Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sells 500 thousand copies in 24h and impresses with its debut

Just one day after its official release, the RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 surpassed the mark of 500 thousand copies sold, as announced by the publisher Kepler Interactive and the studio Sandfall Interactive this Thursday, April 25th. Available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, and included in Xbox Game Pass, the title is already emerging as one of the surprises of the year.

The game is set in a universe inspired by the France of the Belle Époque, but with a fantastic and dark aesthetic. The plot revolves around the figure of the Paintress, an entity that annually paints a number on her monolith — and all people of that age simply disappear, turning into smoke. In Expedition 33, the fatal number of the year is "33", and the protagonists embark on a final mission to destroy the entity and interrupt this cycle of extermination.

"Tomorrow she will paint '33'. And tomorrow we will embark on our final mission: to destroy the Paintress so she never paints death again," narrates the game's prologue.

The combat is one of the highlights: the system combines turn-based RPG with real-time action elements, requiring players to dodge, block, and attack at the right time, like in a hack and slash, but within the tactical structure of JRPGs. There is also a free-aim system, equipment build and synergies, and exploration of secret areas on the world map.

The main characters — Gustave, Maelle and other members of the Expedition 33 — form a cohesive group that evolves along with the narrative. The story includes side missions, recruitable companions, legendary creatures, and striking landscapes like the Island of Faces and the Forgotten Battlefield.

Developed in the Unreal Engine 5, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 marks the debut of the French studio Sandfall Interactive, with stunning visuals and an emotional soundtrack that contributes to the melancholic atmosphere of the plot.

The immediate success shows that the market continues to be receptive to RPGs with original proposals and innovative mechanics — especially when combined with a high-level technical presentation.