"Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Blends Sekiro, Belle Époque, and JRPG Styles"

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an eagerly anticipated game that draws inspiration from various genres, particularly paying homage to JRPGs. Dive in to explore the game's inspirations and the reveal of its first character trailer.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: A Journey Towards Release

Embracing the Legacy of JRPGs

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an upcoming turn-based RPG with innovative real-time mechanics designed to enhance player immersion and interaction. The game's essence echoes the classic JRPGs, especially the Final Fantasy series, from which the developers have drawn significant inspiration. During the 2025 Game Developers Conference, François Meurisse, the producer of Expedition 33, shared insights with GamesRadar+ about the game's roots.

Meurisse highlighted that Final Fantasy 10 and earlier PlayStation titles such as Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9 played a crucial role in shaping Expedition 33. "Those are big childhood games for Guillaume [Broche], our game director," he stated. "He wanted to capture the feeling that he imagined would persist in modern Final Fantasy-like games if they had continued with turn-based mechanics. However, he also incorporated a variety of other influences. Final Fantasy and JRPGs are undeniably the cornerstone of our gameplay heritage."

While the gameplay is deeply rooted in JRPG traditions, Meurisse stressed the team's desire to forge a unique identity. "In terms of art style, we didn't want to simply mimic Japanese games with manga-like or anime-like graphics," he explained. "Instead, we aimed to create an art direction influenced by our own heritage. This led us to the early 20th-century Belle Époque era, blending art deco elements with high fantasy. We went through several iterations to carve out our distinctive visual identity, which truly sets us apart."

Drawing from Diverse Inspirations

Beyond JRPGs, Expedition 33 also takes cues from souls-like games, specifically Sekiro, in its defense mechanics. Meurisse noted, "The defense system is heavily inspired by Sekiro and From Software games, featuring a rhythmic element and a more real-time component. It's more skill-based."

Additionally, the game integrates mechanics from deckbuilding games into its battle system. Meurisse elaborated, "For instance, the concept of using action points for skills in battles draws more from deckbuilding games than from traditional RPG systems like magic points or mana."

Introducing the First Character Trailer

As Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 gears up for its release, the developers plan to unveil characters weekly. On March 13, the official Expedition 33 Twitter (X) account released a trailer introducing Gustave, the resourceful and dedicated engineer from Lumière. Gustave is poised to lead Expedition 33 in their mission to stop the Paintress from painting death once more.

The trailer showcases Gustave wielding a sword and pistol as his primary combat weapons. In the overworld, he is seen navigating and leaping from one location to another. The combat sequences reveal Gustave dealing significant damage to enemies with a diverse set of skills. However, details about character roles and related game mechanics remain undisclosed by the developers.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is scheduled for release on April 24, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. To stay updated with the latest news on the game, be sure to check out our article below!