Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, an eagerly anticipated turn-based RPG developed by Sandfall Interactive, is making waves in the gaming community with its unique take on the genre. After a successful showcase, the game's director has shared more about the inspirations behind this exciting new title.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Takes Inspiration from FF, Persona, & Classic JRPGs

Blends Turn-Based Mechanics and Real-Time Elements

Drawing inspiration from the Belle Epoque era of France and iconic JRPGs, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to redefine the turn-based RPG genre by seamlessly blending traditional turn-based mechanics with real-time elements. The game takes significant cues from the legendary Final Fantasy and Persona series, aiming to carve out its own unique space within the genre.

Following a compelling hands-off demo at SGF, creative director Guillaume Broche provided deeper insights into the game's development. In an interview with Eurogamer, Broche expressed his passion for turn-based games and his desire to create a title with high-fidelity graphics. "I'm a huge fan of turn-based games and felt there was a gap for something with high-fidelity graphics," Broche stated, citing Atlus' Persona and Square Enix's Octopath Traveller as "stylish and nostalgic" influences that fueled his vision. "If nobody else is going to do it, then I will. That's how it all began."

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG that integrates real-time elements, centered around a gripping narrative where players must prevent the mysterious Paintress from painting death again. The game's environments, such as the gravity-defying Flying Waters, are as distinctive as its storyline.

Combat in Expedition 33 demands real-time reactions from players, who must input action commands in a turn-based format while also responding swiftly to enemy attacks to defend themselves. This innovative approach has drawn comparisons to other notable turn-based RPGs like the Persona series, Final Fantasy, and last year's Switch hit, Sea of Stars.

Broche was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiastic response to the game. "It was incredibly overwhelming," he remarked. "I expected turn-based fans to appreciate it, but the level of excitement from the community was beyond my expectations."

While Persona is a significant influence, Broche clarified to PC Gamer that the Final Fantasy series, particularly the Final Fantasy 8, 9, and 10 eras, had a more profound impact on the game's development. "I don't hide my love for the action in the Final Fantasy 8, 9, and 10 era. Much of the game's core is inspired by that," Broche explained. He emphasized that while the game draws from these classics, it is not a direct imitation but rather a reflection of the creative tastes he developed playing these titles.

"The game is more like what I grew up with, and what shaped my creative tastes. So, we take a lot of influence from them but not directly copying elements," he added. "And on the Persona side, we definitely looked at their camera movements, menus, and dynamic creation, aiming to create something that feels dynamic yet uniquely ours. Our art style is very different, and we wanted to do it our own way."

In the open world of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, players have full control over their characters. They can switch between party members seamlessly and utilize unique traversal abilities to solve environmental puzzles scattered throughout the game. Broche humorously told GamesRadar that he wants players to "break the game with crazy builds and like, stupid combinations," describing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as an homage to classic turn-based games.

"Our dream is to create a game that will deeply touch players, just as the classics have impacted our lives," the development team shared in a recent PlayStation blog post. "And even if we fall short, we're paving the way for future creators."

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is slated for release on PC, PS5, and Xbox in 2025.