“I haven't felt this way about a game in a very long time,” game designer Adrian Chmielarz shares his views on Sandfall Interactive’s hit

No doubt, Clair Obscure Expedition 33 was April’s biggest gaming hit and a strong Game of the Year contender. Sales took off right from day one, hitting devs’ goals way earlier than planned. But it’s not just about sales, everyone’s been praising the game, from Steam and OpenCritic reviews (including ours) to industry pros. The creator of The Vanishing of Ethan Carter and Witchfire called Expedition 33 a “wonder.”

Expedition 33 – a fresh take on RPGs

Adrian Chmielarz, co-founder of The Astronauts and formerly of People Can Fly (Painkiller, Bulletstorm), shared his thoughts on Expedition 33. And he really came at it from every angle.

From a design perspective, he’s all in on how the game handles combat, pacing, and how the world opens up, though he points out a couple hiccups like the QTEs and UI. As someone who’s spent years wearing the producer hat, he’s truly impressed by how a relatively small team pulled off something this ambitious, even if the credits suggest more than 30 people were involved.

Source: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33; Developer: Sandfall Interactive

And as a writer, he’s blown aways with the dialogue, emotional depth, and layered storytelling. But most importantly, in his words:

For Chmielarz, Expedition 33 is a “wonder,” and he believes it’s a must-play for anyone who loves games.

He’s not the only one cheering it on. David Gaider, the writer of the first three Dragon Age games and co-creator of Baldur’s Gate 2, even said recently that Expedition 33 is to jRPGs what Baldur’s Gate 3 is to cRPGs. And in my opinion Expedition 33 isn’t just another game – it’s a fresh experience that’s redefining what narrative-driven RPGs can be.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

April 24, 2025

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