I beat Expedition 33 a week and a half ago, and since then, I’ve been thinking about the game every single day, even almost every single hour. I’ve been agonizing over how I feel about story choices and the ending. That, to me, is the mark of something truly revolutionary.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the most remarkable achievements I’ve seen in video games in the last decade — a stunning debut from a new studio that both harnesses the spirit of classic JRPGs and pushes forward in a bold new direction that is utterly steeped in French culture and art, specifically what’s known as the Belle Époque that started in 1871. But even more than that, Expedition 33 feels like an indictment of the way RPGs have developed — how the genre has relegated turn-based games and classic elements to nostalgic throwbacks. It proves that those “classic” elements can still be fresh when used effectively, that there’s a place for high-quality turn-based games with innovative mechanics, stunning performances, and unflinchingly bold storytelling. Expedition 33 is a modern-day masterpiece.
