Discover the inspirations behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a game that blends elements from JRPGs, souls-like games, and more. Dive into the details and watch 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, aiming to enhance player immersion and interaction. Rooted in the tradition of classic JRPGs, the game draws significant inspiration from the Final Fantasy series, particularly Final Fantasy 10 and the PlayStation-era titles such as Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9. During the 2025 Game Developers Conference, GamesRadar+ had the opportunity to discuss the game's influences with Expedition 33 Producer François Meurisse.

Meurisse shared that the game director, Guillaume Broche, was deeply influenced by these classic games. "Those are big childhood games for Guillaume, our game director," Meurisse noted. "He envisioned capturing the essence that would have remained in modern Final Fantasy-like games, had they continued with turn-based mechanics. Yet, he also blended a variety of other inspirations. Final Fantasy and JRPGs are the cornerstone of our gameplay heritage."

While the gameplay mechanics echo JRPGs, Meurisse stressed the team's desire to carve out their own identity, especially in terms of art style. "We didn't want to simply mimic Japanese games with manga-like or anime-like graphics," he explained. "Instead, we sought to create an art direction inspired by our own influences. This led us to adopt an early 20th-century Belle Époque aesthetic with art deco elements fused with high fantasy. We went through several iterations to ensure our art style was unique and helped define our game's distinctiveness."

Other Inspirations

Beyond JRPGs, Expedition 33 also incorporates elements from souls-like games, notably Sekiro, for its defense mechanics. Meurisse highlighted, "The defense system is more inspired by Sekiro and From Software games. It introduces a rhythmic element and a real-time component, making it more skill-based."

Moreover, the game integrates mechanics from deckbuilding games into its battle sequences. "For instance, the concept of using action points for skills during battles is more influenced by deckbuilding games than the traditional magic points 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, a resourceful and dedicated engineer from Lumière. Gustave is poised to lead Expedition 33 in their mission to defeat the Paintress, ensuring she can no longer paint death.

The trailer showcases Gustave wielding a sword and pistol as his primary combat tools. In the overworld, he's seen navigating and jumping across various terrains. Combat footage reveals Gustave dealing significant damage to enemies with a variety of skills at his disposal. However, the developers have not yet disclosed specific details about character roles and related game mechanics.

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