Clair Obscur Expedition 33 gameplay draws inspiration from Final Fantasy & Sekiro

Turn-based RPG with a twist

One of the best turn-based RPGs, Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is all set to launch on April 24, 2025 and the fans are pretty excited for it.

Sandfall Interactive’s game producer and co-founder, François Meurisse, told GamesRadar at GDC 2025 how early Final Fantasy titles and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice influenced the French studio’s debut.

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— Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (@expedition33) March 19, 2025

Gameplay roots: Final Fantasy meets Sekiro

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 will take you on a ride where you will experience Final Fantasy with turn turn-based combat system.

Game creator Guillaume Broche, a lifelong fan, sought to modernize the nostalgic atmosphere by picturing what turn-based Final Fantasy may have been today. “Those were huge childhood games for Guillaume,” Meurisse explained. “He wanted to capture that essence, mixed with other influences.”

Then there are some Sekiro twists in the game. Defense isn’t simply passive here; players may parry blows with precisely timed button presses, providing a rhythmic, skill-based dimension to the turn-based gameplay. Consider Sekiro’s furious duels, but in a strategic RPG context. Meurisse wrote, “The defense system pulls from FromSoftware’s rhythm and real-time edge—it’s more skill-driven.”

I love Sekiro and I believe that game has one of the best combat systems in games. It is completely different from the traditional souls-type games by FromSoftware.

If Clair Obscur Expedition 33 combat would be even 50% close to Sekiro, then I believe that we are going to have a lot of fun while playing this game.

Also Read: Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Collector’s Edition gone in a flash as demand soars

Different from JRPG and anime

Game creators and developers also talked about how their game completely ditches the JRPG and anime style.

“We didn’t want to mimic Japanese styles,” Meurisse remarked. Sandfall, on the other hand, leaned toward early 20th-century Belle Époque vibes, combining art deco elegance with high fantasy. After several revisions, they arrived at a look that screams originality, not imitation.

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 will be available on April 24, 2025, on Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC. Stay tuned with us for more Clair Obscur Expedition 33-related information in the future.

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