Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, one of 2025’s biggest surprises, has dropped to its lowest price on Steam with a 20% discount running until November 6. If you’ve been waiting to jump in, this limited-time deal brings the price down from about $50 to just under $40.
Crafted by French studio Sandfall Interactive—a tight-knit team of around 30 developers formed by veterans seeking more creative freedom—Expedition 33 feels like a passion project with AAA polish. Its world is as striking as it is unsettling: each year, a mysterious woman paints a number on a colossal monolith. When the number appears, everyone of that age disappears. The game begins at 33. You lead a perilous journey to uncover the truth and stop the cycle, guided by layered characters, emotional twists, and a story that sticks with you.
Expedition 33 stands out for its smart fusion of JRPG and Soulslike design. You explore from a top-down view, but battles and instanced areas shift to third-person. Combat is turn-based, yet highly interactive—timed dodges and parries can mitigate damage, and many abilities include quick-time prompts that reward precision with bonus effects. The result is a tactical system where reading enemy patterns and mastering timing matter as much as your build, offering the best of strategy RPGs with the tension of action combat.
The RPG depth is equally satisfying. Each character has a distinct playstyle, and a broad selection of weapons, gear, talents, and perks supports a wide range of builds—from supportive, sustain-heavy squads to aggressive, high-risk setups for players who’ve mastered enemy behaviors. Experimentation is encouraged, and the payoff feels substantial.
Presentation and atmosphere are top-tier. The game’s painterly art direction and meticulous worldbuilding are complemented by a bespoke soundtrack and strong voice performances, including a memorable turn from Andy Serkis. It looks and sounds like a big-budget production, yet retains the focus and heart of an indie.
Critical and player reception has been stellar. A perfect 10/10 from 4Players helped spotlight the release, and on Metacritic it boasts a 92 Metascore with a 9.6 User Score—widely cited as record-breaking. On Steam, more than 170,000 user reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with a 96% approval rating. It’s already being talked about as a frontrunner for 2025’s Game of the Year.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launched in April 2025 and is now on Steam at its lowest price yet with a 20% discount until November 6. It’s rated Playable on Steam Deck and runs well on the go with a few minor tweaks. For fans of story-rich adventures, JRPGs, or Soulslike-inspired combat, this is the perfect moment to see why Expedition 33 has captured so much attention.
