Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is now cheaper than ever before - but not for long

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a cinematic masterpiece complete with an original narrative, beautiful aesthetics, a powerfully cathartic soundtrack, and a combat system that oozes Persona 5. It was the first game from developer Sandfall Interactive, and it's left me hungry to see what it'll do next. Of course, if you haven't played it yet, you should absolutely change that as quickly as possible, and now would be a good time to do so, as Fanatical is selling it for less than $40 (for just a couple of days).

Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 is setting itself up to be Game of the Year, with countless fans absolutely besotted with this unique turn-based RPG. It's easy to see why it's so popular, too, because on the one hand, it pays homage to many of the best JRPGs like Persona and Legend of Dragoon, but at the same time, it carves out new territory, with a really unique storyline.

The Paintress, the main villain, literally disintegrates everyone into a beautiful flurry of petals (or "gommages") when they reach a certain age, and each year that age goes down by one. In Lumiere, no one over the age of 33 lives. In an attempt to bring down the Paintress, you control a small team as you embark on the titular Expedition 33 where you'll explore diverse biomes and encounter odd creatures in the hopes of procuring a potential future for yourself.

It's so well written that you'll find yourself caring about the characters almost immediately. You start the game as Gustave (voiced by Charlie Cox), a hopeless romantic who watches the love of his life get "gommaged". The characters feel so real, and during this scene in particular, my heart ached for poor Gustave. Watching a loved one disappear right before your eyes is probably the most harrowing thing that could happen to someone, and to see them preparing for it, and facing the inevitable with a bittersweet feeling of resignation. It got me.

You can tell that a lot of love went into the cutscenes as they're filled with cinematic flourishes like dramatic zooms, shifts in perspective, and focus. Admittedly, I wish the character's eyes moved more during emotional moments, as it's a little uncanny, but that's a very small nitpick.

I haven't even mentioned the voice acting yet, either. Boasting a star-studded cast, there are a few voices you'll recognise. I already mentioned Charlie Cox, our beloved Matt Murdock, who, despite feeling like a "total fraud," nailed the role. Andy Serkis, Jennifer English (God's favorite princess), and Ben Starr are also a part of the game, and their fantastic performances help elevate the narrative.

Let's not forget the soundtrack either. Contrapuntal sound is used to tear your heart from your chest during the sad scenes and get your blood pumping during battle. Lorien Testard's passion for music shines through, with the music taking you on a journey as thrilling as the story itself.

In our Clair Obsure: Expedition 33 review, Josh Brown says, "the real hook is Clair Obscur's reactive take on turn-based combat. Learn your target's attack patterns, and the ever-expanding dodge and parry system will let you take on anything." He goes on to say, "toss in a few other complicating factors, including jumps, triggers, and special counters, and you have a recipe for a hyper-stimulating take on a genre once deemed too slow and stale for the HD era."

You've got until Wednesday, 20 August 2025 to get the game at 20% off at Fanatical. After that, there's no telling when the game will next be this cheap.

If you can't wait to head off on your expedition, check out our articles on the Best Clair Obscur Expedition 33 weapons for each character and Best Clair Obscur Expedition 33 builds to enhance your gameplay.

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