Summary
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sells 1 million copies in three days, offering a unique turn-based RPG experience with real-time combat.
- The game's success is attributed to its affordable retail price and positive reviews.
- The RPG features a captivating story set in a world where players must master parrying and dodging to defeat enemies and solve mysteries.
Sandfall Interactive’s debut project, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has hit an incredible milestone, reaching 1 million copies sold just three days after launch. Released on April 24, Clair Obscur gives players something the developer believes has generally been missing from the AAA space: a turn-based RPG experience. However, the game adds a unique twist by integrating a real-time parry and dodge mechanic that keeps the combat more interactive than is usual in the genre.
Two other elements weighed in the RPG’s favor on launch: Clair Obscur launched day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate but also has a tempting retail price of $49.99. This means those interested can nab even the deluxe edition for the same investment as most current-gen AAA titles. And many Game Pass subscribers are also purchasing a copy to show their support for the game.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Mod Makes Dodging and Parrying Easier
Following the launch of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a player releases a mod meant to make dodge and parry windows easier to manage.
Combined with the predominantly glowing reviews from both critics and players alike, it’s came as little surprise when Sandfall revealed on April 27 that the RPG had already reached 1 million copies sold. Even before launch, Clair Obscur was being tossed in as a possible Game of the Year contender by those lucky enough to get an early glimpse, with gamers lauding everything from its combat, graphics, and soundtrack to its instantly compelling story and world-building.
Turn-Based RPG Clair Obscur Hits 1 Million Copies Sold
Though the main story of Clair Obscur only takes about 30 hours to beat, there is plenty on offer to engage players and keep them exploring the intriguing setting for longer. The game takes place in a world where the mysterious Paintress awakens every year and paints a number on her giant monolith. In a terrifying countdown, those whose age matches the painted number are scrubbed from existence. But the dreaded date also marks the launch of an annual Expedition determined to find the Paintress and end her deadly ritual before their number is called.
A central feature of the game is its combat, and mastering the timing of parrying and dodging in Clair Obscur is crucial to success. Thankfully, for those who might not excel at this type of mechanic, there is an “easy” difficulty setting that will allow all players to make it through with minimal frustration. And the RPG already has a dedicated fan base that has not been put off by the potential challenge. Sitting at a comfortable “Very Positive” user rating on Steam and a 91 critic average on OpenCritic, many gamers clearly feel that Sandfall’s Clair Obscur deserves its impressive milestone, and there will likely be many more to come.
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 98%
- Released
- April 24, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sandfall Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Kepler Interactive
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
