Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 doesn’t waste time explaining why its world is broken—it shows you. In its opening, the citizens of Lumière gather for an annual ritual as a towering, weeping figure known as the Paintress inscribes a number into a distant cliff. Moments later, hundreds of people simply vanish, dissolving into petals and smoke as the crowd watches in stunned silence.
That grim hook sits in sharp contrast to the game’s striking Belle Époque-meets-steampunk look, where ornate fashion and industrial flourishes frame a setting filled with monsters and magic. It’s a bold tonal mix, but it gives Expedition 33 a distinct identity in a genre packed with familiar fantasy kingdoms.
### A Turn-Based RPG That Doesn’t Act Like One
Despite wearing the “turn-based RPG” label, Expedition 33 signals early on that it isn’t interested in strictly following the traditional playbook. The premise and presentation lean into high drama, and the game’s approach to combat is positioned as something more kinetic and disruptive than the slow, menu-driven pacing many players associate with classic turn-based systems.
### Lumière, the Paintress, and a Countdown to Oblivion
The Paintress’ numbered mark isn’t just ominous set dressing—it’s an in-world event the city anticipates, which makes it even more horrifying. The ritualistic normalcy around mass disappearance suggests a society living under a clock it can’t stop, and it sets up a strong narrative engine: what does the number mean, and why does it decide who gets erased?
There’s a clear effort here to fuse stylish worldbuilding with a central mystery that feels immediate and personal. Even in just the introduction, Expedition 33 positions its conflict as something systemic—an annual tragedy that shapes culture, politics, and survival.
For players, this matters because it hints at a turn-based RPG built around momentum: dramatic storytelling, a strong aesthetic hook, and combat ambitions that aim to modernize the format without abandoning it. In a market where turn-based games have resurged but often rely on nostalgia, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 looks like it wants to push the template forward rather than simply celebrate it.
Source: Rock Paper Shotgun