“Mysterious adventure – first hints of a masterpiece ”Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 starts in an elegant, melancholic version of Belle Époque France. A hidden force called “Paintress” erases people from existence once a year. This is probably a concept that creates atmosphere and suspense. Almost like in the best literary and cinematic thrillers.
The varied locations – from a crumbling city to a surreal underwater world – look as if they have been painted and give the player the feeling of walking through a living painting. Behind the game is a small but brilliant development team from Montpellier Sandfall Interactive with only around 30 core members brings an emotional story and a combat strategy system to life that will make fans of classic JRPGs sit up and take notice. The mix of turn-based depth and real-time parries is reminiscent of Persona or Sekiro – and yet creates something unique.
Last of Us developer calls it the most creative plot in a long time – that’s what’s inside
The game centers on Gustave and his companions, who want to end the deadly ritual of the Paintress. Neil Druckmann, creative mind behind The Last of Us and Uncharted, has already played through the game and commented on Instagram: “I’m blown away. One of the most moving and creative stories I’ve played in a long time”. This voice from the industry underlines one thing. Namely that Expedition 33 is not just about the design, but above all the depth of the narrative.
Druckmann praises Clair Obscur Expedition 33. pic.twitter.com/jE5Z1RR1es
— Pirat_Nation 🔴 (@Pirat_Nation) July 7, 2025
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The figures speak for themselves: the game has already sold over 3.3 million copies within 33 days. On Metacritic, it has achieved almost universal recognition with 93 points. Players praise the combat design, the visual realization and the emotional impact of the narrative – making it a serious GOTY hopeful.
A little tidbit on the side. The charming Gestrals, quirky creatures with mech-like suits, lighten up the dramatic setting and are reminiscent of similarly iconic NPCs such as Zelda’s Koroks