Expedition 33 is Already Flipping the Script for RPGs

Despite being an indie developer’s first-ever game, the breakout success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 might have turned the tables on future RPGs, as AAA studios have admitted they are looking to follow Sandfall Interactive’s lead. While turn-based gameplay might have appeared to be in decline as AAA developers pushed for faster, more action-oriented games, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 seems to prove otherwise. Yet between the likes of CD Projekt Red and French President Emmanuel Macron praising Sandfall Interactive’s debut game, one key studio’s response to Clair Obscur has been a welcome, albeit unexpected, surprise.

With a makeshift team cobbled together from former Ubisoft developers to unlikely Reddit recruits, Clair Obscur achieved what few other indie games have and established itself as a contender for AAA gaming. But while Sandfall drew its inspiration for storytelling, characterization, and turn-based combat from past JRPGs, such as Final Fantasy and Persona, things have come full circle, as Square Enix cites Clair Obscur‘s success as inspiration for its future games. Now, as Sandfall rethinks its DLC plans for Clair Obscur following its success, so too is Square Enix reconsidering its approach to Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest.

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The Inspiration Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Took Can Now Be Given Back

While it won’t be the first indie game to give AAA studios a run for their money, like when PlayerUnknown’s Battleground popularized battle royales, or one-person teams developed Undertale and Stardew Valley, Clair Obscur may have broken new ground after surpassing the standards set by the games it was inspired by. Clair Obscur wears its Final Fantasy ​​​​​​influences on its sleeve the most, with its modernized turn-based combat, complex narratives, and fantastical world-building. Even defining moments from the original Final Fantasy 7 are paralleled in Clais Obscur, such as Gustave’s and Aerith’s sudden deaths despite both appearing to be integral characters.

Yet even though Clair Obscur‘s director, Guillaume Broche, confirmed that Final Fantasy 15 had been just as influential as these older games in discussion with Den Fami Nico Gamer, this hasn’t prevented it from being adopted as Final Fantasy‘s new standard. With Final Fantasy 16 being review-bombed after players felt it strayed too far from the series’ roots, it is arguably unsurprising that Square Enix responded to Clair Obscur‘s success and its revival of Final Fantasy‘s retired mechanics.

While this doesn’t mean that the next Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest will be turn-based specifically, it does indicate that Clair Obscur has become an inspiration to its own forebears.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Might Beat Final Fantasy At Its Own Game

However, among the series’ numerous prequels, spin-offs, online expansions, and more, Square Enix has not confirmed if Final Fantasy 17 is in development as it focuses on completing its Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy. While the parts of the trilogy released so far received near-universal acclaim, this is more likely due to the ties to the original 1997 game and the reimagined story rather than the hybridization of turn-based strategy with real-time combat. Regardless, in light of Square Enix’s comments on Clair Obscur‘s success, the better reception to FF7 Remake‘s and Rebirth‘s combat could see the indie game’s approach to turn-based gameplay being borrowed.

For example, while FF7 Rebirth expanded its combat to include parrying and dodge mechanics, Clair Obscur‘s Perfect Dodge has the key difference of encouraging players to master its combat to earn rewards. Should Square Enix take notes from Clair Obscur for its next game after FF7 Rebirth, timed mechanics and rewards exclusive to active combat could incentivize players to get back into Final Fantasy‘s turn-based gameplay while also appealing to the series’ fans. Similarly, Clair Obscur also uses QTEs to organically enhance its combat through stronger, well-timed attacks, something which FF 7 Rebirth and future Final Fantasy games could learn from.

Source: Den Fami Nico Gamer

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Released

April 24, 2025

ESRB

Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

Developer(s)

Sandfall Interactive

Publisher(s)

Kepler Interactive

Engine

Unreal Engine 5