Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: A Blend of JRPGs, Sekiro, and Belle Époque

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an eagerly anticipated turn-based RPG that blends traditional JRPG elements with innovative real-time mechanics, offering players an immersive and interactive gaming experience. The game draws significant inspiration from the rich heritage of JRPGs, with a nod to iconic titles like Final Fantasy.

Embracing the JRPG Legacy

During the 2025 Game Developers Conference, GamesRadar+ had the opportunity to speak with Expedition 33's Producer, François Meurisse, who shed light on the game's inspirations. Meurisse highlighted the influence of classic Final Fantasy titles, particularly Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9, and 10. "These are big childhood games for Guillaume [Broche], our game director," Meurisse explained. "He wanted to capture the feeling that would have remained in modern Final Fantasy-like games if they had continued with turn-based mechanics. But he also incorporated a variety of other inspirations. Final Fantasy and JRPGs are undoubtedly the core of our gameplay heritage."

While the gameplay draws heavily from JRPGs, Meurisse emphasized the team's desire to create a unique experience. "For the art style, we didn't want to simply mimic Japanese games with manga-like or anime-like graphics," he said. "We wanted to establish our own art direction, inspired by the early 20th century Belle Époque and art deco elements, fused with high fantasy. We iterated several times to find our unique artistic identity, which has helped us stand out."

Diverse Inspirations

Beyond JRPGs, Expedition 33 also incorporates elements from souls-like games, notably Sekiro, 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 real-time component, making it more skill-based."

The game also introduces mechanics inspired by deckbuilding games into 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 found in RPGs," Meurisse elaborated.

Introducing Gustave: The First Character Trailer

As Expedition 33 gears up for its release, the developers are set to unveil characters weekly. On March 13, the official Twitter (X) account of Expedition 33 released a trailer introducing 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 again.

The trailer showcases Gustave wielding a sword and pistol as his primary combat weapons. In the overworld, he is seen navigating and jumping across various points. Combat footage reveals Gustave dealing significant damage to enemies and utilizing a range of skills. However, details about character roles and related mechanics have yet to be fully disclosed by the developers.

Release and Stay Updated

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is scheduled to launch on April 24, 2025, and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. To keep up with the latest news and updates on the game, be sure to check out our dedicated article below!