The upcoming title from emerging French studio Sandfall Interactive has started receiving early reviews from gaming media. Critics are praising the game for its rich storytelling, mature themes, and exhilarating combat, with some labeling it as a contemporary Final Fantasy.
The RPG Gamer reviewer was struck by how the team's debut project delivered an experience in just a few hours that matched games from studios with decades of history. If this momentum continues, Expedition 33 has a strong shot at winning at The Game Awards 2025.
An IGN journalist didn't want to stop when the demo session concluded. They were eager to uncover more of the game's universe and dive into additional combat encounters. They, too, were impressed by what such a young development team accomplished.
The Kotaku writer even predicts that Clair Obscur will earn the status of a turn-based classic—a new Final Fantasy—and applauds the unique integration of QTE mechanics into traditional turn-based battles.
Multiple reviewers also emphasized the striking visual design and the narrative's sophisticated tone.
Clair Obscur is scheduled to launch on April 24, 2025, for current-gen consoles (PS5 and Xbox Series) and PC (Steam).
