With the transition of the Final Fantasy series from turn-based battles to real-time, a gap has arisen that a new role-playing game for PS5 now aims to fill.
Which game is being referred to? It is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the first game from the development studio Sandfall Interactive. This is a role-playing game featuring turn-based battles, which have been given a modern twist.
In a new trailer, the developers have announced a release date for the game. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will be released on April 24, 2025, for the following platforms:
- Steam
- Epic Games Store
- PS5
- Xbox Series X|S (included in Game Pass)
You can see the trailer here:
French Fantasy with Turn-Based Battles
What is the game about? The world of Expedition 33 is haunted by a mysterious and dangerous painter. Year after year, she paints an ever-decreasing number on her monoliths, causing everyone of that age to turn to dust. Your task is to seek out the painter and prevent her from ever painting a number on her cursed monoliths again.
The setting is inspired by the French “Belle Époque,” while the developers drew inspiration for the gameplay from classic JRPGs like the old Final Fantasy titles and the Persona series. On your journey, you are also accompanied by a cast of voice actors featuring real stars, including Jennifer English (Shadowheart from Baldur’s Gate 3).
In terms of gameplay, Expedition 33 takes a different approach than the Final Fantasy series: While the newer entries rely on action battles in real-time, developer Sandfall Interactive aims to revive the feeling of old JRPGs – something that might currently be missing in Final Fantasy.
Expedition 33 features a turn-based combat system expanded with real-time actions. You perform parries, counters, and evasions in real-time; mastering certain attack patterns allows for powerful combos, and firearms let you target your enemies’ weaknesses.
Is the Role-Playing Game Too Obscure?
How is the game currently being received? Looking solely at the view counts of the trailers, interest in the game doesn’t seem very high. The new trailer has nearly 100,000 views on the YouTube channel of PlayStation (as of January 24, 3:17 PM), and other channels don’t show better results.
However, a glance at the comments under the trailer shows that anticipation for the game is already high: The stunning graphics, the strong voice acting, and the combat system are enough reason for many to try the game on day one.
One can only hope that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 doesn’t remain too – well, obscure. Similar concerns were raised regarding another promising role-playing game. You can learn more about this game here: The role-playing game Avowed could finally fill the gap left by Skyrim
