Sandfall Interactive's creative director, Guillaume Broche, recently unveiled key details about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, highlighting its historical inspirations and innovative gameplay mechanics. Discover the rich tapestry of influences woven into this upcoming title.

Historical Influences and Gameplay Revolution

Name and Narrative Origins

The game's title, "Clair Obscur," draws inspiration from a 17th- and 18th-century French artistic and cultural movement, profoundly impacting the game's visual style and overarching world.

"Expedition 33" directly references the in-game expeditions led by protagonist Gustave to defeat the Paintress. Each year, a new expedition attempts this perilous task. The Paintress uses her monolith to erase individuals from existence, a process Broche terms "Gommage." The reveal trailer showcases the protagonist's partner falling victim to this power after the Paintress targets age 33.

Broche cites La Horde du Contrevent (a fantasy novel about global exploration) and the anime/manga Attack on Titan as narrative influences, highlighting his fascination with tales of daring ventures into the unknown.

Reimagining Turn-Based RPGs

Broche emphasizes the game's commitment to high-fidelity graphics within the turn-based RPG genre, a largely unexplored territory. He explains this decision as a desire to fill a gap in the market.

While acknowledging past real-time turn-based titles like Valkyria Chronicles and Project X Zone, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 introduces a reactive turn-based combat system. Players strategically plan their moves, but must react in real-time to enemy actions during their turn, dodging, jumping, or parrying to trigger powerful counterattacks.

The inspiration for this innovative system stems from action games like the Souls series, Devil May Cry, and NieR, aiming to integrate the rewarding gameplay of those titles into a turn-based framework.

Future Prospects

Broche's insights reveal a game deeply rooted in historical context, yet boldly innovative in its gameplay. The combination of high-fidelity visuals and the reactive battle system promises a fresh take on turn-based combat, demanding both strategic planning and real-time reflexes.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is slated for release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2025. Despite the distant release date, Broche expresses excitement about the positive fan reception and anticipates unveiling more details leading up to launch.