Is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Worth Playing? A Brutally Honest Review of Its Early Access Journey

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dropped onto the scene with striking visuals, a poetic narrative style, and the promise of fusing turn-based strategy with real-time action. But as with any ambitious Early Access title, one question echoes throughout the player community:

👉 Is it actually worth your time — and money — right now?

In this honest review, we cut through marketing gloss to deliver a clear, gameplay-first evaluation of whether Clair Obscur is worth playing in its current Early Access state.

1. Gameplay Systems: Innovative but Not Fully Realized

Clair Obscur attempts something bold: turn-based combat with real-time QTE mechanics and timing-based defense, reminiscent of Paper Mario or Undertale, but in a painterly 3D world.

🟢 What Works:

Skill-based inputs make each battle engaging
The Ink Meter resource adds strategic depth to actions
Environmental transitions are seamless and immersive

🔴 What’s Lacking (as of v0.35):

Enemy AI behavior feels repetitive beyond Chapter 3
Some attacks have unclear timing windows, especially for newcomers
Lack of battle speed control or accessibility toggles

📌 Verdict: Fun, but needs tuning. Combat rewards precision, but the feedback loop isn’t always clear.

2. Story & Worldbuilding: A Dreamy Setup That Needs Momentum

At first glance, the story is mesmerizing — you’re Expeditioner #33, destined to break a loop of deaths. The world feels painterly, metaphorical, and filled with cryptic symbols. But does the narrative hold up over time?

🟢 What Works:

Strong opening chapters (0–2) with mysterious tone
Lore hidden in environment storytelling and optional dialogue
French-inspired language and cadence add unique charm

🔴 Weaknesses:

Chapters 3–4 suffer from pacing dips and filler fights
Side characters lack meaningful arcs (so far)
Dialogue choices have little impact (mostly cosmetic)

📌 Verdict: The world is intriguing, but the narrative arc loses tension midway. Still, it has the bones for greatness — if the devs follow through.

3. Content Scope & Replayability: Still Early, But Showing Promise

Clair Obscur is not yet a “full” game — and the devs are upfront about this.

Current Content (as of v0.35):

5 story chapters (~7–9 hours)
~20 unique enemy types
~12 equippable “Verse” abilities
No New Game+, no alternate endings yet

📌 Replayability: Low. You can respec builds, but there are few real branching paths or class systems (yet).

However, based on the Early Access roadmap, the devs plan:

5+ more chapters
A build system overhaul (class-based Verse sets)
Optional endgame content & multiple endings

📌 Verdict: It’s enough to sample the vision — but not enough for long-term engagement just yet.

4. Updates, Dev Transparency & Community Involvement

🟢 Positives:

Devs post monthly updates and respond regularly on Discord
Performance patches and quality-of-life features arrive consistently
Community votes influence upcoming mechanics (e.g. battle speed, UI design)

🔴 Concerns:

Some features (like class system, crafting) are delayed repeatedly
No ETA on console ports or controller rebinding

📌 Verdict: The devs are present and listening, but timeframes are slippery. Worth supporting — if you’re patient.

5. Who Is This Game For?

You’ll love it if you:

Enjoy artsy, narrative-heavy RPGs (GRIS, Lost Words, Bastion)
Want combat that demands reflexes, not just turn-based menu mashing
Are okay with early access quirks in exchange for ambition

You might hate it if you:

Need finished systems and replay value
Expect fast-paced progression and tons of loot
Prefer open-world exploration over guided chapters

Final Verdict: Worth Watching, Worth Supporting — But Know What You're Buying

CriteriaScore

Combat Innovation

8/10

Narrative Strength

6.5/10

Visual Artistry

9/10

Current Content

6/10

Future Potential

9/10

🟨 Overall Score: 7.6/10 (Early Access)

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn’t for everyone right now — but it’s one of the most artistically daring and design-risk-taking RPGs in years. If you're a curious player who enjoys watching a strange gem evolve, it's worth the ride.

If you're looking for a complete, polished RPG with dozens of hours of content? You might want to wait a few updates.

Final Tip: How to Get the Best Experience Now

Play with a gamepad for better input precision
Tweak your settings (see our optimization guide)
Join the Discord — they offer saves, dev polls, and patch sneak peeks
Avoid burnout — stop after Chapter 4 and return with next update