Turns out, turn-based RPGs are very much alive and kicking — and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 just proved it in style.
In just three days, the French-developed JRPG from Sandfall Interactive has sold over 1 million copies, according to publisher Kepler Interactive. And that’s not including anyone playing it through Game Pass. That’s pure, old-school “I’m buying this because I need it” energy.
At launch, Expedition 33 immediately started hoarding praise like a dragon with treasure. It’s rocking a 92 on Metacritic right now, with over a hundred glowing reviews calling it everything from “a turn-based revolution” to “an emotional masterpiece.” Players on Steam are equally smitten, pushing it into the “Very Positive” category and throwing around bold claims like “GOTY material” while they’re at it.
If you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, Expedition 33 offers a stylish, haunting world, a battle system that’s turn-based but slick enough to feel modern, and a story heavy enough to make you tear up before the prologue even ends. Imagine Final Fantasy X had an artsy, slightly moodier cousin, and you’re halfway there.
Of course, because it’s 2025 and the internet can’t have nice things without arguing, some of the chatter online has gotten a bit… intense. Some players are so excited they’re dunking on every other RPG ever made, which, yeah, maybe calm down a little. But in between the bad takes, one thing’s clear: Expedition 33 is the real deal.
In a time when everyone keeps asking if turn-based games are “dead,” it’s pretty refreshing to see a brand-new RPG not just survive, but absolutely thrive. Maybe the genre didn’t need reinventing after all — just a little French flair.
