Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – A Colorful Masterpiece for Old-School Gamers

A colorful masterpiece. A masterclass in how to create a great game for old-school gamers.
I’ve had the chance to play Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and here’s my first look at the game.

Developed by Sandfall Interactive and released across all major platforms, Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG with real-time and quick-time events woven into the combat. This gives the game a perfect blend of adrenaline and strategy, keeping you on your toes throughout the battles.
I’ve never been a huge fan of turn-based games — probably because I played too many as a kid and came to see them more as a limitation than an exciting way to play. That said, landing a perfect dodge or parry, leading to an enemy’s instant downfall, is incredibly satisfying.

The Story:
Every year for the past 67 years, the isolated island of Lumière has suffered an event called the ”Gommage,” where a goddess known as the ”Paintress” (voiced by Tracy Wiles) paints a number. All humans older than that number mysteriously disappear. Each year following the Gommage, Lumière sends out a volunteer expedition to the mainland in a desperate attempt to slay the Paintress before she can paint a new number. Expedition 33 is the latest to set out.

You start the game by stepping into the shoes of Gustave, the expedition’s engineer and the initial protagonist. Gustave isn’t your typical strong hero; he’s an ordinary guy filled with doubts about whether this mission is truly the path to humanity’s survival.
Producer François Meurisse has crafted a surprisingly authentic and heartfelt story — something you don’t often expect to find in this genre.

The game’s world is vibrant yet occasionally dark, with a beautiful French soundtrack that feels carefully composed and avoids falling into clichés. The narrative is given plenty of room to breathe. While there are some lengthy dialogue sequences, they flow naturally and often leave just enough unsaid, allowing your imagination to fill in the gaps.

Importantly, the game doesn’t force any morals or opinions down your throat, which is refreshing.

Gameplay Mechanics:
As expected in an RPG, you can level up your characters, customize your skill trees, and tweak core attributes like Vitality, Dexterity, and Luck. Designers Guillaume Broche and Michel Nohra have implemented a clever system: as you progress, you’ll meet new characters who can join your party. What’s smart here is that you can completely rebuild a character’s skills and attributes at any point.
For example, a character you initially built as a healer can later be reshaped into a heavy damage dealer if needed. This flexibility allows you to keep your team dynamic without abandoning characters you’ve invested in.

In addition, each character can equip three ”buffs” — special enhancements that are unique to each character (no two characters can share the same buff at the same time). This system adds another layer of tactical depth and keeps the RPG mechanics sharp and interesting.

Final Thoughts:
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn’t just a game; it’s an experience. It’s a visually stunning, emotionally grounded journey wrapped up in smart, flexible RPG systems.
Even if, like me, you’re not usually a fan of turn-based games, this one might just change your mind.