Explore the inspirations behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a game that blends the charm of JRPGs with unique mechanics, and dive into the first character trailer reveal.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Ramping Up Towards Its Release
Building the Heritage of JRPGs
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an eagerly anticipated turn-based RPG infused with real-time mechanics that promise to enhance player immersion and interaction. Drawing deeply from the well of classic JRPGs, the game echoes the spirit of the Final Fantasy series, particularly Final Fantasy 10 and earlier PlayStation titles like Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9. During the 2025 Game Developers Conference, GamesRadar+ had the opportunity to speak with Expedition 33 Producer François Meurisse about the game's inspirations.
Meurisse revealed that the game's director, Guillaume Broche, was heavily influenced by these childhood favorites. "He wanted to capture the essence that he imagined would persist in modern Final Fantasy games if they had continued with turn-based mechanics," Meurisse explained. "But he also mixed in a lot of different inspirations. Definitely, Final Fantasy and JRPGs are the predominant gameplay heritage we have."
While the gameplay pays homage to JRPGs, Meurisse stressed their desire to create a distinctive game with its own artistic flair. "We didn't want to mimic Japanese games with stylized manga-like or anime-like graphics," he said. "Instead, we aimed for an art direction inspired by our own influences. That's how we arrived at an early 20th-century Belle Époque style infused with art deco and high fantasy elements. We iterated on this to carve out our unique identity in the art, which helped us differentiate our game."
Other Inspirations
Beyond JRPGs, Expedition 33 also draws from souls-like games, notably Sekiro, for its defense mechanics. "The defense system is more inspired by Sekiro and From Software games," Meurisse noted. "It incorporates 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 inspired more by deckbuilding games than the typical magic points or mana 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, who is poised to lead Expedition 33 in their mission to stop the Paintress from painting death.
The trailer showcases Gustave wielding a sword and pistol as his primary combat tools. In the overworld, he navigates and leaps from one point to another, demonstrating agility and versatility. Combat scenes reveal Gustave dealing significant damage and employing a variety of skills. However, specific details about character roles and mechanics remain unconfirmed by the developers.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is scheduled for release on April 24, 2025, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay updated with the latest news by following our coverage below!
