Square Enix has taken note of the incredible success of Sandfall Interactive’s RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, with one reporter eager to see the next Final Fantasy title embrace turn-based combat once again. As Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 remains a talking point in the gaming community, fans of classic JRPGs are thankful to see its gameplay triggering wider conversations about the potential return of major turn-based games in the future.
Selling an incredible 3.3 million units in its first 33 days, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has not only been a commercial success, but a critical one. The indie title, developed by the small French indie developer Sandfall Interactive, has one of the highest player scores of all time on Metacritic, beating heavy hitters like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Super Mario Galaxy, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Other developers have undoubtedly been watching the game continue to break records, and the team behind one of the most beloved franchises of all time is potentially considering making some big changes to its next mainline titles.
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During a recent Square Enix shareholders meeting, one investment media reporter cited Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a good reason why the next Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games should feature turn-based combat. The last title in the mainline Final Fantasy series to feature any kind of turn-based elements was 2006’s Final Fantasy 12, and many fans of the series have requested that upcoming titles return to their roots. Square Enix isn’t the only major company to have applauded Sandfall’s masterpiece, as CD Projekt Red recently complimented Clair Obscur‘s story, gameplay, and relatable characters. It’s unclear if the unannounced Final Fantasy 17 will actually return to a turn-based combat system, but fans are hopeful that the developers will listen to recent feedback.
The Next Mainline Final Fantasy Title May Be Turn-Based Because of Clair Obscur
While Square Enix eventually called the latest mainline game a success, Final Fantasy 16 was review bombed following its 2023 release, with many players not considering it to be a “real” Final Fantasy game due to its action-oriented combat and gameplay. The community has always been critical of major changes to the series’ formula, though reviews of Final Fantasy 16 have continued to improve over time, with the game now boasting an average critic score of 88 on OpenCritic.
Square Enix is currently hard at work on Final Fantasy 7 Remake‘s third and final entry, which many expect to be released sometime in 2027. As for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 studio Sandfall Interactive, the developers have confirmed that more improvements will be added to the game in the near future, and DLC is a major possibility. Additionally, a new game is in the early stages of development.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Released
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April 24, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
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Sandfall Interactive
- Publisher(s)
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Kepler Interactive
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 5