Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the first game from French indie studio: Sandfall Interactive, took home 9 awards at The Game Awards this year. That is the most awards that have ever been given to a singular game, beating out the likes of Elden Ring and the Witcher 3.
Developed by Sandfall Interactive in France, Expedition 33 released earlier last year. With amazing in-depth combat and storytelling, combined with beautiful graphics and art design, it was destined to become a smash hit.
The combat is really the main draw of this game. Combining aspects of JRPGs like Final Fantasy and immersive quick time events to parry and dodge. This makes for a fun and energetic take on turned based combat with the strategy of a typical system and the skill of parrying. The game also has a vast array of unique weapons, moves and “pictos,” the game’s version of equipable upgrades that can provide large amounts of variety and replayability to every encounter.
The story and writing of Expedition 33 are another of this game’s strong points. The story is both impactful and unpredictable, featuring many twists and turns without ever feeling dull or un-earned. The world feels magical and intriguing, fitting for an expedition. The characters are well written and realistic, and you really feel the characters emotions because of this.
Some of the game’s most unique aspects are its graphics and art. The characters and enemies feature beautiful and detailed designs, but the main draw is the world and environment. Every level is stunning and vibrant, uniquely designed to fit the theme and enemies placed within it. At the same time the world feels both cohesive and wild. The whole game truly makes you feel as if you are in a painting.
Overall, the game is a great experience for all kinds of people. If you are a fan of complex turn-based combat with deep character building, challenging timing-based parries and dodges, or France, this game is for you.
The game is available on Steam, PlayStation, and X-Box for $49.99.
