The highly anticipated game from the emerging French studio Sandfall Interactive, titled Clair Obscur, has started garnering early praise from the gaming community. Critics are lauding its deep narrative, mature tone, and exhilarating combat mechanics, with some even drawing comparisons to a modern take on the iconic Final Fantasy series.

RPG Gamer's reviewer was particularly struck by how the debut project from these young developers delivered an experience on par with that of a seasoned studio, all within just a couple of hours of gameplay. If this quality is sustained throughout the entire game, Expedition 33 could be a strong contender for The Game Awards 2025.

Similarly, a journalist from IGN was left craving more after the demo session concluded, eager to delve deeper into the game's world and engage in additional battles. They expressed astonishment at the high level of achievement from such a youthful development team.

The writer from Kotaku went as far as to predict that Clair Obscur might become a classic in the turn-based genre, likening it to a new Final Fantasy. They were especially impressed by the innovative integration of Quick Time Events (QTE) into the traditional turn-based combat system.

In addition to the gameplay, many reviewers have commended the game's stunning visual style and the sophisticated maturity of its narrative.

Clair Obscur is slated for release on April 24, 2025, and will be available on current-generation consoles (PS5 and Xbox Series) as well as on PC via Steam.