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

Discover the inspirations behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, an upcoming game that blends elements from JRPGs, souls-like games, and more. Dive into the details and check out the 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, enhancing player immersion and interaction. The game draws heavily from the rich tradition of JRPGs, particularly echoing the style and themes of classic Final Fantasy titles. During the 2025 Game Developers Conference, GamesRadar+ had the opportunity to speak with Expedition 33 Producer François Meurisse about the game's inspirations.

Meurisse highlighted that Final Fantasy 10, along with earlier PlayStation entries like Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9, significantly influenced Expedition 33. "These 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-like games if they had continued with turn-based mechanics. However, he also incorporated a variety of other inspirations. Final Fantasy and JRPGs are the cornerstone of our gameplay heritage."

While the gameplay is rooted in JRPG traditions, Meurisse stressed the team's desire to forge a distinct identity. "In terms of art style, we didn't want to simply replicate Japanese games with manga-like or anime-like graphics," he said. "Instead, we aimed to create an art direction influenced by our own inspirations. This led us to adopt an early 20th-century Belle Époque aesthetic, infused with art deco elements and 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 takes cues from souls-like games, specifically Sekiro, for 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."

Additionally, the game integrates mechanics from deckbuilding games into its battle sequences. "For instance, the concept of using action points for skills in battles is more inspired by deckbuilding games than the traditional magic points or mana systems found in RPGs," Meurisse elaborated.

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, 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 primary combat weapons. In the overworld, he is seen navigating and jumping between points. Combat footage reveals Gustave dealing significant damage to enemies and utilizing a variety of skills. However, the developers have yet to disclose detailed information about character roles and related mechanics.

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