Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s Success Redefined Potentials for Turn-Based Games

After a rough stretch for the gaming industry in recent years, there's finally a significant win to celebrate. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has launched to overwhelming success. Initially announcing 500,000 units sold at launch, the game has now surpassed the 1 million sales mark within just a few days, and that figure doesn't even include players on Game Pass.

Developed by a small but passionate team of just 33 developers, Expedition 33 has likely already turned a profit and is poised for even greater success in the months ahead. The game currently holds the highest Metacritic score of the year and boasts an incredible user rating of 9.7, one of the highest ever recorded. If it wasn't already clear from the early buzz, Expedition 33 is a must-play for all AAA game lovers.

Even for those who typically shy away from turn-based games, this game offers a much more action-driven experience that feels new and engaging. There's even hope for a demo in the future, which could open the door to an even wider audience. Beyond its impressive numbers, Expedition 33 signals two major shifts for the industry.

First, it proves that turn-based combat, often considered niche in today's AAA market, can still achieve mainstream success when wrapped in an appealing and high-quality package. We saw hints of this trend with Baldur's Gate 3. However, Expedition 33 cements the idea that players are willing to embrace deeper, more strategic systems if the overall experience is strong enough. This starkly contrasts with studios like Square Enix, which have moved away from traditional RPG mechanics in recent Final Fantasy entries, favoring action-heavy systems to chase broader audiences—with mixed results.

Second, Expedition 33 is a powerful example of how smaller, more focused teams can create AAA-quality games without the massive overhead typically associated with large studios. With fewer people involved, teams can remain agile, maintain a clear creative vision, and avoid the marketing-driven decision-making that sometimes muddles bigger projects.

In an era where major publishers like Ubisoft maintain thousands of employees with inconsistent results, Expedition 33 serves as proof that leaner development models might be the way forward. With Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 now a serious contender for Game of the Year, especially if GTA VI faces any delays, the landscape of 2025's awards season has just become much more exciting.

Have you tried Expedition 33 yet, or are you planning to jump in? Let's just say: if you're even slightly curious, this is one adventure you don't want to miss.