April has been an unbelievably big month for gaming in 2025, what with the release of many popular titles like Elder Scroll IV: Oblivion Remastered, Blue Prince, and now Clair Obscur Expedition 33. We’ve spoken to some length about the first two, but with Expedition 33’s popularity stats exploding beyond expectation, it’s only fair to discuss how and why the game has been successful. 

Early Clair Obscur Expedition 33 reviews have begun pouring in, and most are in agreement that it’s another top contender for game of the year. Its Metacritic average score of 92, puts it in a tie with Blue Prince, and Expedition 33 Steam player count hit 50,000 players at launch with a “very positive” rating of 93%. All the flashing signs point in one direction—this is a game you should not miss.

Expedition 33 popularity stats

Not even Sandfall Interactive saw the number of overwhelmingly positive Expedition 33 reviews coming.

Positive Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Reviews Suggest It Could Be GOTY

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is a turn-based role-playing game by Sandfall Interactive. Established in 2020, the studio is a small French one established by what some say are ex-Ubisoft devs and those who have had experience working on smaller indie games. Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is the first game to come out of the studio, and its immediate success tells us that they are a studio to look out for in the coming years.

There is no shortage of turn-based games on the market and neither have we ever come close to running low on RPGs, so what’s the reason for Clair Obscur Expedition 33’s early success? It might have something to do with just how immersive the game is and how polished the finished results are.

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Steam Player Count Shoots to the Skies

It has only been a few days since Clair Obscur Expedition 33’s release date—April 24, 2025—and yet the game has found immediate success apparent from its Steam player count, positive reviews, and sales numbers. The game debuted with a peak concurrent player count of over 50,000 on Steam despite its mid-week release, and the all-time peak now stands at 71,225. 

The Expedition 33 Steam player count aside, it also has 94.54% positive reviews on Steam, so not only are players signing up to play, but they’re also having a good time while they’re at it. Standing at number three in terms of the top sellers, Expedition 33’s popularity stats are not easily ignored.

Clair Obscur hits 500k copies

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Sales Figures—How Many Copies Have Been Sold So Far?

If you needed more confirmation of the game’s success, Clair Obscur hit 500k copies almost instantly. The game was also released on Xbox Game Pass so many would have been able to play it there instead, but Sandfall Interactive still saw a rush of gamers making their own individual purchase. For a brand new studio with a brand new game, Clair Obscur Expedition 33’s sales figures are impressive beyond measure.

It’s also worth noting that the release of the game so close to Blue Prince and Oblivion Remastered could have seriously hurt the game’s chances as many have already made their big purchase for the month. Both games are lengthy and keep you hooked for hours at length, so it’s clear that many of them pulled themselves out, not only to make a purchase but also to actively spend time playing it. 

Game Rant called this the Barbenheimer moment for gaming, with the two big game releases this week, and there’s some truth to it—two titles can find their own audience and success at once if they get their content right.

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Reviews

Much has been said about Clair Obscur Expedition 33, but you have to play it to see the truth of the reviews.

What’s the Reason Behind Clair Obscur Expedition 33’s Early Success?

If you’re confused by Expedition 33’s popularity stats and don’t understand what’s so great about the game, there are a couple of different factors that have helped it gather steam. The voice acting and Expedition 33’s music score have a gargantuan role to play in how engaging the game is, but the story and combat are the primary driving factors. 

The woke police are relatively quiet on this game for once, but that has more to do with their discovery of only petite, pretty women and the movement mechanisms that they so enjoy. This silence has allowed for other genuine Clair Obscur Expedition 33 reviews to take up the spotlight.

Expedition 33 Delivers on Story and Setting

With a new take on Belle Époque France, Clair Obscur Expedition 33 explores an ambiguous European setting that many games have showcased in the past. Instead of feeling repetitive, the game takes on a more French-infused flavor that has grown on many since its launch. 

The story is a bleak one, marred by death, despair, and repeated reminders of the futility of human life. Despite all of that, hope and the indomitable human spirit keeps us pushing forward. Throw in some magic and an absurdist mystery and you have something new on your hands. 

A mysterious Paintress appears every year to rid the region of its already dwindling population, marking a tower with a number that puts a target on the backs of those represented by it. The Expedition is determined to find a solution and seek to put an end to it before their time comes. The leisurely approach to its pacing and story building has lured fans in, but the game has enough combat to liven up the narrative with its healthy dose of action. 

Clair Obscur Expedition 33

Clair Obscur Expedition 33’s gameplay centers around a turn-based combat system that many claimed has gone out of style.

Turn-Based Combat But Make It Engaging—Expedition 33 Knows How

The bleak story and the novel cast of characters set the tone for the game, but it’s the action and combat that really draws you in. Clair Obscur Expedition 33’s cultural impact is greatest when you consider how it manages to revitalize the turn-based gaming system, by doing what is familiar but also making defense and offense equally engaging.

There are a range of attacks and skills for you to master as you play, understanding and adapting to the weaknesses of the enemy with each run. There is momentum to each fight that you need to learn to keep pace with, making the most of the parry system to minimize damage and maximize what you can do to your opponent. If dodging feels better, there’s room to master that as well. 

Expedition 33 reviews will tell you that there’s a lot of fun to be found in understanding all the characters you have at your disposal and learning how to put them together to use best. Some embody archetypes that are inevitable in such games, while others bring a newer, unseen appeal. The diversity of the enemies also adds to the experience just as nicely.

Clair Obscur Doesn’t Compromise on Exploration and Discovery

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 may be a game with a singular mission, but it doesn’t involve a strictly linear structure that faces forward all the time. There’s a fair bit of exploring to be done, some of which lead to dead-ends while others lead to useful trinkets and journal entries that inform you of what’s to come.

The beautiful art style enshrouds both the characters and landscapes, and surprisingly, the monsters are also held under that particular blanket with their fairly unique designs. Despite the heavy nature of the story and the repeated reminders of the inevitability of death, Expedition 33 doesn’t stay depressing the entire runtime. Many moments of hope and joy make it in, with the possibility of romance never too far off. 

Clair Obscur launch sales

Sink into the Clair Obscur’s universe for a beautiful, emotionally-charged experience like no other.

Expedition 33 Reviews Signal That Its Popularity Is Just Taking Off

Despite being a fairly unknown game before its launch, Clair Obscur Expedition 33’s Steam player count and sales figures still shot up immediately upon release. With all the conversation around it right now, it’s likely that Sandfall Interactive will continue to see the game perform well for the rest of the year. Many Expedition 33 reviews have earmarked the game as one that will continue to serve as a reference point for future titles in the genre, making calls for a legendary status that series like Final Fantasy and Elder Scroll enjoy today.

As Clair Obscur hits 500k copies, we’re already looking forward to seeing what the studio starts working on next—whether it will be a sequel to this game in the next few years, another RPG, or set in an entirely new genre. It’s too soon to make a call or expect the results, but we’ll have Expedition 33 and other releases like Ghost of Yotei coming this year, to keep us company until then.

What do you think of the Clair Obscur Expedition 33 reviews so far? Are they accurate or do they blow the game’s real performance out of proportion? Let us know. Subscribe to Technowize for more updates on all things tech and gaming.

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