8-Hour Review: Claire Obscur: Expedition 33

First Impressions

Right from the start, Claire Obscur: Expedition 33 feels special. The visuals are absolutely breathtaking, blending surrealism with stunning detail in a way that feels like walking through a dream. Every character design, environment, and animation feels handcrafted, giving the world a kind of haunting beauty that stays with you.

Gameplay

Gameplay-wise, it's an emotional rollercoaster—in the best way. There’s a satisfying rhythm between fast-paced combat, atmospheric exploration, and thoughtful puzzles. The pacing keeps things fresh, and while the combat system can feel a bit stiff early on, it eventually finds its groove. The parry and dodge mechanics are solid, though you might wish there were a bit more depth or variety in strategic options.

That said, it’s easy to get swept up in the moment-to-moment experience. The synergy between gameplay, visuals, and sound design creates an incredibly immersive flow. At times, it genuinely felt like I was playing through an animated painting.

Graphics and Sound

This game is gorgeous. Every scene could be a wallpaper. The art direction leans hard into painterly surrealism, with a rich color palette and intricate world-building. But it’s not just about how it looks—sound plays a big role, too.

The soundtrack is haunting and cinematic, perfectly matching the tone of each moment. Whether it’s a quiet stroll through a forgotten ruin or a tense boss fight, the music amplifies the mood without overwhelming it. Sound effects are crisp and atmospheric, helping pull you even deeper into the world.

Story and Characters

What surprised me most was how emotionally rich the story is. The characters are well-written and surprisingly relatable, each bringing their own emotional arc and backstory into play. Their relationships evolve naturally, adding weight to their struggles and victories.

The narrative itself has plenty of twists, but it’s not twisty just for the sake of shock—it earns those moments. It keeps you invested and constantly curious about what’s coming next. It’s not just a game you play—it’s a story you feel.

Technical Performance

On the technical side, Expedition 33 runs impressively well. Even on mid-range hardware, performance was smooth with no major bugs or hitches in my first 8 hours. It feels well-optimized, and load times were minimal.

Whether you're playing on high-end or more modest specs, it seems like the devs put in the work to make sure this runs clean across the board.

Conclusion

After just eight hours, I can confidently say Claire Obscur: Expedition 33 is something special. It’s rare to find a game that nails art, emotion, and gameplay so consistently, especially so early on. While the combat could use a little refinement in depth, everything else—from the world to the characters to the sheer beauty of the game—more than makes up for it.

If you’re a fan of artistic RPGs, emotionally driven stories, or just want to get lost in a visually stunning world for a while, this one’s worth your time. Easily one of the year’s standout titles.