Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 A Dark Fantasy Western with Persona and Final Fantasy Influences
After watching a recent hands-off demo of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which in my opinion looks like one of the most interesting new RPGs coming in 2025, I was struck by its clear indebtedness to the great turn-based RPG series Persona, and specifically Persona 5 Royal. The game’s design borrows many elements from Persona: the real-time initiation of combat where striking first offers an advantage, the team-based turn-based combat system, and the unique monster designs. Even the camera angles and slick menu animations bear a strong resemblance to Persona‘s style.
With these observations in mind, I took the opportunity to ask the game’s Creative Director, Guillaume Broche, about the inspirations behind the project during a recent demo presentation.
“Yeah, we’re not hiding that there are influences from the big Japanese genre,” Broche admitted. “But actually, Persona isn’t the biggest influence on what we do. I grew up loving the action RPGs from the Final Fantasy era—especially Final Fantasy 8, 9, and 10. So, I’d say a lot of the core of the game draws from those experiences, although it’s not a direct lift from them. The game is shaped more by the creative tastes I developed over the years from those titles.”
He continued, “In terms of Persona, we looked at what they did with the dynamic camera movements and menus. We were inspired by how they were able to create a system that feels active and dynamic while still being turn-based, but we wanted to put our spin on it, especially given that we have a very different art style and setting.”
Hearing Broche acknowledge these influences was refreshing, and it confirmed my initial thoughts on the game’s origins. However, it became clear that Expedition 33 is not merely trying to copy what worked for other games but is taking cues from those beloved titles to craft something uniquely its own. The game blends the JRPG formula with a distinct Western dark fantasy aesthetic, creating a style that feels fresh while remaining familiar to genre fans.
The game’s reveal trailer provides a tantalizing glimpse into its world, showcasing a bleak and atmospheric setting that evokes the “end of days” vibe often associated with Final Fantasy titles. Despite its turn-based nature, combat in Expedition 33 incorporates action elements, with timed button presses optimizing attacks and dodging or parrying enemy moves. This adds a layer of engagement and intensity to the battle system, allowing players to control the pacing of the fight, whether they prefer a slower, more tactical approach or a faster, more action-oriented one.
I don’t know about you, but I’m digging the look and tone of Expedition 33. It stands out as a unique take on the turn-based RPG genre, combining classic inspirations with modern, dynamic mechanics. It’s one to watch as we head into 2025.
