Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Sandfall Interactive’s debut RPG is easily one of 2025’s biggest surprises. I think most people expected the studio’s homage to turn-based classic RPGs to be good, but it being one of the most critically acclaimed games of the year is a delightful turn of events. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a dense, strategic game with complex mechanics, all tightly packaged in something that never gives in to the bloated tendencies of modern RPGs. The game’s grief-driven story is gut-wrenching, though its twists have divided even its most passionate advocates. It’s the kind of game not everyone is going to come away from satisfied, but nonetheless everyone should carve out time to play it for themselves and make up their own mind. — Kenneth Shepard
