Clair Obscur: Expedition 33has been released, and the early reception to the game seems to be extremely positive. Early reviews came in from various outlets, leading to the aggregate review score reaching into the90s on OpenCritic, with quite a bit of praise being pushed on social media. As of this writing, 97% of critics recommend the game to a majority of players. Let’s go over a bit of what everyone is saying so far about the game.
What Reviewers Like About Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
In the early going,Clair Obscur: Expedition 33looks to be a massive critical success, with reviewers pointing towards its cinematic storytelling as a triumph. Multiple reviewers say the emotional storytelling is only amplified by how well the characters are performed both vocally and in their animations. In their 5/5 review for the game,TheGamer says, “Something that stood out to me from the start was just how expressive the characters were, with their eyes, mouths, and even cheeks moving in the most realistic of ways. One could forget they were playing a video game when Clair Obscur is at its most enthralling.”
Fextralife’s 10/10 reviewwent further with their praise of the cast of characters, saying, “I felt like I connected and bonded with just about every single one of them, if not all of them in some way, and they’re written in a way that they’re complex, they have layers to them, and it felt like you could really empathize with a lot of their situations. I found myself wanting to bring them all with me all the time.”
Obviously, players will likely have their favorites from the group, with multiple reviewers pointing to Jennifer English’s Maelle as a standout, thoughDaredevil’sCharlie Cox gave a great performance as Gustav as well.
On the combat side,Clair Obscur: Expedition 33has a turn-based system that also seemed to resonate with most people.Game Informer’s 9/10 reviewsays that you don’t spend too much time in combat, andGameSpot’s 9/10 reviewpraised how the turn-based style still requires the player to feel in the action as they work to maximize their offensive and defensive capabilities in the heat of battle.
What Criticisms Do Reviewers Have of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?
Multiple reviews say that while the character performance is top-notch, there were lip-synching issues intermittently, sometimes taking them out of the experience.RPGFan’s 99/100 reviewreferenced a vital item that could only be acquired by defeating a mini-boss while a certain quest was active. However, they had defeated the mini-boss of their own accord before getting that quest, and since that enemy never respawns, they were forced to start the entire game over.
While there were some that praised the game’s turn-based combat, there were some that were more lukewarm on it.PC Gamer’s 7/10 reviewcriticized the fighting for not testing them to change their strategy, but rather just memorize the enemy’s animations and parry at the right time.Eurogamer’s 4/5 reviewsaid that while they enjoyed the combat overall, the customization and menu navigation on controller was a bit unwieldy, and better suited for a mouse.
Is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 a Game of the Year Contender?
We found quite a few reviews forClair Obscur: Expedition 33that said they think the game will be in the running for game of the year at the end of 2025. We would caution that we’re still a bit early in the year to make that claim, especially with games likeGrand Theft Auto VIandHollow Knight: Silksongstill scheduled to release this year, along with other critical darlings likeBlue PrinceandSplit Fictionalready out.
Regardless, it seems that just about everyone is finding things to praise aboutClair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
WHERE TO PLAY
A French-made JRPG about fighting the imminent fate of characters in a world where everyone dies at age 33.
