Dive into the world of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a game that beautifully blends elements from JRPGs, souls-like mechanics, and the elegance of the Belle Époque era. This upcoming title is set to offer an immersive experience with its unique mix of turn-based and real-time gameplay. Here, we explore the inspirations behind the game and unveil the first character trailer.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Ramping Up Towards Its Release
Building the Heritage of JRPGs
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an eagerly anticipated turn-based RPG that introduces real-time mechanics to enhance player immersion and interaction. The game pays homage to the classic JRPG genre, drawing significant inspiration from the iconic Final Fantasy series. During the 2025 Game Developers Conference, GamesRadar+ had the opportunity to speak with François Meurisse, the producer of Expedition 33, who shared insights into the game's roots.
Meurisse highlighted that Final Fantasy 10 and earlier PlayStation titles like Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9 were pivotal influences for the game's director, Guillaume Broche. "Those are big childhood games for Guillaume, our game director," Meurisse explained. "He wanted to evoke the feeling he imagined would persist in modern Final Fantasy-like games, had they continued with turn-based systems. But he also mixed in a lot of different inspirations. Definitely, Final Fantasy and JRPGs are the preeminent gameplay heritage we have."
While the gameplay draws heavily from JRPGs, Meurisse stressed the team's desire to craft a distinct experience with their unique art style. "For the art style in particular, we didn't want to mimic Japanese games, opting for more stylized manga-like or anime-like graphics," he said. "We aimed to create an art direction rooted in our own influences. That's how we settled on the early 20th century Belle Époque inspiration, blending art deco elements with high fantasy. We went through several iterations to carve out our unique artistic identity, which really helped us distinguish ourselves."
Other Inspirations
Beyond JRPGs, Expedition 33 also incorporates elements from souls-like games, notably Sekiro, especially in its defense mechanics. "The defense system is more inspired by Sekiro and From Software games," Meurisse noted. "It includes a rhythmic element and a more real-time component, making it more skill-based."
Additionally, the game introduces mechanics inspired by deckbuilding games within its battle sequences. "For example, the concept of using action points for skills in battles is more influenced by deckbuilding games than the traditional magic points or mana systems in RPGs," Meurisse elaborated.
First Character Trailer
As Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 gears up for its release, the developers are set to introduce new characters weekly. On March 13, the official Twitter (X) account of Expedition 33 released a trailer featuring 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 ever again.
The trailer showcases Gustave wielding a sword and pistol as his primary combat weapons. In the overworld, he is seen navigating and leaping between points. Combat sequences reveal Gustave dealing significant damage to enemies, showcasing a variety of skills in his arsenal. However, specifics regarding character roles and mechanics remain unconfirmed by the developers.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is slated for release on April 24, 2025, and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates by clicking on our article below!
