REVIEW: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is already one of the most surprising games of 2025 39516y

Going against the tradition of turn-based RPGs and featuring some of the best combat in the genre, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the most surprising games of 2025, not only for its excellent work on setting and gameplay, but also for its grand narrative. Check out our analysis of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which brings a breath of fresh air to the genre and has everything it needs to shine at the awards. 1l6b46

History 6r4t5f

The first thing players should know before embarking on a journey through Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 The RPG does not have a happy story, and it makes that clear from the beginning. Set in a world where each birthday brings people closer to their death, the RPG manages to build a melancholic and beautiful universe to be enjoyed, full of well-developed characters and incredible work on the part of the developers.

The feeling that time is always running out permeates every scene, every dialogue and every decision, creating a constant atmosphere of urgency and melancholy. The narrative is not in a hurry to reveal its secrets, but it does, from the beginning, reveal the somber tone that will continue until the end.

One of the first things players learn about this universe is that, in Light, an isolated town inspired by the French Belle Époque, people live under the annual threat of Scrub, a ritual in which the oldest inhabitants simply disappear after the Artificer reveals a number that is smaller each year.

This premise alone creates a constant sense of urgency and serves as the basis for the player's involvement with the storyline, as we follow the tragic journey of the 33rd expedition to the continent. The weight of Scrub goes beyond narrative mechanics: it represents the fear of the age of time, of the inevitability of the end, and it manifests itself in looks, in silent farewells and in the marks that each absence leaves.

And, while it happens, Scrub with the farewell of some characters with little screen time, but who were interesting enough for us to be interested in them, or when the expedition lands on the continent and a tragedy happens, the story reveals itself to be even more tragic. This turn serves as the first emotional shocks of the campaign and shows how dark the experience will be. So, even though the RPG has other strong points, it is the narrative that weighs in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 be something memorable.

Thus, the story is divided into well-crafted acts, each focusing on a specific character, and the end of each chapter always has some memorable moments, with intense scenes and revelations that change everything the players understand about that universe. In fact, there are some breaks in expectation that keep the tension high and prevent any feeling of narrative comfort for the characters. The act structure also helps to ensure that the pace of the campaign never becomes monotonous, as each segment presents new scenarios, dilemmas and motivations.

Alongside these twists and turns, the script also deals with other themes. The characters that are part of the 33 Expedition are well written, each with their own development, which makes players become attached to them as the story progresses. But a lot of this is also due to the voice actors who are part of the cast of Chiaroscuro. Some famous voices among fans, such as Charlie Cox, who plays Daredevil, and Jennifer English, who plays Umbralma in Baldur's Gate 3, deliver exemplary work. The performances help to give even more depth to the emotions, making the conflicts and personal dilemmas even more striking.

So the emotions don't just come from shocking events, but from the connection built with the characters and the small gestures of hope amidst the desolation. The writing is poetic and somber, and with each new section of the campaign, the player is pulled deeper into this melancholic universe.

With a setting inspired by the Belle Époque and a look reminiscent of paintings, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 aesthetically enchanting while saddening with its proposal. The soundtrack reinforces this feeling with delicate and epic compositions, which accompany each moment of loss, achievement or revelation.

Gameplay 106d5e

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an RPG that immediately catches your attention due to the way it mixes turn-based combat with real-time action. This combination is not new in the gaming world, with titles such as Mario RPGs already using similar mechanics. However, 33 Expedition manages to take this idea to another level, making each battle more dynamic, requiring constant attention and good reflexes from the players. The system is not limited to ive turns; it invites the player to act, observe patterns and react accurately to each enemy attack.

During combat, you can dodge, jump or parry enemy attacks at the right moment, which gives you a sense of control and active participation in the fight. These actions, if executed with the right timing, avoid damage and can open up space for more powerful counterattacks, which encourages mastery of the mechanics throughout the campaign.

Even those who aren't used to playing turn-based RPGs may be surprised by the experience offered here, as the battles never feel stagnant or repetitive. The difficulty may be a bit high at first, but it's fair within the mechanics it offers, and the variety of enemies and abilities keeps everything interesting until the end. Different enemies require different tactics, and this keeps the gameplay from falling into monotony.

Another positive aspect of the gameplay is the character customization. Each team member has their own skill trees, and it is possible to create unique combinations of powers and equipment. With systems such as “Picts"and "Luminas“, the player can adapt their strategy according to the challenge, which makes the choices more important and the progress more rewarding. These decisions affect not only the combat, but also how the characters interact with certain obstacles in the scenario, creating an interesting link between narrative, exploration and battle system.

Exploration is also a highlight. The settings are beautiful, creative and hide secrets that are worth discovering. Some areas even defy logic, such as floating forests or suspended cities, leaving the player always curious to see what comes next. The level design stimulates curiosity, with alternative paths, rare items and unique enemies. In addition, there is a fluidity in the environments that favors organic navigation, with visual and audio stimuli that help the player to guide themselves even without traditional maps.

An important gameplay detail is the absence of a traditional map. This can be confusing for some players at first, especially in more open areas or with multiple paths. However, this choice is part of the game's design, as the expedition is exploring unknown regions, never mapped by anyone else. This limitation reinforces the feeling of adventure and uncertainty as they advance through mysterious territories. Over time, the player begins to memorize parts of the scenarios and rely more on observation and recognition of visual landmarks.

So, alongside the story, the combat of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the highlights of the gameplay, and it offers so much customization and variety that even those players who find the traditional turn-based RPG formula a bit boring may be interested in the game's mechanics, largely due to the reflexes required.

Performance and graphics 511e1y

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 impresses from the very first moments with its surreal settings and environments full of personality. The artistic direction is one of the game's highlights, mixing light and shadow in a unique way, creating landscapes that look like living paintings. The inspiration from the French Belle Époque brings an elegant aesthetic, with colorful, creative settings full of details that make each new area visually striking. Each environment conveys different sensations, not only due to the color palette or architecture, but also due to the atmosphere, reinforced by sound elements and subtle weather effects.

The variety of locations visited throughout the campaign keeps the visuals interesting. Floating castles, mystical forests and suspended cities are some examples that reinforce the team's care with the setting. These regions are not only beautiful, but they also serve the narrative, with architecture and design that reflect the tone and themes of each chapter of the story. The use of Unreal Engine 5 allows the richness of the environments to come to life with sophisticated lighting effects and a level of detail that stands out among other games of the genre. Reflections, particles and the use of volumetric light contribute to the visual impact.

On PC, performance is solid on newer systems. At 1080p with maximum settings, the frame rate remains stable with cards like the RTX 4070. For higher resolutions, such as 1440p or 4K, more powerful hardware is required, but the game offers good graphics configuration options to adjust the experience without compromising visual quality. The menus are accessible and allow for fine adjustments, such as shadow control, reflections, post-processing and textures.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 It also s technologies like DLSS, which helps maintain high performance levels even in more demanding scenes. The overall performance matches the beauty of the game well, making the visual experience not only impressive, but also fluid. In moments with many effects on the screen, such as magic or environment transitions, the game remains stable, which contributes to constant immersion.

Hardware Requirements 6q111f

Requirements	Minimum (1080p / 30fps / Graphics on low)	Recommended
Operational system	Windows 10 (64-bit)	Windows 11 (64-bit)
Processor (U)	Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X	Intel Core i7-11700K or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
RAM memory	8 GB	16 GB
Video Card (GPU)	GTX 1070 or Radeon RX Vega 56 or Arc A580	RTX 3070 or Radeon RX 6800 XT
DirectX	12 Version	12 Version
Storage	55 GB	55 GB

Availability and price 235045

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was released on April 24, 2025 and is available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X | S e PC. The game can be purchased for R$249,50 na PlayStation Store for PS5, R$184,95 na Microsoft Store for Xbox Series X | S e R$199,00 na Steam for PC. The title is also available to subscribers of Xbox Game , allowing players to PC and Xbox try the game at no additional cost beyond the monthly service fee.

Conclusion 60664y

But after all, Is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 worth it? In a scenario where it is not uncommon to see projects with very high budgets that end up not meeting the expectations of their own studios or the public, resulting in some flop releases, some titles emerge as a good counterpart.

Games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 e Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 are good examples of how a well-executed creative vision can overcome budgetary limitations, ensuring that even with modest investments, these titles still deliver deep, well-constructed, fun and, above all, engaging experiences. Instead of relying on safe formulas or exaggerating promises, these games focus on delivering something cohesive, original and faithful to the initial proposal.

The success of these games highlights an essential truth about video games: you don’t need a huge budget to make a game fulfill its main purpose, which is to be fun and memorable. When there is dedication, good ideas and a committed team, it is possible to create works that surprise in both quality and impact. This approach also shows that the public is open to new experiences, as long as they are well executed. So, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 It is another clear example that there is still hope in the industry, but that ion and clear direction are needed to achieve these goals.

And you, what did you think of our analysis? Clair Obscur: Expedition 33Are you going to play the game? Tell us in the comments!

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Text revised by Alexandre Marques in 13 / 05 / 2025.