Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 blends the charm of JRPGs with unique twists, drawing inspiration from diverse sources. Discover the influences behind this upcoming title and meet its first revealed character.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Nearing Launch
A JRPG Legacy Reimagined
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG infused with innovative real-time elements for a more immersive experience. While rooted in classic JRPGs, particularly the Final Fantasy series, it carves its own path. At the 2025 Game Developers Conference, GamesRadar+ spoke with Producer François Meurisse, shedding light on the game's inspirations.
Meurisse revealed that titles like Final Fantasy VII, VIII, IX, and X, played significant roles in shaping Expedition 33. "Those were huge games for Guillaume [Broche], our game director, growing up," he explained. "He wanted to capture the feeling of classic turn-based Final Fantasy, but with a modern twist. However, we also incorporated many other influences. While JRPGs are a core foundation, we've blended numerous inspirations."
Despite the strong JRPG influence on gameplay, Meurisse emphasized a distinct artistic vision. "For the art style, we avoided directly mimicking Japanese aesthetics like manga or anime," he stated. "Instead, we drew inspiration from the early 20th-century Belle Époque and Art Deco, blending them with high fantasy. This iterative process helped us define a unique visual identity."
Beyond JRPGs: Diverse Inspirations
Expedition 33's influences extend beyond JRPGs. The game's defense system, Meurisse noted, is heavily inspired by the precise, rhythmic combat of Sekiro and other FromSoftware titles, adding a significant real-time skill element.
Furthermore, battle sequences incorporate deckbuilding mechanics. Meurisse explained, "The use of action points for skills draws inspiration from deckbuilding games, rather than the traditional mana or magic point systems found in many RPGs."
Introducing Gustave: First Character Trailer
With launch approaching, Expedition 33 will unveil characters weekly. On March 13th, the official Twitter (X) account released a trailer introducing Gustave, a resourceful engineer from Lumière. He appears to be a key figure in Expedition 33's mission to defeat the Paintress.
The trailer showcases Gustave's sword and pistol combat prowess, along with his agile movement in the overworld. He demonstrates impressive damage output and a diverse skillset. While specific character roles and mechanics remain undisclosed, the trailer offers a tantalizing glimpse of gameplay.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to launch April 24, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay updated with the latest news via the link below!
