"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 titles, with a special homage to JRPGs. Delve deeper to discover the game's inspirations and get a first look at its character trailer.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Ramping Up Towards Its Release

Building the Heritage of JRPGs

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an upcoming turn-based RPG that integrates unique real-time mechanics, promising to enhance player immersion and interaction. At its heart, the game echoes the classic JRPGs, particularly the Final Fantasy series, from which the developers have drawn significant inspiration. During the 2025 Game Developers Conference, GamesRadar+ had the opportunity to speak with Expedition 33 Producer François Meurisse about the game's influences.

Meurisse revealed that Final Fantasy 10 and earlier PlayStation titles such as Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9 were pivotal in shaping Expedition 33. "Those are big childhood games for Guillaume [Broche], our game director," he noted. "He envisioned capturing the essence that would have persisted in modern Final Fantasy games had they continued with turn-based mechanics. However, he also incorporated a wide range of other inspirations. Undoubtedly, Final Fantasy and JRPGs form the core of our gameplay heritage."

While the gameplay is steeped in JRPG traditions, Meurisse emphasized their desire to craft a distinctive experience with a unique art style. "For the art style, we consciously chose not to emulate Japanese games with manga-like or anime-like graphics," he explained. "Instead, we aimed to develop an art direction influenced by our own sources. This led us to the early 20th-century Belle Époque, blending art deco elements with high fantasy. We went through several iterations to find our unique visual identity, and it has greatly helped us to stand out."

Other Inspirations

Beyond JRPGs, Expedition 33 also takes cues from souls-like games, specifically Sekiro, in its defense mechanics. "Our defense system is heavily influenced by Sekiro and From Software games," Meurisse stated. "It introduces a rhythmic element with a more real-time component, making it more skill-based."

Additionally, the game incorporates mechanics from deckbuilding games into its battle sequences. "The concept of using action points for skills in battles is inspired more by deckbuilding games than by traditional RPG systems like magic points or mana," Meurisse elaborated.

First Character Trailer

As Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 gears up for its release, the game will introduce characters on a weekly basis. On March 13, Expedition 33's official Twitter (X) account unveiled a trailer featuring Gustave, the resourceful and dedicated engineer from Lumière. Gustave is set to lead Expedition 33 in their quest to defeat the Paintress and prevent her from painting death once more.

In the trailer, Gustave is seen wielding a sword and pistol as his primary combat weapons. He navigates the overworld with agility, jumping from one point to another. The combat footage showcases Gustave dealing substantial damage to enemies and utilizing a variety of skills. However, details about character roles and related mechanics remain undisclosed by the developers.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is scheduled for release on April 24, 2025, and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for the latest updates by clicking on our article below!