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

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 innovatively blends real-time mechanics to deliver a deeply immersive and interactive experience. Drawing heavily from the rich legacy of classic JRPGs, particularly the iconic Final Fantasy series, the game seeks to evoke the nostalgic charm of titles like Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9, and 10. During the 2025 Game Developers Conference, GamesRadar+ had the opportunity to discuss the game's inspirations with Expedition 33's Producer, François Meurisse.

Meurisse shared that the game's director, Guillaume Broche, was profoundly influenced by these childhood favorites. "Guillaume wanted to capture the essence of what modern Final Fantasy games could have been if they continued with turn-based mechanics," Meurisse explained. "However, he also incorporated a diverse range of inspirations. While Final Fantasy and JRPGs form the core of our gameplay heritage, we aimed to craft a unique experience."

While the gameplay borrows heavily from JRPGs, Meurisse stressed the importance of developing a distinct visual identity. "We didn't want to simply mimic Japanese games or adopt a typical manga or anime style," he said. "Instead, we drew upon our own influences to create an art direction inspired by the early 20th-century Belle Époque, combined with art deco elements and high fantasy. Through several iterations, we were able to carve out our unique artistic niche."

Other Inspirations

Beyond JRPGs, Expedition 33 also takes cues from souls-like games, notably Sekiro, in its defense mechanics. Meurisse highlighted this influence, saying, "Our defense system draws inspiration from Sekiro and From Software's games, incorporating a rhythmic element and real-time components that demand more skill from the player."

Moreover, the game incorporates elements from deckbuilding games within its battle sequences. "Instead of the traditional magic points or mana systems found in RPGs, we've adopted an action points system inspired by deckbuilding games," Meurisse added.

First Character Trailer

As the release date approaches, Expedition 33 is set to introduce its characters on a weekly basis. On March 13, the game's official Twitter (X) account unveiled a trailer featuring Gustave, a resourceful and dedicated engineer from Lumière. Gustave is poised to lead Expedition 33 in their mission to stop the Paintress from ever painting death again.

The trailer shows Gustave wielding a sword and pistol as his primary combat tools. In the overworld, he navigates the environment with agility, jumping from one point to another. Combat scenes demonstrate Gustave dealing significant damage to enemies and showcasing a variety of skills. While the developers have yet to disclose detailed information about character roles and mechanics, the trailer offers an exciting glimpse into what players can expect.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is scheduled to launch on April 24, 2025, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC platforms. To keep up with the latest updates and news about the game, be sure to check out our dedicated article below!