Discover the inspiration behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a game that pays homage to JRPGs, and explore its 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 that introduces unique real-time mechanics to enhance player immersion and interaction. The game draws heavily from the rich tradition of classic JRPGs, with particular nods to the Final Fantasy series. During 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 deeply influenced by his childhood favorites, including Final Fantasy 10 and the earlier PlayStation titles like Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9. "Those are big childhood games for Guillaume, our game director," Meurisse explained. "He wanted to evoke the feeling he imagined would persist in modern Final Fantasy-like games if they had continued with turn-based mechanics. However, he also incorporated a wide range of other inspirations. Definitely, Final Fantasy and JRPGs form the cornerstone of our gameplay heritage."

While the gameplay is rooted in JRPG traditions, Meurisse emphasized the team's desire to craft a distinctive experience. "For the art style, we consciously avoided mimicking Japanese games with stylized manga-like or anime-like graphics. Instead, we sought to create an art direction inspired by our own influences. This led us to adopt an early 20th-century Belle Époque aesthetic, blending art deco elements with high fantasy. We went through several iterations to find our unique visual identity, which ultimately helped us stand out."

Other Inspirations

Beyond JRPGs, Expedition 33 also incorporates elements from souls-like games, notably Sekiro, in its defense mechanics. "The defense system is inspired by Sekiro and From Software games," Meurisse noted. "It includes 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 use of action points for skills in battles is inspired more by deckbuilding games than by traditional magic points or mana systems in RPGs."

First Character Trailer

As Expedition 33 gears up for its release, the game will 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.

In the trailer, Gustave is seen wielding a sword and pistol as his primary combat weapons. He navigates the overworld with agility, jumping between points. Combat footage showcases Gustave dealing significant damage to enemies and utilizing a variety of skills. While the developers have yet to disclose detailed information about character roles and mechanics, Gustave's introduction promises exciting gameplay dynamics.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is scheduled for release on April 24, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay updated with the latest news and developments by following our coverage below!