Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is Sekiro Meets Belle Époque Meets JRPG

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a unique blend of JRPG, Belle Époque aesthetics, and Souls-like mechanics, is nearing its release. Discover the inspirations behind this captivating title and meet its first revealed character.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – A Journey Towards Launch

The JRPG Legacy

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG infused with innovative real-time elements for deeper player engagement. Its core gameplay echoes classic JRPGs, particularly the Final Fantasy series, drawing inspiration from their mechanics and overarching themes. At the 2025 Game Developers Conference, GamesRadar+ interviewed Producer François Meurisse, shedding light on the game's influences.

Meurisse revealed that Final Fantasy VII, VIII, IX, and X, all PlayStation classics, significantly shaped Expedition 33. "Those were major childhood games for Guillaume [Broche], our game director," he explained. "He envisioned a modern Final Fantasy experience retaining the charm of turn-based combat, but with a fresh twist. While Final Fantasy and JRPGs form the foundation of our gameplay, we've incorporated many other inspirations."

While the gameplay is deeply rooted in JRPG tradition, Meurisse stressed their commitment to a unique artistic identity. "For the art style, we avoided mimicking Japanese games, steering clear of manga or anime aesthetics. We sought a distinctive direction, drawing inspiration from the early 20th-century Belle Époque era, blending Art Deco elements with high fantasy. This iterative process allowed us to forge a unique visual identity."

Beyond JRPGs: Diverse Influences

Expedition 33's influences extend beyond JRPGs. The game's defense system, Meurisse noted, takes cues from the Souls-like genre, particularly Sekiro, emphasizing rhythmic timing and real-time skill-based interactions.

Furthermore, the battle system incorporates elements from deckbuilding games. Meurisse elaborated, "The use of action points for skills is more akin to deckbuilding games than the traditional magic points or mana systems found in many RPGs."

Introducing Gustave: The First Character Trailer

Expedition 33 is unveiling characters weekly in the lead-up to its release. On March 13th, the official Twitter (X) account showcased Gustave, a resourceful engineer from Lumière, seemingly destined to lead Expedition 33 against the Paintress and her deadly art.

The trailer depicts Gustave wielding a sword and pistol, showcasing agile traversal abilities in the overworld and unleashing devastating attacks in combat. While specifics regarding character roles and mechanics remain under wraps, Gustave's impressive arsenal promises exciting gameplay possibilities.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launches April 24th, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates!