Expedition 33: Journalists Share Initial Clair Obscur Impressions

Sandfall Interactive, a young French studio, is generating significant buzz with their upcoming title, Expedition 33. Early reviews from gaming media are overwhelmingly positive, praising its immersive narrative, mature themes, and engaging combat. Some critics are even comparing it to a modern Final Fantasy.

RPG Gamer was particularly impressed, noting that the game delivers a level of polish and experience in just a few hours that rivals titles from studios with decades of experience. If this quality is maintained throughout, Expedition 33 is a strong contender for awards like The Game Awards 2025.

IGN's reviewer, captivated by the demo, expressed a desire for more, highlighting the impressive achievement of such a young development team.

Kotaku went so far as to predict Expedition 33 will achieve classic turn-based RPG status, a modern Final Fantasy, praising its innovative integration of QTE mechanics into traditional turn-based combat.

Reviewers consistently highlight the game's stunning visuals and mature narrative style.

Expedition 33 is slated for release on April 24, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.