It’s not accurate to say that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took us by surprise. From its reveal trailer, we were captivated by its setup, art direction, and gameplay. However, we’ve all experienced the letdown of hyped games before. Achieving the excitement generated at launch is rare, yet Clair Obscur does so with assurance. Even with several epilogues, it leaves players yearning for more. If you find yourself wanting to dive deeper into the adventures of Gustave and his companions, here are some games to explore.
If You Enjoyed The Story
Clair Obscur opens with a thought-provoking concept where everyone knows their exact death age, and that number keeps decreasing. Perhaps it’s a result of a new generation of game designers reflecting on mortality as they grow older, but Expedition 33 isn’t the only game tackling such themes. Like Xenoblade Chronicles 3, which, despite its different narrative, similarly presents characters who are acutely aware of their impending mortality. The stories diverge in unique ways, yet both explore poignant themes about aging.
If You Liked The Gameplay
Personally, I enjoy RPGs that incorporate timed button presses, as they make combat more engaging and allow players to tackle formidable foes if they’re willing to put in the effort. Nintendo’s Mario RPGs helped popularize this gameplay style. The recent remake of Super Mario RPG showcases where these mechanics originated, while the upcoming Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door release promises more excitement.
If You Liked The Setting/Art Direction
Clair Obscur is distinctly French, and perhaps the best representation of France in gaming is found in Assassin’s Creed Unity. While Unity had a rocky launch, it has since stabilized and lives up to its initial promise. If you enjoyed exploring the abstract version of France in Clair, you’ll be amazed by the detailed depiction in Unity.
If You Liked Ben Starr
In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, actor Ben Starr portrays a character named Verso. In Final Fantasy XVI, he voices Clive Rosfield. Both characters share a somewhat somber yet inviting demeanor and resemblance. Meeting Verso felt akin to interacting with Clive from an alternate universe. Additionally, consider exploring Khazan: The First Berserker, which features Starr as the lead in this recently released Soulslike.
If You Liked The Flying Waters Location
As noted by Sandfall’s art director Nicholas Maxson-Francombe, the concept for the Flying Waters location was inspired by creativebloq.com, drawing parallels with the underwater explorations in SpongeBob. The team sought to create an underwater atmosphere without implementing separate swimming mechanics. If the underwater experience intrigued you without the complexity of underwater gameplay, consider trying SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated, regarded as the best SpongeBob game.
To dive deeper into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, you can check out our full review, tips for gameplay, find out why it’s not suitable for playing with a newborn, and understand what we appreciated about its beginning in our article here.
