Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - A Blend of Sekiro, Belle Époque, and JRPGs
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an eagerly anticipated turn-based RPG that introduces unique real-time mechanics to enhance player immersion and interaction. Drawing deep inspiration from the heritage of JRPGs, particularly the iconic Final Fantasy series, this game promises a nostalgic yet fresh experience. At the 2025 Game Developers Conference, GamesRadar+ had the opportunity to speak with François Meurisse, the producer of Expedition 33, who shared insights into the game's inspirations and development.
Embracing the Legacy of JRPGs
Meurisse highlighted that the game's director, Guillaume Broche, was heavily influenced by his childhood favorites, including Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9, and 10. "Those are big childhood games for Guillaume, our game director," Meurisse explained. "He wanted to capture the feeling he imagined would have remained in modern Final Fantasy-like games if they had kept doing turn-based stuff." However, the game doesn't just stick to one source of inspiration. It aims to blend various elements to create a unique experience. While JRPGs form the core of the gameplay, Meurisse emphasized the team's desire to forge their own path in terms of art style.
"On the art style in particular, we didn't want to mimic Japanese games, making more stylized manga-like or anime-like graphics," Meurisse said. "We wanted to create an art direction based on our own influences. That's how we came up with this early 20th century Belle Époque inspiration, incorporating art deco elements mixed with high fantasy. We iterated several times to find our own uniqueness in the art, which really helped us build our distinct difference."
A Tapestry of Inspirations
Beyond JRPGs, Expedition 33 also takes cues from souls-like games, particularly Sekiro, for its defense mechanics. "The defense system is more inspired by Sekiro and From Software games," Meurisse noted. "It has this kind of rhythm element and a more real-time component, making it more skill-based."
Additionally, the game incorporates mechanics from deckbuilding games into its battle sequences. Meurisse elaborated, "For example, the idea of having action points for skills in the battles is more inspired by deckbuilding games than the usual magic points or mana in RPGs."
Introducing Gustave: The First Character Trailer
As the release date approaches, Expedition 33 plans to unveil its characters weekly. The official Twitter (X) account released a trailer on March 13, 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.
In the trailer, Gustave is seen wielding a sword and pistol as his primary combat weapons. He navigates the overworld with agility, jumping from one point to another. Combat footage showcases Gustave dealing significant damage to enemies and utilizing a variety of skills. While the developers have yet to confirm specifics regarding character roles and mechanics, the trailer offers a glimpse into the exciting gameplay to come.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to launch on April 24, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. To stay informed about the latest developments, be sure to follow our updates below!
