Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the turn-based RPG from Sandfall Interactive is taking the gaming world by storm and is an obvious contender for ‘Game of the Year.’
And while it hasn’t exactly come out of nowhere (we said it was one of our most anticipated games of 2025 last year ), many didn’t expect quite the level of success the title has achieved, with even the developers sharing their joy at how well the game is doing.
Image Credit: Kepler Interactive
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Hits Over 120,000 Concurrent Players On Steam
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 ‘s breakout popularity saw the game hit over 120,000 concurrent players on Sunday, April 27. This was despite early forecasts predicting that perhaps the recent shadow drop of the Oblivion Remaster would hurt the similarly genre’d game’s release
This is also not a true representation of the games’ popularity, as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was also available on Xbox Game Pass , meaning many players have enjoyed the title on Xbox Series X/S and PC – not counted by Steam DB.
The developer also shared that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 had sold over 1 million copies across all platforms. The game also sits at over 90% positive reviews on Steam, and has raked in 90% scores and 9 and 10/10 ratings from reviewers – making it the best reviewed game of 2025 so far.
Image Credit: Sandfall Interactive
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Physical Copies Sell Out in Some Locations
But it’s not all record scores and high steam chart ratings. The game actually sold out of physical copies in several locations. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sold out in all Australian retailers for a brief time over the weekend as per streamer and Bloodborne 60fps patch creator Lance Mcdonald.
But elsewhere, fans have reported difficulty getting physical copies or even finding the physical edition of the game. With a game so laced in nostalgia and homage to the past, it’s no wonder its fans want physical versions, but the demand just can’t keep up.
Image Credit: Esports.net
Incredible Motion Capture Helps Imbue Expedition 33 With Emotion
There’s dozens of reasons why Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a hit: A classic turn-based RPG in a style that’s been out of vogue for decades, an intricate, challenging story that allows itself both melodrama and levity, and visuals that truly transport you to an amazing world. The game is a love letter to video games.
But behind this are the incredible motion capture for faces that is the reason behind some of the incredible performances in-game. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is filled with teary emotional moments, and they’re all captured from genuine crying humans, which definitely helps sell it. In a world filled with lazy game animations and AI, there’s something hugely refreshing about this process.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is obviously a triumph, and Sandfall Interactive and publisher Kepler Interactive have created something truly special.