Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, available April 24 for Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC with support for Xbox Play Anywhere and day one with Game Pass, promises exciting, original takes on standards of the RPG genre. While its premise and presentation stood out from its very first trailer, after many hours invested in the review build, I’m pleased to report that Sandfall interactive also refines or re-invents RPG gameplay elements that make every battle in Expedition 33 a lean-forward experience.

That said, some of these new techniques are – by dint of their originality – worth a bit of additional explanation. So, as you prepare to dive into Expedition 33 – and RPG fans should absolutely prioritize this title – here are a few spoiler-free “here’s how it works” elements that I wish we knew before my first trip to The Continent.

Stay Focused

The biggest moment-to-moment difference between Expedition 33 and many turn-based RPGs out there is the level of attention players need to give towards every battle. While your actions (Attack, Skill, etc.) are selected from a menu, once you’ve confirmed your choice, make no mistake – you are now playing an action game requiring your full focus. Each action, from attacks, to spells, to heals, to buffs becomes a timed button press exercise – and the better your timing, the more you maximize its effects. Later in the game, you’ll even have the option to equip high reward skills where a mistimed press could backfire spectacularly. It’s awesome.

While offensive presses are mainly straightforward (and you’ll get used to your moveset over time) dealing with enemy attacks is a continually evolving affair. Iniitally, you’re given the chance to either dodge, using the B button, or parry, utilizing RB. Timing on these is tight; you will need to study enemy movements to learn when to react, but my advice to you: start with Dodge, as its timing is ever so slightly more generous. When you’re dodging consistently, you can begin to experiment with Parries, which – if executed – can lead to powerful counterattacks. But in the early game, Dodge will keep you alive.

Ease Into Combat

If you’ve having trouble getting the precision down on attacks or need some more time to adjust to the style of play that Expedition 33 requires, you can adjust the difficulty of the game at any time to give you a greater window to achieve Parries or Dodges. You can also choose to allow the game to input the QTE moments during combat, taking that responsibility off your plate so you can sit back and enjoy those flashy combat animations.

Be Not Afraid

Early on you will inevitably face down some incredibly tough characters (don’t look down on a mime!) and they *will* kick your ass. Note that many such fights are avoidable – you can always come back later, once you’re stronger! But if you do decide to have a go, know that the penalty for dying generally is just a respawn nearby. This isn’t a Soulslike – go for it, worry free! Also, enemies will respawn when you heal at an Expedition Flag, allowing you to re-run through many of these zones to help level up your party.

Use Those Items – They Regen

Your healing and respawn items – initially so scarce – do replenish every time you rest at an Expedition Flag or campsite, so take the risks, heal liberally, and if you crash out, know that you can always try again.

Another note on items: early on, I collected several items, such as Tints and Chroma Catalysts, and had no idea what to do with them. For the first few hours of the game, just collect, and don’t worry – their use will become apparent later, and you can’t miss it.

Don’t Forget to Shoot

Every character has the ability – both in and out of battle – to free aim and fire, drawing on third-person shooters. Out of battle, this is typically used to interact with the environment, but something I did not initially realize is that you can fire a shot at an enemy Nevron to stun them. This allows you to settle proceedings and initiate battle on your own terms by getting close and pressing RB, beginning battles with a First Strike.

In-battle, however, Free Aim use gets more strategic, as each shot now costs 1 Action Point – and it won’t end your turn. Initially, you’re guided to fire a shot at Nevron weak points (for massive damage, of course). But this move has plenty of utility even when an enemy doesn’t have a weak point; many enemies can be killed solely with Free Aim shots – especially flying enemies. So if a character enters a turn with an abundance of AP, it’s usually worth it to fire off a few shots to soften up your target before launching into a Skill or Attack to finish them off.

The 4D chess version of this is when you couple this technique with the Dead Energy Lumina, gifting 3 AP for every defeated enemy – you may be able to mow through a whole gang in one turn!

Lumina and Pictos – How Do They Work?

One of the most interesting – and initially mystifying – features of Expedition 33 is the Pictos and Lumina systems, which allow for significant boosts and customization for your characters. Here’s how they work:

Pictos are basically an accessory, like a ring that grants an ability or boon. And much like a real ring, if you wear it long enough, it can make an impression on you, even after you take it off. Here’s how that plays out in Expedition 33: after winning 4 battles with a Pictos equipped, it’s considered “mastered.” That means *everyone* in the party can take advantage of that Pictos’ buff, provided they have enough Lumina points. You gain new Lumina points with every level, plus some consumable items that grant even more.

Here’s how that plays out: you’ll want to equip basically any new Pictos you find in the world – and you’ll get a lot – cycling them out as they’re mastered for new ones. Over time, you’ll have dozens of Lumina abilities to choose from and equip; mix and match to further customize your characters. Protip: some Lumina skills can require up to 10 Lumina Points to equip, while others may need as few as one. To get the most bang for your buck, prioritize those useful, lower cost abilities for your Lumina loadout, and simply keep the Pictos equipped for some of those important 10-point passives.

Spend Wisely

In Expedition 33, your characters will level up frequently, each time earning 3 points to invest in Attributes such as Vitality, Might, or Luck, as well as a point for your Skill tree.

On the Attributes side, there is an interesting quirk: sometimes a point in one attribute will upgrade another; for example, a point in Agility will often boost a character’s speed as well as their Defense or Attack Power. So, with each level up, it’s worthwhile to try adding a point into each slot before committing to see which will give you more bang for your buck.

Explore

One last bit of advice: explore – The Continent is mysterious and important, and it’s easy to get lost. But know that most dead ends will result in an item, or an optional enemy with great rewards. There is even some light platforming, so use your jump and poke around everywhere, you never know what you’ll find.

What you will find is one of the most interesting RPGs I’ve played in years, so make sure you preorder/preload today,

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available April 24 for Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC with support for Xbox Play Anywhere and day one with Game Pass

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Kepler Interactive

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$49.99

Pre-order

“Year by year, She erases us.”

Once a year, the Paintress wakes and paints upon her monolith. Paints her cursed number. And everyone of that age turns to smoke and fades away. Year by year, that number ticks down and more of us are erased. Tomorrow she’ll wake and paint “33.” And tomorrow we depart on our final mission – Destroy the Paintress, so she can never paint death again.

We are Expedition 33.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a ground-breaking turn-based RPG with unique real-time mechanics, making battles more immersive and addictive than ever. Explore a fantasy world inspired by Belle Époque France in which you battle devastating enemies.

Reactive Turn-based Combat
In this evolution of JRPGs, real-time actions enhance the heart of turn-based combat. Craft unique builds for your Expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and character synergies. Open an active dimension in combat – dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free aim system.

“Tomorrow Comes”
With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, and their fellow Expeditioners as they embark upon a desperate quest to break the Paintress’ cycle of death. Follow the trail of previous expeditions and discover their fate. Get to know the members of Expedition 33 as they learn to work together against impossible odds.

A Hauntingly Beautiful World
Explore an enchanting realm populated by surreal adversaries. Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from the Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield, discovering secrets and hidden quests along the way. Find allies of fortune in creatures of legend. Recruit special companions to access new travel methods and discover secret areas in the World Map.

Experience the debut game from Sandfall Interactive, fully realized in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning graphics and a heartbreaking soundtrack.