Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
A turn-based RPG set in a dark fantasy Belle Époque world.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a role-playing game released in 2025, created by Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive. Its world blends dark fantasy with a Belle Époque aesthetic. The story follows the members of Expedition 33 on a mission to kill the Paintress, a being responsible for the annual Gommage—an event that erases from existence anyone who has reached or surpassed a steadily lowering age. Players control a party of characters from a third-person perspective, exploring environments and fighting enemies. The turn-based combat incorporates real-time elements, including quick time events and timed actions.
The project began in 2019 when Guillaume Broche, then a Ubisoft employee, started assembling a core team of 30 developers. He left Ubisoft in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to formally establish Sandfall Interactive with friends and contacts, and the studio later partnered with various production houses. The developers were inspired by Japanese RPGs from their youth, such as Final Fantasy and Persona, and aimed to produce a high-fidelity turn-based role-playing game—a genre they felt had been overlooked by major AAA studios. Development initially used Unreal Engine 4 before switching to Unreal Engine 5, which brought rendering improvements.
The game launched on PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on April 24, 2025, and was available day one on Xbox Game Pass. Critics universally praised its narrative and themes, art direction, game direction, original soundtrack, gameplay, and performances. By April 2026, it had sold 8 million units. It received many awards and topped multiple publications' lists of the best games of 2025. At The Game Awards 2025, it set a record with thirteen nominations and won nine, including Game of the Year. It also became the first debut title—and only the second overall, after Baldur’s Gate 3—to win Game of the Year at all five major award ceremonies: the Golden Joystick Awards, The Game Awards, the D.I.C.E. Awards, the GDC Awards, and the BAFTA Games Awards.
**Gameplay**
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a third-person turn-based RPG with real-time elements. The player controls a party of Expeditioners exploring a fantasy world. On their turns, players can use an item, perform a melee attack to gain Ability Points, or spend those points on ranged attacks or Skills. Ranged attacks are aimed free
- Developer
- Sandfall Interactive
- Publisher
- Kepler Interactive
- Release Date
- 24 April 2025
- Platforms
- PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S
- Genre
- Role-playing video game
- Sales
- 8 million units as of April 2026
- Awards
- Game of the Year from all five major game award ceremonies
Lore & Background
The project originated in 2019 when Guillaume Broche, a Ubisoft employee who left the company in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, formed Sandfall Interactive with friends and contacts. The core team of 30 developers was supported by various production partners. Inspired by Japanese RPGs such as Final Fantasy and Persona, the developers sought to create a high-fidelity turn-based role-playing game, a genre they felt AAA studios had neglected. Development began with Unreal Engine 4 and later switched to Unreal Engine 5, providing rendering improvements.
The game was released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on 24 April 2025, and was available day one on Xbox Game Pass. It received universal acclaim for its narrative and themes, art direction, game direction, original soundtrack, gameplay, and performances. As of April 2026, it has sold 8 million units. It became the most awarded title in The Game Awards history, winning nine of the record thirteen nominations it received at The Game Awards 2025, including Game of the Year. It marks the first debut title and second overall title after Baldur's Gate 3 to win Game of the Year from all five major game award ceremonies (Golden Joystick Awards, The Game Awards, D.I.C.E. Awards, GDC Awards, and BAFTA Games Awards).
Reader's Guide
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is significant as a debut title that achieved critical and commercial success, winning Game of the Year from all five major game award ceremonies, a feat previously accomplished only by Baldur's Gate 3. Its turn-based combat incorporates real-time elements such as quick time events, parrying, and dodging, blending traditional RPG mechanics with modern action. The game features six playable characters, each with unique skill trees and mechanics, and a deep customization system including Pictos and Lumina Points. The narrative, set in a dark fantasy Belle Époque world, explores themes of erasure and survival through the annual Gommage. The game's legacy includes setting a record at The Game Awards with thirteen nominations and nine wins, and it is noted for reviving interest in high-fidelity turn-based RPGs from a AAA perspective. Its availability on Xbox Game Pass on release day also contributed to its widespread reach.
Did You Know?
- The game was developed by Sandfall Interactive, a studio formed by former Ubisoft employee Guillaume Broche during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- It won nine awards at The Game Awards 2025, the most in the ceremony's history, including Game of the Year.
- The game sold 8 million units as of April 2026.
- It was available day one on Xbox Game Pass.
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