Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is Sekiro Meets Belle Époque Meets JRPG

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 draws inspiration from a variety of sources, particularly paying homage to JRPGs. Dive in to discover more about the game's inspirations and the reveal of its first character trailer.

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's essence echoes the classic JRPGs, especially the Final Fantasy series, from which it draws significant inspiration. During the 2025 Game Developers Conference, GamesRadar+ had the opportunity to discuss the game's roots with Expedition 33 Producer François Meurisse.

Meurisse highlighted that Final Fantasy 10 and earlier PlayStation titles such as Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9 were key influences on Expedition 33. "These are pivotal childhood games for Guillaume [Broche], our game director," he remarked. "He aimed to recapture the essence that would have evolved in modern Final Fantasy games if they had continued with turn-based mechanics. But he also blended in various other inspirations. Definitely, Final Fantasy and JRPGs are the predominant gameplay heritage we're building on."

While the gameplay is heavily influenced by JRPGs, Meurisse stressed their desire to forge a distinct identity. "In terms of art style, we didn't want to replicate Japanese games with manga or anime-like graphics," he explained. "Our goal was to craft an art direction rooted in our own influences. This led us to the early 20th-century Belle Époque, infused with Art Deco elements and high fantasy. We went through several iterations to carve out our unique visual identity, which has helped us distinguish ourselves."

Other Inspirations

Beyond JRPGs, Expedition 33 also takes cues from souls-like games, with a particular nod to Sekiro for its defensive mechanics. Meurisse noted, "The defense system is more inspired by Sekiro and From Software games, featuring a rhythmic element and a more real-time component. It's 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 is more influenced by deckbuilding games than the traditional magic points or mana systems found in RPGs."

First Character Trailer

As the game approaches its release, Expedition 33 plans to unveil characters on a weekly basis. On March 13, the official Twitter (X) account of Expedition 33 released a trailer introducing Gustave, the resourceful and dedicated engineer from Lumière. Gustave appears poised to lead Expedition 33 in their mission to stop the Paintress from painting death ever again.

In the trailer, Gustave is equipped with a sword and pistol as his primary combat tools. He is shown navigating the overworld, jumping between points with agility. The combat footage showcases Gustave dealing substantial damage to enemies and utilizing a variety of skills. However, the developers have not yet disclosed detailed information about character roles and related mechanics in the game.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is scheduled to launch on April 24, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates by clicking on our article below!