"Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Blends Sekiro, Belle Époque, and JRPG Elements"

Discover the inspiration behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, an upcoming turn-based RPG that blends classic JRPG elements with unique real-time mechanics. Dive into the game's heritage and get a first look at its character trailer.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Ramping Up Towards Its Release

Building the Heritage of JRPGs

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an eagerly awaited turn-based RPG that incorporates innovative real-time mechanics to enhance player immersion and interaction. Drawing heavily from the rich tradition of JRPGs, the game echoes the essence of classics like Final Fantasy. At the 2025 Game Developers Conference, GamesRadar+ had the opportunity to discuss the game's inspirations with Expedition 33 Producer François Meurisse.

Meurisse revealed that the game's director, Guillaume Broche, was influenced by iconic Final Fantasy titles from the PlayStation era, such as Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9, and 10. "Those are big childhood games for Guillaume, our game director," Meurisse noted. "He wanted to capture the essence of what modern Final Fantasy games might have felt like if they continued with turn-based mechanics. However, he also incorporated a variety of other inspirations. While Final Fantasy and JRPGs are at the heart of our gameplay, we aimed to create something uniquely our own."

The game's art direction, however, diverges from traditional JRPG aesthetics. Meurisse explained, "We didn't want to replicate Japanese game styles with manga or anime graphics. Instead, we drew from our own influences to craft an art direction inspired by the early 20th century Belle Époque and art deco, mixed with elements of high fantasy. We went through several iterations to carve out our unique visual identity, which sets us apart from other games in the genre."

Other Inspirations

Beyond JRPGs, Expedition 33 draws inspiration from souls-like games, particularly Sekiro, for its defense mechanics. "The defense system is more inspired by Sekiro and From Software games," Meurisse stated. "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 instance, the concept of using action points for skills in battles draws more from deckbuilding games than the traditional magic or mana points found in RPGs."

First Character Trailer

As anticipation builds for the game's release, Expedition 33 is set to introduce new characters weekly. On March 13, the official Twitter (X) account of Expedition 33 unveiled a trailer featuring Gustave, a 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 navigates and jumps across various points, demonstrating agility and versatility. Combat scenes reveal Gustave dealing significant damage to enemies with a variety of skills at his disposal. While the developers have yet to confirm specific details about character roles and mechanics, Gustave's introduction has certainly piqued the interest of fans.

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!