The highly anticipated game from the young French studio Sandfall Interactive, titled Clair Obscur, is already generating buzz with early reviews from gaming media. Critics are lauding the game for its deep narrative, mature tone, and exhilarating combat, with some even drawing comparisons to a modern Final Fantasy.
The reviewer from RPG Gamer was particularly struck by how Clair Obscur, the debut project of these young developers, delivers an experience comparable to that of a seasoned studio within just a few hours of gameplay. If this level of quality is sustained throughout the entire game, Expedition 33 (as the reviewer refers to it) could be a strong contender at The Game Awards 2025.
A journalist from IGN was left wanting more after the demo session, eager to explore the game's world further and engage in additional battles. They were astounded by the achievements of such a youthful development team.
The writer from Kotaku went as far as predicting that Clair Obscur could become a classic in the turn-based genre, likening it to a new Final Fantasy. They praised the innovative integration of QTE mechanics into the traditional turn-based combat system.
Across the board, reviewers have commended the game's striking visual style and the mature narrative tone, setting high expectations for its release.
Clair Obscur is slated to launch on April 24, 2025, and will be available on current-generation consoles (PS5 and Xbox Series) as well as PC via Steam.