Turn-based experiences have long carved out a space in the entertainment world, doused in a rich historical flavour harkening back to the tabletop and board games of yesteryear. As their presence continued to occupy most genres over time, a core identity was built around the slower pace and pass-the-baton play style, but the old-school influence means it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, spawning impressions of monotony, repetition, lacking excitement, and the like.
Not if Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 can help it, that is. Hailing from the new French studio Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive, the upcoming title embarks on an ambitious, well, expedition to reinvigorate the long-running tradition with a mash-up of different genre influences. An inkling of the team’s lofty aspirations was gleaned in a headline-grabbing announcement at the Xbox Showcase during last year’s Summer Game Fest, revealing a European-flavoured role-playing fantasy rooted in three pillars of interest: an intriguing premise, striking photorealistic visuals, and high-octane, dynamic turn-based combat.
The last part may sound like an oxymoron, but a three-to-four-hour preview only doubles down on the refreshing novelty that hybrid-genre adventures can afford. While far from the first to incorporate real-time action into conventional turn-based combat, it’s not often that both elements hold equal weight and attention in gameplay, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wields this combination with deft finesse, putting all hints of scepticism to rest.
Picking up after the prologue, the sneak peek follows Gustave (voiced by Daredevil star Charlie Cox in the English dub), who’s separated from his Expedition 33 companions after an encounter with a mysterious white-haired man left the Expedition’s forces decimated. Trudging on alone in a Belle Époque France-inspired world, he reunites with Lune (Kirsty Rider, The Sandman) and Maelle (Jennifer English, Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3), continuing their quest to destroy the Paintress so she can never paint death again.
It’s a small piece of an intriguing puzzle, held together by strong thematic coherence. The Belle Époque era, which translates to “Beautiful Era”, was a period that began after the end of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, where the arts – including literature, music, theatre and visual art – flourished. Here, the optimism that characterised this historical age is moulded into melancholy and despair by the hands of the enigmatic antagonist, seemingly responsible for the death cycle.
Complementing the setting’s real-world context, she wakes up every year to paint a number on a monolith, and individuals of that age will fade away in an event called the Gommage. The Expedition 33 nomenclature, then, takes on a different significance, indicating those at or about the age of 33 are to meet their demise once the next Gommage hits. The premise is grim, and the debut outing makes no secret of it, with dark overtones peeking through a character’s thoughts and behaviour, as well as their interactions with one another. A palpable sense of tension and unease is almost always present, rooted in roiling emotions and fears often conveyed through cinematic cutscenes.
A turn-based role-playing game (RPG) it may be in name, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 offers full control of all three party members out in the open. Where Gustave and Maelle sprint like any other typical character, there’s a gliding quality to Lune’s movements, and players are free to switch between them on the fly, proving handy for solving environmental puzzles that require a different traversal ability. After reaching a certain story beat, the world map opens up and transitions into a top-down camera, although travel speed takes a hit. Camps can also be set up in safe areas a la Baldur’s Gate 3.
Navigation is linear for the most part, but there are off-the-beaten-path nooks and crannies to uncover. Apart from standard finds like cash or equipment and gear, these can sometimes lead to optional bosses, which yield valuable rewards if defeated, and journal entries of past Expedition teams – collectible items that enhance the understanding of game lore. A grapple mechanic also sprinkles in some verticality for good measure, sending out vibrational feedback when a spot that can be zipped towards is nearby. It’s a nifty indicator, as these designated points aren’t the easiest to spot, though PC users are likely to be disadvantaged since the pulsing effect only works on controllers.
The vast degree of player control extends to combat, arguably a feather in its cap. The battle system is a bold, enthralling riff on established genre staples, furnishing turn-based combat with reflex-based gameplay centred on real-time dodging and parrying, alongside quick-time events (QTEs). Engaging an enemy first grants an attacking edge, with every offensive manoeuvre requiring an input of button prompts and dealing bonus damage when the corresponding keys(s) are pressed within the sweet spot. Performing more powerful attacks brings up a chain of QTEs, rounding out the standard fare of basic attacks, spells and abilities, consumable items, and elemental weakness exploitation.
The first trick in the bag is the ability to manually shoot an enemy’s weak spot in free-aim mode before returning to turn-based fighting, granting players an upper hand by dismantling their health pool. Each shot consumes an Ability Point (AP), which Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 introduces in place of traditional mana points or a stamina gauge and is also needed for activating abilities, thus highlighting the importance of tactical management.
There will be opportunities to strike back in the defending phase, too. Pressing the respective button in time with an oncoming attack triggers a parry, dodge, or jump that negates all damage, while perfect deflection unleashes a powerful counter-attack. Parries replenish AP, and jump-dodging is only unlocked after a certain part of the story, but no matter the move, successful executions bring an immense sense of thrill and satisfaction. The latter, in particular, is a sight that never gets old – avoiding a jump attack, denoted by a glowing visual cue, sees Gustave, Lune, and Maelle following up with a flashy tag-team assault.
Sandfall Interactive calls this charming blend of tradition and kinetic intensity “reactive turn-based combat”, and the characters’ unique load-outs lend themselves well to the formula. Individually, the trio has different expertise and play styles, with Gustave’s structured around his Overcharge ability, which increases damage with more stacks, and Lune specialising in spells that subject her targets to a “stain” effect. Meanwhile, Maelle can adopt and cycle through various stat-altering battle stances, from a 200 percent attack boost to halving the damage taken.
The bespoke customisation adds more depth to gameplay, and is accentuated by other complementary features like a skill tree, special weapon properties, and Pictos, trinkets that raise specific stats and unlock a passive ability. While the preview only had three playable party members, the full game will include a total of six, offering more room to toy around with builds and combinations. It should be noted that players can only upgrade their attributes and learn new skills at Expedition Flags, rest points that also allow them to rest and replenish consumables.
If foes prove too powerful or easy, the forthcoming RPG includes the option to change the difficulty level at any point in a playthrough, and the difference is immediately prominent. Jumping from the standard Expeditioner to the easier Story mode revealed a larger window for dodging and parrying, along with drastically weakened enemies.
Where Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 further shines is in its visual pizzazz. Sandfall Interactive’s latest bears the aesthetic stylings of the Persona and Dishonored series, translating into a striking, breathtaking sight for the eyes, backed by Unreal Engine 5 prowess. The Flying Waters, for instance, adorns an underwater environment with aquatic plants, coral variety, and thriving marine life – a jarring juxtaposition against dilapidated structures and sunken mines in other parts of the waters. Similarly, the Manor oozes opulent elegance, conveyed through spacious floor plans, luxurious finishes on the wall, and more.
With a confident display of substance and style, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is shaping up to be the evolution of turn-based combat done right. It’s too early to determine how the narrative potential will unfold, but Sandfall may have a special gem in its hands if the strong momentum carries through.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 releases on 24 April 2025 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Zinho De Costa
