The Montpellier-based studio’s debut effort arrives with extraordinary expectations. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, developed by a 30-person team of ex-Ubisoft veterans, has already claimed 12 Game Awards nominations and sold over five million copies. Set in a dark fantasy art nouveau-inspired world, it follows Expedition 33’s desperate attempt to end the Paintress’s annual erasure of humanity. After extensive time with the PlayStation 5 Pro hardware, it’s clear Sandfall has crafted something special, a turn-based RPG that honours genre traditions whilst reinventing their execution.
Game Snapshot
Developer: Sandfall Interactive
Publisher: Kepler Interactive
Release Date: 24 April 2025
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows (Day One Game Pass)
Price: £47.99/$59.99
Rating: PPEGI 18 | ESRB M (Mature 17+)
Genre: Turn-based role-playing game (JRPG-style, party-based)
Length: ~30-35 hours (main story) and ~65-70 hours (story plus extensive side content)
Install Size: ~41 GB on PS5, ~41-43 GB on Xbox/PC
Presentation and World Design
Art Direction and Aesthetic Philosophy
Clair Obscur commits entirely to its artistic vision from the first frame. Its name translates to ‘light-dark’, and that interplay defines every visual decision. Built in Unreal Engine 5 using Nanite geometry and Lumen lighting, it achieves an art nouveau-inspired visual palette without sacrificing technical prowess. At its most striking, the choreography of combat, painterly lighting, and lingering camera work comes together like absolute cinema translated into a living oil painting.
Environmental Diversity
The game’s six distinct regions evoke a broken continent, from Lumière’s dreamlike ruins to Monoco’s frozen station and the geothermal valleys beyond. Each biome carries its own tone and palette, unified by deliberate lighting and texture work.
Technical Presentation
On PS5 Pro, the game operates around 1440p at 30fps or 1080p at 60fps. Lumen global illumination and selective ray-traced shadows enhance depth, while performance mode remains the best option for its real-time combat responsiveness.
Gameplay and Combat
Core Combat Framework
On paper, the combat system is turn-based, but Sandfall weaves real-time elements throughout. Melee and skill attacks use timed button presses for bonuses, while ranged attacks employ free-aim mechanics for weak-point targeting.
Tactical Depth and Party Composition
Players control up to three of six party members, each with unique strengths: Gustave’s mechanical arm, Maelle’s healing, Lune’s magic, and Sciel’s melee precision. Customisation through Pictos and Luminas allows deep tactical variation.
Difficulty and Accessibility
Bosses test your mastery without punishing unfairly. Challenging post-game encounters add depth. Difficulty is fully adjustable, and accessibility options let players automate QTEs, though doing so diminishes much of the system’s thrill.
Story and Characters 
Premise and Themes
Every year for 67 years, the Paintress has painted a number on the Monolith, erasing all of that age in an event known as the Gommage. Expedition 33 marks humanity’s latest, possibly final attempt to end this cycle.
The Expedition 33 Team
Gustave (Charlie Cox) leads with quiet determination, Maelle (Jennifer English) embodies hope and vulnerability, and Lune obsesses over understanding the curse. Each expedition member brings humanity to a world fading into myth.
Narrative Structure and Performance
A dual-timeline structure interlaces present exploration with flashbacks to prior expeditions. The voice cast, including Cox, English and Andy Serkis elevates an already mature script exploring grief, legacy, and resistance.
Value and Longevity
Content and Playtime
The main story spans 25–35 hours, with optional journals and superbosses extending playtime to roughly 50. A full-featured New Game Plus adds replay incentives and difficulty modifiers.
Post-Launch Additions and DLC
A 2026 free update will include new areas, late-game bosses, and cosmetic options to celebrate its five-million milestone. Trophy hunters can pursue 56 achievements, including the Platinum ‘Expeditioner’.
Comparative Value
Clair Obscur blends JRPG lineage with real-time reactivity, bridging Final Fantasy’s strategy with Sekiro’s tension. It stands out for treating each turn as an act of performance, not routine.
Technical Notes
Performance and Stability
On the standard PlayStation 5, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 offers the same Quality and Performance modes as PS5 Pro, just at lower internal resolutions and with less stable performance. In Quality mode, base PS5 typically renders between 900p and 1080p internally before upscaling to 4K at 30 frames per second. Performance mode drops that to roughly 720p–1080p, upscaled to around 1800p, to target 60 frames per second. In busy battles and effect-heavy sequences, this mode can still see frame-rate dips that the PS5 Pro largely avoids, making Sony’s upgraded hardware the smoother, more consistent console experience.
DualSense and Accessibility
DualSense integration shines: adaptive triggers tighten for charged strikes, haptics pulse distinctively by weapon, and the touchpad drives Sumi-E minigames. Accessibility options include subtitles in 12 languages and colourblind filters.
Final Word
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 exceeds its lofty ambition. Sandfall Interactive has produced a confident, mechanically daring RPG that redefines the turn-based experience. At its best, the fusion of painterly art direction, theatrical performances, and carefully staged encounters feels like absolute cinema translated into a battle system of parries, timings, and spells. With its hybrid combat, richly realised world, and standout vocal work, this French debut earns its place among 2025’s best. On console, the PlayStation 5 Pro remains the definitive way to experience it.
FAQ
What makes Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s combat unique?
It fuses turn-based systems with real-time precision, timed hits, parries, and dodges keep every turn active.
How does the PlayStation 5 Pro hardware compare to base PS5?
It runs at higher resolution with selective ray-traced shadows and steadier frame rates, making it the optimal console version.
Is the story self-contained?
Yes, this is Sandfall’s debut title. Expedition 33 refers to the in-game expedition count, not a sequel.
How long does it take to complete?
Around 25–35 hours for the main story, with 40–50 for completionists. New Game Plus extends longevity.
Can non-RPG fans enjoy it?
Possibly, its real-time elements make combat more accessible, though its turn-based roots remain central.
