Summary
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33has made a name for itself worldwide, and the gaming community can’t seem to stop talking about it.Critics and industry peers have nothing but praise for it, too. The developers at Sandfall Interactive had a creative vision from theget-go that took inspiration from classic JRPGs. That influence is easy to spot, especially in how the game players experiment with different builds for each character. It may not offer an open-world experience, but it does feature rewarding exploration with many optional dungeons and boss fights.
Now that the game has been out for a while, mostClair Obscurefans are now done with it, and for them, the wait for a sequel is already starting to feel endless. Thankfully, there are more than a few fantastic alternatives that can tide fans over with a close enough experience.
Indie titles that can actually compete with AAA gameslikeClair Obscur: Expedition 33are rare.WitchSpring Ris one of them. While its bright and cheery art direction might not suggest it, this game actually tells a nuanced story. The main character is a young witch known as Pieberry, who had to go into hiding from her world’s knight order. Despite her grim situation (which would make most people collapse under pressure), she is a bundle of joy who retains her positivity.
WitchSpring Roffers an excellent blend of player agency with its intricate game design. Players can level Pieberry’s spells and traits, not just with battles, but with routine life-sim tasks and mini-games. Crafting and collecting different ingredients allows access to new, powerful spells. Players can also capture different summons and use them in battles.
Shadow Hearts: From the New Worldis a standalone entry in the vastly underratedShadow Heartsseries. Sadly, it’s only playable with a working copy and a functioning PS2. Nevertheless, it is one of the best turn-based JRPGs, and its high-risk, high-reward combat gameplay rivals that ofClair Obscur: Expedition 33. A big part of what makes the combat so memorable is the game’s signature ‘Judgment Ring’ mechanic. Mastering it boosts damage output and prolongs the attack chain, but failing to do so has negative consequences.
There are also fusion forms for the main heroine that offer different abilities to encourage a tactical approach. Despite the colorful aesthetic and some silliness in the character design, the gripping story has a dark undertone. The alternative historical setting representing the Americas adds a unique, visually distinct flavor to the environmental levels.
The devs behindSea of Starsand Clair Obscura: Expedition 33had similar motivations of evoking and innovating on the classic RPG formula. While the two games are worlds apart graphically, they share common gameplay elements. One of the major ones is the emphasis on active-time defense via precision button presses in turn-based battles, which makes enemy encounters challenging and fun. A wide range of character abilities encourages players to experiment, while alsokeeping in mind that positioningis as crucial as anything else.
The story ofSea of Starshas many heartbreaking moments that will catch players off guard. Some companions will leave the party in dramatic twists, and their absence will resonate in environmental storytelling. Speaking of environments, traversing the immersive and beautiful in-game world is an utterly breathtaking experience.
Lies of Pis a fascinating retelling of the tale of Pinocchio, set in a similar backdrop and style toClair Obscur: Expedition 33’s Belle Époque era. Both games feature interconnected linear worlds that encourage and reward players for exploring. The progression system and upgrades have a lot of variety. Players will enjoytinkering around with different weaponsto find the one that suits their playstyle.
SinceLies of Pis a soulslike, its combat approach is wildly different, thanks to intense enemy encounters and boss fights. The enemy variety pushes players out of their comfort zone to find and exploit weaknesses. Parrying is essential for surviving the flurry of enemy attacks from all sides.
The anime-style visuals ofMetaphor: ReFantaziomight give the impression that the game is a light-hearted affair. However, it has an intense narrative that deals with themes of racial tensions and high stakes. Many players describe the game as a more refined take on thePersonaseries that forgoes the high-school setting.
Like inClair Obscur: Expedition 33, assembling the ideal party to deal with enemies is a central game mechanic. It will constantly change depending on the enemy’s weakness and environmental conditions. The Archetype character class system inMetaphor: ReFantazioallows far greater customization flexibility. Every party member can have more than one Archetype, and compatible ones between party members allow access to unique synthesis skills that deal massive damage.
WhileClair Obscur: Expedition 33devs have cited the 10th mainline installment as a clear inspiration,Final Fantasy 16charts new territory worth checking out.It’s a mature, dark fantasy revenge storythat will hook players from the start. The game is a visual stunner with enchanting graphics and bleak environments that complement the narrative.
Players can only control Clive, the protagonist ofFinal Fantasy 16.However, the game’s combat has a lot of depth and spectacle that will appeal to fans of action RPGs. Clive’s Eikon abilities grant various elemental attacks that can be switched up on the fly during combat. Parrying and precision dodges are also vital mechanics to master, especially on harder difficulties where enemies are relentless.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33has a gameplay loop based around strategic thinking, something thatFire Emblem: Three Housesis also notorious for. Nintendo took things further with this game’s narrative, requiring multiple playthroughs to understand the full scope of the story. A profound plot twist mid-way gives players pause and essentially causes them to be torn over the critical choices they’ll have to make.
Battles can go down in many ways, depending on who is prioritized for training. Thatparticular character’s skill levelat the time and the strength of their bond with the protagonist will factor into their overall fighting ability. Positioning is a primary gameplay component ofFire Emblem: Three Houses,but weapon arts and battalion support add even more tactical options.
Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeanceis the definitive game to satisfy players craving more ofClair Obscur: Expedition 33. The two titles share many game mechanics and focus on a narrative with a lot of gravitas. This game’s morally gray choices feel like a window into the player’s soul.
Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeancefeatures a spectacular semi-open world with lots of secrets to uncover. Finding the right party of demons and training them to set up the perfect skill sequence is crucial. Turn-based combat scenarios are an intuition test for players todiscover and exploit an enemy’s weakness. The boss fights are grand and ominous, and the accompanying soundtrack really makes the whole experience enjoyable and immersive.
