Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - does it live up to the hype?

Reviewers Liked

• Tells an emotionally engaging story with a cast of compelling characters
• Excellent gameplay
• Impeccable soundtrack
• Awe-inspiring world
• A fantastic and challenging combat system

Reviewers Didn't Like

• Traversal isn't particularly interesting
• Really could have done with a minimap
• Lip-syncing issues
• Occasional bugs

100

Expedition 33's story is a touching and highly emotional ride that, even as the stakes increase, always feels personal in the way that it thoughtfully depicts its themes. It's a stunning game, and stands alongside the best in the genre.

By DigitalSpy on May 27, 2025

95

However, these are relatively minor gripes, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a delight despite them. From thrilling turn-based combat to incredible artistic direction and a truly engrossing story, this is a hard game not to recommend to players of all preferences, and it has easily cemented itself as a contender for my game of the year.

By HookedGamers on May 10, 2025

90

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a magical, gripping, and technically impressive RPG that delivers a rich story, clever gameplay, and enchanting atmosphere—despite a few rough edges from its small-studio origins. Fans of complex fantasy and mystery-laden role-playing games will find much to love.

By PCWorld on May 09, 2025

80

Despite its occasionally confounding UI and weak level design, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an essential turn-based RPG that is both a love letter to its inspirations and a potential vision of the genre's future.

By PCGamesN on May 09, 2025

90

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the most interesting games to come out in the last decade. It oozes passion, feels incredibly familiar to its counterparts in the genre, but still does a fantastic job of standing out among the others in so many different, engaging ways. Despite only recently launching, the game is a staple of the RPG genre, and while it’s not perfect, it’s pretty dang close.

By Impulse Gamer on May 07, 2025

95

Before launch, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 looked like a solid yet safe role-playing game, but Sandfall Interactive’s debut shattered expectations in the best possible way. With a gripping story, a beautifully written cast of characters, and engaging gameplay that breathes new life into familiar mechanics, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a journey that leaves a lasting mark on both the mind and the heart.

By WCCFTech on May 01, 2025

90

The contrast between its artistic sensibilities and old-school RPG design philosophy shows a clarity of vision, as if it was scoped just right to focus on the things that matter most, making it a true modern throwback. And so, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stands strong alongside its inspirations, and I hope that it too can be an inspiration for those who come after.

By IGN on April 23, 2025

90

When you factor in the voice talent involved, the visual splendor on offer, and the sheer scale of the whole game, it really feels like Clair Obscur is punching above its weight, considering the comparatively small size of the team at Sandfall. This is a supremely confident game that reinterprets familiar mechanics with an imaginative eye. Its combat is a consistent delight, delivering thrills with thoughtful strategy and reactive action in equal measure, complementing a heartfelt story of shared grief and camaraderie.

By GameSpot on April 23, 2025

99

There’s a rare kind of magic when you play a game that feels like the start of something timeless. That’s what Clair Obscur gave me. I constantly wanted to dig deeper, not just into the mechanics or combat, but into the world itself. I wanted to learn its history, meet every character, discover every landmark. By the time the credits rolled, I didn’t just want a sequel. I wanted a whole series.

By RPGFan on April 23, 2025

90

The adventure isn’t overlong, and you don’t spend more time than necessary fighting. The world, art, and narrative are unique, but it makes me nostalgic for a game I remember from the past. It’s as though developer Sandfall Interactive managed to make a classic RPG with only the good parts. I’m sad in a way to have concluded the journey, but the adventure to pursue the Paintress will linger with me for some time.

By GameInformer on April 23, 2025