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If you’d told me two years ago that a 12-person French indie studio would be eyeing the same Game of the Year spotlight as Final Fantasy and BioWare, I’d have said you’d been hitting the absinthe a little too hard. But here we are: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is no ordinary RPG with a pretty face—it’s a daring, genre-bending upstart that AAA developers should be watching nervously. After devouring every preview, dev blog, and community debate out there, I’m convinced: Expedition 33 is a real GOTY contender for 2025. Here’s what makes it stand out—and why the big studios should be paying attention.
As much as I love a meaty RPG, let’s be honest: most turn-based battles lately feel either sluggish or mindless. Expedition 33’s hybrid combat is the adrenaline shot we’ve been waiting for. You plan your moves like a JRPG, then execute them with real-time combos—meaning you’re not just watching numbers tick up, you’re actually in the thick of it. Not full-on action game twitchiness, but enough to keep you on your toes.
Creative director Matthieu Richez says it best: “We’re combining tactical depth with engaging, moment-to-moment gameplay.” From hands-on reports—and the rare, universal excitement from the usually-jaded r/JRPG subreddit—it’s clear they’re not just talking the talk.
Had your fill of grim medieval towns and neon-drenched cyber-cities? Expedition 33 transports you to a dreamy, Art Nouveau Paris, as if Gustav Klimt and René Magritte teamed up for a fever dream. It’s not just surface-level style, either—the world feels lovingly handcrafted, not cobbled together from steampunk leftovers. For a studio this small, the visual ambition is wild.
GamesRadar dubbed it “2025’s most visually striking RPG,” and it’s easy to see why. At 4K/60FPS with ray tracing, you’ll be tempted to pause just to take in the scenery. The built-in photo mode invites you to see the world through a painter’s lens, reinforcing how much care went into every frame.
Timing is everything in this business, and Sandfall Interactive knows it. Launching in April, Expedition 33 neatly dodges the looming launches of Final Fantasy XVI’s expansion and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, both set to dominate summer and holiday gaming. No fighting for scraps during the busiest months. Add in a day-one Game Pass release, and millions can try it risk-free—an indie masterstroke.
The price matters, too: €49.99 is a full twenty bucks less than most AAA launches. In a world where even half-baked shooters demand €70, that’s a breath of fresh air. Analysts are already predicting up to 3 million players at launch, even if not everyone pays full price. This is what the next generation of “blockbuster indies” looks like—and I’m all for it.
I’m not wearing rose-tinted glasses. Small teams can stumble halfway through a 40-hour epic—mid-game fatigue is a real threat (ask any JRPG fan). There’s some chatter about cloud streaming performance on base consoles, and the central “cosmic murder-painter” story could get a little wild if not handled carefully.
But with heavyweights like Laura Bailey and Troy Baker on voice work, and ex-Ubisoft and Focus Home pros on the dev team, Expedition 33 has the right mix to pull it off. At the very least, its existence proves the “triple-I” indie movement is more than a passing fad. The old guard should take notice.
If Expedition 33 sticks the landing, we could see a seismic shift in what “Game of the Year” means. It’s no longer just for gaming’s biggest franchises—sharp vision and bold design are claiming a seat at the table. Sandfall started with ex-Ubisoft rebels, but their example could inspire a whole new wave of ambitious indies. Maybe, just maybe, we’re about to break free from the RPG comfort zone.
Will it take home the trophy? If those 87/100 preview scores mean anything, it’ll at least force a rethink of what “best of the year” truly means. Hades II and Metaphor: ReFantazio aren’t going down without a fight, but hey—competition is what keeps the industry sharp.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is more than a visual treat; it’s a statement. With innovative combat, stunning art, and a player-friendly launch plan, it could shake up the RPG world—if it delivers. GOTY 2025? Don’t count it out.
Your Turn: Am I buying into the hype, or does Expedition 33 really have a chance to dethrone the RPG giants? What excites (or concerns) you most? Sound off in the comments—I want your boldest takes!
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