Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the debut RPG from French studio Sandfall Interactive, has become a major success story recently, selling over one million copies within just three days of launch.
Released globally on April 24th, 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has quickly captured the hearts of RPG fans and critics alike. Publisher Kepler Interactive confirmed the milestone on social media, revealing that the game sold 500,000 copies within its first day. By the weekend, it crossed the 1 million mark. Notably, this figure only includes physical and digital sales, excluding players who accessed the game through Xbox Game Pass.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Becomes 2025’s Highest-Rated Game
Since launch, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been met with critical acclaim. It currently boasts an impressive 91/100 critic average on OpenCritic, making it the highest-rated game of 2025 so far, surpassing titles like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Split Fiction.
Even industry veterans have praised the game. Michael Douse, publishing director for Baldur’s Gate 3, applauded the small French team behind the project, highlighting their remarkable achievement. Fans have also been thrilled to hear familiar voices, such as Jennifer English (Shadowheart in BG3), featured in Expedition 33’s voice cast.
What is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 About?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG with real-time elements, set in a richly imagined fantasy world inspired by Belle Époque France. Players follow the journey of Expeditioners trying to defeat the enigmatic entity known as The Paintress, who paints a number each year that determines who lives and who dies. As the number dwindles, so does humanity’s hope.
The game's beautiful design, deep character customization, and challenging hybrid combat system have been praised widely. Engadget described Expedition 33 as "a gorgeously made and well-considered world," calling it "a solid, enjoyable RPG."
Massive Launch For RPG Fans And What’s Next
Expedition 33 offers an engaging 30-hour campaign, with side content potentially extending the playtime to over 60 hours. Microsoft even celebrated the launch by giving away an exclusive Clair Obscur-themed Xbox Series X console.
Excitingly, a live-action movie adaptation of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is already in the works, though it’s expected to arrive sometime in 2026. We will have to wait and see how all of that plays out in the future.
Available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has quickly become a must-play title for RPG fans in 2025.
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