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INSANE: Clair obscur | Vintage Vibes

Clair Obscur: how an indie game about loss became the biggest success story of 2025

Ahead of the BAFTAs, lead writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen breaks down the biggest twists of Sandfall’s runaway success story

Evening Standard

Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 may make Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 look like the "small kids in the playground," but star hopes it'll "live in people's memory" anyway

"I'm just so proud of this character, and I adore him, and I hope that people continue to enjoy playing him."

GamesRadar

Nearly a year later, Clair Obscur Expedition 33 still has the best game soundtrack of all time — and hearing it live confirmed it further for me

Expedition 33 has a powerful soundtrack that moves you to tears and immerses you in battles, and if you have a chance to hear it live, grab it with both hands.

Tom’s Guide

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"Marathon is gonna be Game of the Year," actor Ben Starr says, because it has Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate 3, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 award magnet Jennifer English

He makes a compelling point

GamesRadar

'We are not going to pick one': Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dev confirms there's no canon ending, instead opting for a more elusive 'Schrodinger's ending'

If you don't finish the game, no one can get hurt.

PC Gamer

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 makes you "complicit" in moments like the RPG's first big twist, lead writer says, so you can "experience what grief feels like in this world"

"We really wanted the player to feel that loss"

GamesRadar

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's lead writer "never even considered" a true, happy ending for the hit RPG

Whichever one you prefer, you are correct

GamesRadar

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 star worries the industry will learn the wrong lessons from the J'RPG's success: "Capitalism is unwilling to ask the why because they’re interested in the how"

"I think when the opportunistic fingers of capitalism try to take apart this game and its success, I fear they will ask the wrong questions."

GamesRadar

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 devs bet on the RPG's Metacritic score, but bet so low that "everybody lost," resulting in forfeits like gobbling whole roast chickens

"One person had to eat a chicken, a roast chicken in one sitting within a certain amount of time while another person beatboxes"

GamesRadar

Clair Obscur's narrative lead says while it's 'a painful process' to write, AI has never tempted her: 'The whole point of writing is to express what I have in my head'

Too right.

PC Gamer

After a star turn in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Daredevil actor Charlie Cox says he's acting in another video game: "It has seemingly opened up a new avenue for my professional work"

"I loved being part of Expedition 33"

GamesRadar

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 writer says picking an ending is like choosing "my favorite child," but ultimately the finales are "two sides of the same coin"

"And the question we want to ask is, in the end, whose happiness do we prioritize?"

GamesRadar

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 remains on course to match Baldur's Gate 3's GOTY record as it secures GDC win and 12 BAFTA nominations

'The Big 5' is still on

GamesRadar

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead writer says it's "crazy" to see Final Fantasy legends who are "essentially our heroes" praising Sandfall's game after the JRPG series was such a "huge influence"

"It still feels quite surreal"

GamesRadar

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GamesRadar

"The first track spoils the whole game": Clair Obscur Expedition 33 devs confirm they were filling your ears with spoilers the entire time

Luckily, it's very hard to understand what's being said

GamesRadar

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 took inspiration from a surprising anime - Soul Eater creator's Fire Force: "Because it was a JRPG, we tried to find a mix"

"Guillaume was like, let's do more of that, and it shaped the direction of the game"

Cinemablend

If You Loved Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Then You Should Check Out This '70s Sci-fi Movie

For those who come after.

GamesRadar

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is "the best of our medium," says former Microsoft Game Studios head, because games are art and human: "I don’t think you can say that about AI girlfriends"

"That’s what we should all aspire to"

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news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
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GamesRadar

New Clair Obscur Expedition 33 photo mode had some “unexpected” issues during development, like deforming Gustave’s head and other “things we don’t want to show”

It shows a side of Gustave we never knew we wanted to see

GamesRadar

Spited FPS streamer Shroud vindicated as Arc Raiders finally gets its GOTY award, taking Online Game of the Year at the DICE Awards

Let's not mention what Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won

Windows Central

Avowed’s success shows how Game Pass can turn a mid‑budget RPG into a hit

When it comes to players on Xbox, Avowed managed to reach the top 20 played in a single day, something Hollow Knight didn't.

GamesRadar

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 fan says their merch has been detained by government officials who think it's "possibly" a relic: "Customs opened the package and decided the art book looked a bit too ancient"

"This can't be for real"

GamesRadar

Roblox brags about its experimental AI tech while showing off a disorienting AI-generated Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lookalike

Roblox Corp calls it 'Dream Theater'

GamesRadar

After Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was snubbed at the Grammys, legendary Journey composer Austin Wintory dedicates his win to Sandfall's "once-in-a-generation-level rarity"

"It is an amazing album that people love in its own right"

GamesRadar

Baldur's Gate 3, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 actor agrees with Charlie Cox that mocap actors deserve more recognition: "It's quite hard to separate the two"

Devora Wilde also shouts out the overlooked stunt performers in video games

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