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

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, an eagerly anticipated turn-based RPG with innovative real-time mechanics, is gearing up for its release. This game draws inspiration from a rich tapestry of sources, particularly the revered genre of JRPGs. Dive in to discover the game's inspirations and get a glimpse of its first character trailer.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Ramping Up Towards Its Release

Building the Heritage of JRPGs

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 promises to immerse players in a world that echoes the charm of classic JRPGs, notably the Final Fantasy series. During the 2025 Game Developers Conference, GamesRadar+ had the opportunity to speak with Expedition 33 Producer François Meurisse about the game's roots.

Meurisse revealed that the game draws heavily from Final Fantasy titles, particularly Final Fantasy 10 and the PlayStation classics like Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9. "Those are big childhood games for Guillaume [Broche], our game director," he explained. "He wanted to capture the essence that he imagined would have persisted in modern Final Fantasy-like games, had they continued with turn-based mechanics. But he also mixed in a lot of different inspirations. Definitely, Final Fantasy and JRPGs are the preeminent gameplay heritage we have."

While the gameplay is deeply rooted in JRPG traditions, Meurisse emphasized the team's desire to forge a unique identity. "On the art style in particular, we didn't want to mimic Japanese games, creating more stylized manga-like or anime-like graphics. Instead, we aimed to craft an art direction based on our own influences. That's how we arrived at the early 20th century Belle Époque inspiration, blending art deco elements with high fantasy. We went through several iterations to find our unique artistic voice, which really helped us stand out."

Other Inspirations

Beyond JRPGs, Expedition 33 also incorporates elements from souls-like games, specifically Sekiro, for its defense mechanics. Meurisse noted, "The defense system is more inspired by Sekiro and From Software games. It introduces a rhythmic element and a more real-time component, making it more skill-based."

Additionally, the game integrates mechanics from deckbuilding games into its battle sequences. Meurisse elaborated, "For example, the concept of using action points for skills in battles is more inspired by deckbuilding games than the traditional magic points or mana systems found in RPGs."

First Character Trailer

As the release date approaches, Expedition 33 is set to unveil its characters weekly. On March 13, the game's official Twitter (X) account 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 once more.

The trailer showcases Gustave wielding a sword and pistol as his primary combat weapons. In the overworld, he is seen navigating and leaping across various terrains. Combat footage reveals Gustave dealing significant damage to enemies and utilizing a variety of skills. However, the developers have yet to disclose detailed information about character roles and related mechanics.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is scheduled for release on April 24, 2025, and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates by clicking on our article below!