscored

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 could really be the JRPG that 90s nostalgics wanted so much to have in its most evolved and not excessively contaminated form. All the elements seem to be in the right place, and although it is not one of the most expensive productions (which is a good thing), the potential to do things in a big way is quite evident.

TechRaptor - Erren Van Duine - 9 / 10

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a milestone achievement for Sandfall Interactive. Fans of turn-based RPGs should be right at home with its traditional stylings tuned for a modern age, and while difficulty can ramp up without warning, the challenge of getting through each battle makes it all worthwhile.

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Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 92 average - 96% recommended

Metacritic - 92 average based on 30 critic reviews
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[Deleted member 2529]

If Hundred Line wasn't releasing this week I would've for sure bought this or if they had a demo that would've bumped this up on my list.

 

[DarkLordOtaku]

I'm going 90's. I've got a good feeling about this one.

 

[phaedrus]

I rarely pre-order games (physical of course, I'm not those dummies that preorder digital lol), but this is an exception.
Loved everything I've seen of it so far, can't wait to play!

 

[peter42O]

Voted for 80-84.

 

[Yobo]

78

 

[Vertigo]

 

[Muddasar]

I’m going to say it looked great in the trailers but the actual game was average.

75.

 

[Say1nMan]

Low 80s would be my guess.

 

[voke]

High 70s I’d guess. Maybe low 80 if the story is great.

 

[Airbus]

Vote 90-94

 

[anonpuffs]

I think it'll score 89

 

[DarkLordOtaku]

I was going to do an OT for this game, but @John Elden Ring has already prepared an incredibly informative thread!

 

[Airbus]

2025 GOTY candidate

 

[Pey]

Review (9/10) written from a member of my staff. I took fifteen 4K screenshots and recorded a couple of 4K videos > https://www.pcmrace.com/2025/04/23/clair-obscur-expedition-33-review/

First 90 Minutes (still processing...)



High Level Gameplay

 

[Muddasar]

I’m going to say it looked great in the trailers but the actual game was average.

75.

 

[Bryank75]

Fantastic reviews, what a year for gaming!

 

[Shinobu7]

Ce topic est devenu Français.

 

[phaedrus]

9/10 from Noisy Pixel (my most trusted review site).
NOICE!

 

[Bryank75]