Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has taken the gaming world by storm. This new RPG from Sandfall Interactive launched on Xbox Game Pass alongside the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remaster, yet has managed to stand out despite this timing challenge. With metacritic scores ranging from 92-95 across platforms, it ties with Blue Prince at 92 and sits just above Split Fiction’s 91, making it a clear Game of the Year contender just a third of the way through 2025.
The game has broken sales records, reaching half a million copies sold faster than the developers “ever imagined” and crossing the one million mark in just three days – not even counting Xbox Game Pass players. With its unique premise and gorgeous visuals, critics are calling it “the single most impressive debut RPG” they’ve ever played.
What is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 tells the story of a desperate mission in an apocalyptic world. The game’s premise is haunting: once a year, a being called the Paintress wakes up and paints a number on her monolith. Everyone of that age vanishes – “turns to smoke and fades away.” Year by year, the number ticks down, and more people are erased. The number this year is 33.
Players step into the shoes of Gustave (voiced by Charlie Cox) as he leads Expedition 33 on what’s described as “a desperate, year-long final mission to destroy the Paintress and break her deadly cycle of erasure before your time runs out.”
The game’s world is visually striking – a fantasy realm inspired by Belle Époque France with surreal elements reminiscent of Psychonauts. Land masses float through the air, the Eiffel Tower tilts at an impossible angle, and players explore diverse landscapes like the Island of Visages and the Forgotten Battlefield. This hauntingly beautiful setting is brought to life through Unreal Engine 5, creating what many reviewers have called a “work of art.”
Sandfall Interactive, a debut studio based in Montpellier, consists of veteran French game developers, many formerly of major studios like Ubisoft. Despite being newcomers as a studio, they’ve created what critics are calling an exceptional RPG that’s “shaping up to be one of the hottest games of 2025.”
Gameplay Highlights
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stands out for its unique combat system that blends turn-based strategy with real-time mechanics. While you and enemies take turns attacking each other, you can dodge or parry attacks in real time. CNET’s David Lumb noted it as “among the most interactive turn-based fights he’s played,” creating heart-pounding moments as you face off against Lovecraftian horrors in meticulously designed battles.
The game features deep character customization that lets players craft unique builds for each Expeditioner. This includes distinct gear, stats, and expansive skill trees that allow for powerful character synergies. Each playable hero possesses their own combat mechanics and strategic roles, such as fencer stances, spell stains, and charge build-ups.
A standout feature is the “Picto” ability-equipping system that “satisfies a crunchy part of the brain that delights in overclocking a system willingly ripe for abuse from the determined player.” The game also incorporates a strategic free-aim system that lets players target specific enemy weak points in real-time for tactical advantages.
Beyond combat, rich exploration awaits across diverse landscapes where players can discover hidden quests, legendary allies, and lore that expands the game’s world and story.
Critical Reception
Reviews for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have been overwhelmingly positive. The game boasts a 92 metascore on both PC and PS5, while the Xbox version currently sits at 95 with fewer reviews counted. These scores place it among the year’s highest-rated titles, tying with Blue Prince at 92 and sitting just above Split Fiction’s 91.
Critics have been particularly impressed by the achievement of Sandfall Interactive as a debut studio. RPGamer awarded it a perfect 10/10, calling it “a journey that blasts the senses from beginning to end” where “melancholic and bleak moments are balanced by the characters’ perseverance.” They concluded it’s “a true work of art that ties its brilliant components together into a complete package, which is awe inspiring to come from a freshman developer.”
RPG Fan was even more effusive with a near-perfect 99/100 score, stating: “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the single most impressive debut RPG I’ve ever played. If this were a Final Fantasy title, it would easily rank among my all-time favorites.”
IGN gave the game a 9/10, praising how it “paints itself into the pantheon of great RPGs with a brilliant combat system and a gripping, harrowing story.” In his perfect 5/5 review, Ryan Thompson-Bamsey said, “Everything about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is either a fresh reboot to soothe the traditionalist’s soul or an exciting, bold leap into new territory.”
With these reviews and more, Clair Obscur is already firmly in the Game of the Year conversation despite releasing early in 2025.
Commercial Success
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has achieved remarkable commercial success in a very short time. According to the sources, the game sold 500,000 copies faster than developer Sandfall Interactive “ever imagined,” as stated in their social media post which was accompanied by a painting of Gustave and Sophie dancing with the caption “500,000 copies sold.”
Even more impressive, by day three after launch, the game had crossed the one million copies sold milestone – and that figure doesn’t include Xbox Game Pass players at all. On Steam alone, the game reached a peak concurrent player count of over 71,000 players, showing strong engagement across platforms.
This success is particularly notable considering the challenges the game faced at launch. Not only did Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 release as a day one Game Pass title (which some might have expected to cut into sales), but it also launched just days after the surprise release of the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remaster on the same subscription service. Despite these potential obstacles, the game has performed exceptionally well commercially.
For a debut studio and a new IP with what some considered “a confusing title for mainstream players,” these sales figures represent a major achievement and suggest strong word-of-mouth momentum behind the title.
The Game Pass Effect
The relationship between Xbox Game Pass and game sales has been a topic of industry debate, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s success offers an interesting case study. Despite being available “for free” to subscribers, the game has sold exceptionally well.
Palworld’s community manager Bucky weighed in on this discussion, defending the decision to launch on Game Pass. “Expedition 33 is the latest game to get unwillingly dragged through gaming Twitter as people debate the viability of Game Pass,” Bucky tweeted. “I feel like I’ve just a little more knowledge on the topic than most so I’ll just say yes, yes it is very worth having your game on Game Pass.”
Bucky spoke from experience, noting that Pocketpair had Craftopia on Game Pass for “a year (or two)” and Palworld is still available on the service. “I’ve no experience working in the AAA space so I’m not sure what sort of deals are cooked up there, but we have shipped two games on Game Pass and were very happy with both so all I can say is I’m happy with the experience I had.”
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s ability to thrive commercially while also being on Game Pass suggests that quality games can succeed in both models simultaneously. As noted in one source, “don’t count a game out just because it’s on Game Pass.”
Why It Matters
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s success has significant implications for the RPG genre. According to the sources, the game is “shining a spotlight on an industry that has so far refused to give true ‘AAA’ treatment to the classic turn-based JRPG formula.”
This directly challenges Square Enix producer Naoki Yoshida’s famous claim that “players don’t want photorealistic turn-based games,” which was used to justify modern Final Fantasy games moving toward “derivative hack n’ slash style gameplay that focuses on spectacle rather than fun.” One source explicitly states that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, like Baldur’s Gate 3 before it, “proves that fans do want to give classic RPG genres AAA treatment — if only publishers would actually sit up and listen.”
The sources attribute this innovation to the indie scene being “free from telemetry data or corporate meddling,” which is “driving a huge upswing in innovation and quality, as big publishers chase ‘broader audiences’ to find growth, only to end up making games that appeal to nobody.” The enthusiastic response to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s turn-based combat system with real-time elements shows there’s significant demand for thoughtful innovations on classic RPG mechanics rather than abandoning them entirely.
With many comparing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to “what modern Final Fantasy should be,” the game’s success might encourage bigger publishers to reconsider their approach to traditional RPG mechanics and presentation.
Final Thoughts
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has firmly established itself as one of 2025’s standout gaming achievements. From its unique premise involving the Paintress and her deadly number-painting ritual to its blend of turn-based strategy and real-time combat, the game has captivated both critics and players.
For a debut title from Sandfall Interactive, the commercial and critical success is extraordinary. Reaching one million copies sold in just three days while also being available on Game Pass speaks to the game’s broad appeal and quality. With metacritic scores in the 92-95 range, it’s already in what one source calls “game of the year conversations, in what has, so far, has been another stacked year for high-quality releases.”
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has contributed to “what has been a stellar quarter for Xbox Game Pass,” with its Spring 2025 lineup including this title alongside Oblivion Remaster and the upcoming DOOM: The Dark Ages. More importantly, it has demonstrated that there remains a strong market for turn-based RPGs with high production values, potentially influencing the direction of the genre for years to come.
Available now on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 continues to build its player base and cement its place as one of the year’s most important releases.
Key Insights
- Turn-based RPGs Still Matter – Despite industry trends moving away from traditional turn-based combat, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s success shows strong demand for these mechanics when executed with modern polish.
- Game Pass Isn’t a Sales Killer – The game’s million+ copies sold despite being on Game Pass demonstrates subscription services can complement rather than cannibalize sales for quality titles.
- First-Time Studios Can Make GOTY Contenders – Sandfall Interactive’s debut title proves that developer experience and vision can outweigh studio size or history when creating remarkable games.
- Unique Aesthetic Stands Out – The Belle Époque-inspired surreal setting helped Clair Obscur distinguish itself in a crowded market, showing the value of distinctive art direction.
- Combat Innovation Pays Off – The hybrid turn-based/real-time combat system earned special praise, suggesting players appreciate thoughtful evolution of classic mechanics rather than wholesale replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 about?
Clair Obscur follows a group led by Gustave on a mission to stop the Paintress, a being who annually paints a number on her monolith, causing everyone of that age to vanish. This year’s number is 33, giving urgency to the expedition’s mission.
Is it available on Xbox Game Pass?
Yes, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launched as a day one Game Pass title, making it available to subscribers at no additional cost.
How does the combat system work?
The game features a hybrid combat system that blends turn-based strategy with real-time elements, allowing players to dodge or parry attacks in real time while still taking turns with enemies.
How much does the game cost if I don’t have Game Pass?
According to the sources, the Standard Edition costs £41.74, while the Deluxe Edition with additional cosmetics is available for £49.99.
What platforms is the game available on?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
How long did it take to reach one million sales?
The game crossed one million copies sold within just three days of launch, not including players accessing it through Xbox Game Pass.
Who developed the game?
Sandfall Interactive, a debut studio based in Montpellier, France, comprised of veteran developers, many formerly from major studios like Ubisoft.
How does it compare to other 2025 releases?
With metacritic scores of 92-95, it ties with Blue Prince (92) and sits just above Split Fiction (91), making it one of the highest-rated games of 2025 so far.