Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 draws inspiration from various sources, particularly paying homage to JRPGs. Dive deeper into the game's influences and discover 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 incorporates unique real-time mechanics, promising a more immersive and interactive experience for players. At its heart, the game echoes the spirit of classic JRPGs, notably the Final Fantasy series, from which its developers have drawn significant inspiration. During the 2025 Game Developers Conference, GamesRadar+ had the opportunity to speak with Expedition 33 Producer François Meurisse about the game's origins.
Meurisse revealed that Final Fantasy 10, along with earlier PlayStation titles like Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9, were key influences on Expedition 33. "Those are big childhood games for Guillaume [Broche], our game director," he explained. "He wanted to capture the essence that he imagined would persist in modern Final Fantasy games if they had continued with turn-based mechanics. But he also mixed in a variety of other inspirations. Definitely, Final Fantasy and JRPGs are the predominant gameplay heritage we carry."
While the gameplay is deeply rooted in JRPG traditions, Meurisse stressed the team's desire to forge their own path, particularly in terms of art style. "For the art style, we didn't want to simply replicate Japanese games with stylized manga or anime graphics," he said. "We aimed to develop an art direction that reflected our own influences. That's how we arrived at the early 20th-century Belle Époque aesthetic, blending art deco elements with high fantasy. We went through several iterations to find our unique artistic voice, which really helped us stand out."
Other Inspirations
Beyond JRPGs, Expedition 33 also takes cues from souls-like games, specifically Sekiro, in its defense mechanics. "The defense system is more inspired by Sekiro and From Software games," Meurisse noted. "It incorporates a rhythmic element and a more real-time component, making it more skill-based."
Moreover, the game introduces mechanics from deckbuilding games into its battle sequences. "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," Meurisse explained.
First Character Trailer
As the release date approaches, Expedition 33 will unveil new characters weekly. On March 13, the game's official Twitter (X) account released a trailer introducing 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 main combat weapons. In the overworld, he is seen navigating and leaping across various terrains. The combat sequences highlight Gustave's ability to deal significant damage to enemies and his diverse skill set. However, details about character roles and specific game mechanics remain under wraps.
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 by clicking on the article below!
