4.5/5 ★ – Finsen's review of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

There’s something about Expedition 33 that managed to keep my enthusiasm alive all the way through—and that alone makes me question how I actually managed to beat it. Let’s start with two things that usually work against a game like this for me. First, JRPGs—or even JRPG-inspired games—have rarely been my thing. A few have stood out, sure, but their sheer length and style often make it hard for me to fully sink my teeth into them, let alone finish them. Second, I usually avoid games that people label as "hard." I don’t get that classic “AHA!” moment when I finally overcome a tough battle. It just doesn’t do it for me. But Expedition 33 was different. I wanted to be better at it. I wanted to figure out how to beat the bosses—even if the fights stretched over multiple days. Some battles literally took me hours, broken into 30-minute play sessions (which, let’s be honest, were often interrupted thanks to my newborn daughter). Now, here’s why I fell in love with the game—and why I’ll defend it, no matter what. The opening story and first two acts were fantastic, elevated even further by stellar voice acting and a soundtrack that punches way above its weight. The world feels truly lived-in, and there’s this constant pull to understand how it all fits together. The way the game slowly unveils details about previous expeditions is a brilliant bit of world-building. And let’s not forget—it was made by a small team on a limited budget. We love a good underdog story, and Sandfall Interactive is now officially on my watchlist. I’m honestly loving how strong the French gaming scene is right now—it’s thriving, taking risks, and consistently delivering interesting work. If a game studio’s French? Put it on your radar.