Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged from humble beginnings to become 2025's most critically acclaimed game. Discover how creative frustration led Sandfall Interactive to develop this unexpected masterpiece.

The Unexpected Birth of a Masterpiece

Breaking Free from Routine

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's remarkable success surprised even its creators, achieving Game of the Year status and selling over a million copies in its first weekend. The project originated from director Guillaume Broche's creative discontent while working at Ubisoft during pandemic lockdowns.

In a May 4 interview with BBC News, Broche revealed how pandemic-induced boredom sparked the game's creation. Drawing inspiration from childhood favorites like Final Fantasy, he began assembling a team through unconventional means.

Serendipitous Connections

Broche's unique recruitment approach involved posting on Reddit and gaming forums. Despite initial skepticism about his Belle Époque-inspired turn-based RPG concept, passionate individuals gradually joined the project.

Among early collaborators was Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, who responded to Broche's Reddit post seeking voice actors while in Australian lockdown. Originally cast for a supporting role, her talent led to her becoming Expedition 33's lead writer.

The team grew organically after Broche left Ubisoft to establish Sandfall Interactive. With publisher Kepler Interactive's support, the core team expanded to about 30 members, including composer Lorien Testard discovered through SoundCloud.

This grassroots approach attracted notable talents including actors Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI), Jennifer English (Baldur's Gate 3), and Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings).

Development required versatility from core team members. Broche and Svedberg-Yen wore multiple hats, with the latter additionally handling multilingual translations. "We assembled an amazing team of mostly junior developers who were incredibly invested," Broche remarked.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's journey from pandemic passion project to Game of the Year contender demonstrates creativity's unpredictable nature. Available now PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.