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

Discover the inspirations behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, an upcoming game that blends the charm of JRPGs with innovative gameplay. Dive in to explore its roots and the exciting 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, enhancing player immersion and interaction. At its heart, the game echoes the essence of classic JRPGs, drawing significant inspiration from the Final Fantasy series, particularly Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9, and 10. During the 2025 Game Developers Conference, GamesRadar+ had the opportunity to speak with Expedition 33 Producer François Meurisse about the game's inspirations.

Meurisse shared that the game's director, Guillaume Broche, was deeply influenced by these Final Fantasy titles from his childhood. "He wanted to capture the feeling he imagined would have persisted in modern Final Fantasy-like games, had they continued with turn-based mechanics," Meurisse explained. "However, he also incorporated a wide range of other inspirations. Final Fantasy and JRPGs form the cornerstone of our gameplay heritage."

While the gameplay draws heavily from JRPGs, Meurisse emphasized the team's desire to craft a distinct experience. "In terms of art style, we didn't want to simply mimic Japanese games with manga or anime aesthetics," he said. "Instead, we aimed for an art direction inspired by our own influences, resulting in a unique blend of early 20th-century Belle Époque and art deco elements, infused with high fantasy. We went through several iterations to ensure our art style stood out and helped us carve our own niche."

Other Inspirations

Beyond JRPGs, Expedition 33 also takes cues from souls-like games, specifically Sekiro, in its defense mechanics. "The defense system is inspired by Sekiro and From Software games, incorporating rhythmic elements and real-time components that demand skill," Meurisse noted.

The game further innovates by integrating mechanics from deckbuilding games into its battle sequences. "For instance, the concept of using action points for skills during battles is more akin to deckbuilding games than the traditional magic or mana systems found in RPGs," Meurisse added.

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.

The trailer showcases Gustave wielding a sword and pistol as his primary combat tools. In the overworld, he is seen navigating and jumping across various points. Combat footage highlights Gustave's ability to deal significant damage and employ a variety of skills, though specifics on character roles and mechanics remain under wraps by the developers.

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 tuned for more updates by clicking on our article below!