Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Sandfall Interactive turn-based RPG (April 24, 2025) — Belle Époque France-inspired dark fantasy with reactive real-time combat (parry/dodge/QTE), heavy narrative + surreal painterly art. Critical + commercial breakout of 2025, 3.3M+ copies sold in 33 days.
What is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG developed by Sandfall Interactive (Montpellier, France) + published by Kepler Interactive, released April 24, 2025 for PC (Steam + Epic + Game Pass PC), PS5, Xbox Series X/S; Switch 2 version 2026. Set in a surreal Belle Époque France-inspired dark fantasy world where the god-like Paintress paints a number on a monolith each year, and everyone that age dies (Gommage). Each 'Expedition' is sent by the last city Lumière to kill her — Expedition 33 (the player party) attempts as the number counts down (currently 33). Party of 6-8 characters incl. Gustave, Lune, Maelle, Sciel, Verso, Monoco. Combat innovation: turn-based structure combined with active real-time defense (parry / dodge / jump / QTEs). Composer Lorien Testard's orchestral score (with soprano Alice Duport-Percier) has been widely praised. Sold 1M copies in 3 days (fastest RPG debut of decade for a new IP); 3.3M copies in 33 days per Kepler; won 2025 Game Awards for Best RPG + Best Narrative + Best Music + Game of the Year at multiple ceremonies. Considered the leading indie/AA JRPG-style breakout of 2025.
Quick facts
Category
Video Games
Type
Individual
Players
1–1
Duration
~2100 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇫🇷 France
Estimated origin
Announced Xbox Showcase Jun 2024; released Apr 24, 2025 (PC + PS5 + Xbox Series); Switch 2 2026
Olympic
No
Popularity
major
How it works
Objective
Defeat the Paintress + save the world of Lumière across a narrative-driven expedition.
Match structure
Single-player narrative campaign; turn-based combat with active real-time defense.
Rules
Basic rules
Turn-based combat with real-time defense
Attack in turn order; defend with real-time parry/dodge/jump/QTE inputs.
Party of 3 active + 3-5 reserve
Rotate party members with distinct combat styles.
Pictos + Luminas (equipment + skill upgrades)
Progression system via unique equipment cards + skill trees.
Advanced rules
Parry chain multiplier
Successful parry chains extend + amplify counter damage.
Elemental + Status combos
Combining party abilities creates elemental + status chains.
Boss patterns require memorization
Bosses have long attack chains; success is pattern-recognition.
Scoring
Story progression + character level + achievements; no PvP.
Equipment
PC / PS5 / Xbox Series X/S / Game Pass
Multi-platform digital + physical launch.
Standard controller
Parry/dodge timing benefits from controller.
Positions & roles
Gustave (protagonist)
Party leader; balanced fighter.
Maelle
Apprentice fencer; agile.
Lune
Elemental spellcaster.
Sciel
Support + healer.
Verso
Late-game reveal character.
Monoco
Support NPC.
Major competitions
Speedrun.com Expedition 33
ongoing · worldwide · since 2025
Governing bodies
Sandfall Interactive
Founded 2020 · Montpellier, France
Kepler Interactive (publisher)
Founded 2021 · London, UK
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Guillaume Broche (Sandfall CEO + director)
- Lorien Testard (composer)
- Alice Duport-Percier (vocalist)
Records
1M copies in 3 days launch
Sandfall / Kepler — Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sold 1M copies in 3 days post-launch (Apr 2025) — fastest new-IP RPG debut of decade (2025)
3.3M copies in 33 days
Sandfall / Kepler — 3.3M copies sold in the first 33 days (fitting narrative gimmick) (2025)
TGA 2025 Game of the Year candidate
Sandfall — Widely nominated + won multiple 2025 Game Awards (Best RPG, Best Narrative, Best Music) (2025)
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Clair Obscur: Expedition 33— Wikipedia