If you had told me that a debut double-A game from a studio of largely unknown developers would be one of the biggest contenders for the Game of the Year awards in 2025, as well as one of the best RPGs ever made, I would’ve laughed. But 2025’s been quite the year, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is not your average game. If you haven’t played Sandfall’s masterpiece yet, or have been holding out for a sale, I’ve got great news: you can grab it for its lowest ever price over on Loaded right now.
I love a great RPG, but I prefer the fast-paced combat of the more action-focused games like Final Fantasy 16 over your standard, JRPG-style turn-based gameplay. However, even as someone who prefers real-time action, I can’t fault Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which has quickly earned a spot on our list of the best PC games ever made.
Inspired by many of the best JRPGs, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s main narrative has world-ending stakes. The Paintress, a godlike figure that draws a number each year, effectively killing anyone of that age or above, is a looming threat that feels as existentially dreadful as it does undefeatable. But that doesn’t stop Lumiere’s citizens from launching expeditions each year to stop her, even though no one has ever managed to do so.
While the fight against The Paintress is at the core of the game’s plot, Expedition 33’s narrative is far from simple. Each of the characters, from the lovable Gustave to the daring, brave Maelle, all have distinctive personalities that feel real. It also helps that the cast is full of incredible voice actors, who all make their characters special and uniquely theirs.
On top of this, Sandfall’s debut also takes turn-based combat and sprinkles more strategy into it, requiring you to use effective combos as a party. The fact that you need to dodge or parry when the enemies attack makes each fight more engaging than just pressing a button and watching turns play out.
Expedition 33 is an amazing experience, and one that my family and friends are probably tired of me talking about. As such, I’m also recommending it to you, dear reader, and given that it’s just $29.19 / £21.49 over on Loaded (formerly CDKeys), there really is no excuse not to try it.
While I recommend just diving into Sandfall Interactive’s RPG, there are a few things you can do to help make the experience a little easier. Personally, I suggest reading our best Expedition 33 builds guide to ensure each character is well equipped to fight the Paintress, or check our our list of the best Expedition 33 weapons so that your attacks are even stronger.
Whether you cried during your time playing Expedition 33 and want to talk about it (note that we’re not trained professionals), or you’re working out the best way to see your damage numbers go big with other players, check out our PCGamesN Discord server. If you do join, you’ll have to excuse my rambling.
