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

Discover the inspirations behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and get a sneak peek at its first character trailer.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: A Journey Towards Release

Honoring the JRPG Legacy

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an eagerly anticipated turn-based RPG that introduces innovative real-time mechanics, enhancing player immersion and interaction. The game's essence draws heavily from the rich heritage of JRPGs, especially the iconic Final Fantasy series. In a revealing interview at the 2025 Game Developers Conference, Expedition 33 Producer François Meurisse shared insights into the game's inspirations with GamesRadar+.

Meurisse highlighted that the game was influenced by classics such as Final Fantasy 10, as well as earlier PlayStation titles like Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9. "These games were pivotal in the childhood of our game director, Guillaume Broche," Meurisse noted. "He envisioned capturing the essence of what modern Final Fantasy games might have been if they had continued with turn-based mechanics. However, we've blended in a variety of inspirations. While JRPGs and Final Fantasy are central to our gameplay heritage, we've strived to craft a unique experience."

While the gameplay draws from JRPGs, Meurisse emphasized the team's desire to forge a distinctive visual identity. "We avoided replicating the typical manga or anime aesthetics of Japanese games. Instead, we drew inspiration from the early 20th-century Belle Époque and art deco, integrating these with high fantasy elements. We iterated several times to carve out our unique visual style, which sets us apart," he explained.

Diverse Inspirations

Beyond JRPGs, Expedition 33 also incorporates elements from souls-like games, notably Sekiro, for its defense mechanics. "Our defense system borrows from Sekiro and From Software's games, introducing a rhythmic, skill-based real-time component," Meurisse stated.

Additionally, the game features battle mechanics inspired by deckbuilding games. "The concept of using action points for skills during battles is influenced more by deckbuilding games than traditional RPG systems with magic points or mana," Meurisse added.

Introducing Gustave in the 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. Gustave is poised to lead Expedition 33 in their mission to stop the Paintress from painting death ever again.

In the trailer, Gustave is seen wielding a sword and pistol as his main combat weapons. He navigates the overworld with agility, jumping from one point to another. The combat sequences showcase Gustave dealing significant damage to enemies and utilizing a variety of skills, though details on specific character roles and mechanics remain undisclosed by the developers.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is slated 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!