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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Everything We Know About the JRPG

Last Updated: November 10, 2025

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 key art featuring the main characters.

A breathtaking new world of art, magic, and impending doom is on the horizon. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the debut title from French developer Sandfall Interactive and publisher Kepler Interactive, has emerged as one of the most anticipated RPGs of 2025. Unveiled with a stunning trailer, this reactive turn-based JRPG promises a unique blend of classic combat, real-time mechanics, and a magnificent art style inspired by France's Belle Époque era.

Here's everything we know about this ambitious adventure.

A Race Against Time: The World of Expedition 33

The premise of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is as beautiful as it is terrifying. Once a year, an enigmatic being known as the Paintress awakens to paint a cursed number upon her monolith. Anyone of that age instantly turns to smoke and vanishes. This grim cycle continues, with the number decreasing each year, wiping out entire generations.

Players will lead the Expeditioners on a desperate, year-long quest to break this cycle of death before the Paintress can paint the number "33." This journey will take them through a fantastical and perilous world, from the flying city of Lumière to battlefields ravaged by forgotten gods. The game’s striking, painterly aesthetic brings this world to life, creating a visually rich and atmospheric setting that feels both dreamlike and haunted.

A New Spin on Classic Combat

While rooted in turn-based traditions, Sandfall Interactive is innovating on the formula by introducing significant real-time elements to create a more dynamic and engaging combat system. Players can expect:

  • Reactive Commands: Beyond simply selecting attacks, players can actively participate in combat by parrying, dodging, and chaining combos with timed button presses, much like in modern classics such as the Mario & Luigi RPG series.
  • Free-Aim System: Players will have the ability to target specific enemy weak points in real-time to exploit vulnerabilities, adding a layer of precision and strategy to every encounter.
  • Customizable Character Builds: Each member of the Expedition will have unique skill trees, gear, and growth stats, allowing for deep customization to suit any playstyle. Players can create powerful synergies between party members to overcome the game’s formidable foes.

An Unforgettable Journey and its Characters

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is being built as a deeply narrative-driven experience. Players will join Gustave, Maelle, and their fellow Expeditioners, a diverse and well-developed ensemble, on their seemingly impossible mission. Each character brings their own history, motivations, and personal demons to the quest.

The narrative promises to explore profound themes of loss, hope, and resilience in the face of insurmountable odds. As the one-year countdown ticks away, players will make choices and forge bonds that shape the fate of their crew and the world itself. The developers aim to craft an emotionally resonant story where every victory feels earned and every setback carries weight, turning the Expedition’s quest into a shared emotional experience for players.

What Makes Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 a Standout RPG?

Even before its release, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is distinguishing itself in a crowded genre through several key elements:

  • Distinctive Art Style: The game’s visual design, powered by Unreal Engine 5, is heavily inspired by French art and architecture from the Belle Époque period, setting it apart from typical fantasy settings.
  • Innovative Combat: The blend of turn-based strategy with real-time, action-oriented mechanics promises a combat system that is both tactical and thrilling.
  • Profound Narrative and Lore: The story of a yearly cull by a mysterious artist is a powerful and original hook, rich with potential for mystery, philosophical undertones, and emotionally charged character arcs.
  • Memorable Characters: The focus on a diverse cast undertaking a final, desperate mission is a classic RPG trope, poised to deliver a powerful and character-driven story.
  • Haunting Soundtrack: The game’s evocative score, heavily featured in its reveal trailer, perfectly complements the atmosphere, enhancing both its moments of tension and its emotional beats.

Looking Ahead: The Future is Bright (and Dark)

Sandfall Interactive and Kepler Interactive are positioning Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a major new IP. The game is slated for a 2025 release and is confirmed to be launching on PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Crucially, it has also been announced as a Day One release on Xbox Game Pass, making it instantly accessible to millions of subscribers. The immense anticipation following its reveal signals a bright future for this dark fantasy adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?
A: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an upcoming turn-based JRPG with real-time combat mechanics, a unique Belle Époque-inspired art style, and a deep, emotional story about a quest to stop a being who paints death.

Q: Who is developing and publishing the game?
A: The game is developed by the French studio Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive.

Q: What is the release date for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?
A: The game is scheduled to be released in 2025. A specific date has not yet been announced.

Q: What platforms will Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 be available on?
A: It will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. It will also be available on day one with Xbox Game Pass.

Q: Is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 a single-player or multiplayer game?
A: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a single-player, narrative-focused role-playing game.