New Details About Turn-Based RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Revealed

One of the highlights from the Xbox Game Showcase was the reveal of upcoming turn-based RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The game turned heads with its beautiful presentation and genre choice, as it looked to resurrect the AAA turn-based JRPG.

Now new details have emerged about the upcoming game from French development team Sandfall Interactive in a post on the official PlayStation Blog. In it, the devs went into detail about their inspiration, the setting, and what to expect.

The game is reportedly set in a fantasy-meets-Belle Epoque world. The Belle Epoque was a historical period roughly in-line with the Victorian era, that saw prosperity in France during a period of peace and enlightenment.

Inspiration-wise, the Sandfall name dropped Final Fantasy, the Tales series, Xbox 360 hidden-gem Lost Odyssey, and Persona as inspirations for their game. The turn-based tactics from these classic JRPGs was evident in the game’s reveal trailer, but we’d also point to NieR and the Shin Megami Tensei as possible inspirations, partially due to the music and aesthetic.

But the devs also pointed to FromSoft games and Devil May Cry as inspirations, due to the games focus on parrying. You can also reportedly aim your ranged weapons to hit weak points.

A turn-based RPG at its core, the game will feature enormous boss battles that will push players to the limit, and a reflective and striking story. In it, the Paintress, a mysterious a powerful figure, erases everyone of a certain age each year. At the game’s outset, no one over 34 is left alive, and the remaining people must set out on Expedition 33 to stop the paintress forever. It’s an over the top story that’s perfect for the JRPG-style the game is going for. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to release in 2025.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 absolutely lit a flame in us when the reveal trailer dropped. The music, the visuals, the cheesy but sincere plot points all combine to remind of a classic Final Fantasy game, or a lost JRPG classic. It’s hard to say what might be the most anticipated game of 2025, but Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is already a front runner for us.