Expedition Log #8: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — Questions in the Fractured World

Blind Playthough

3 February 2026 – Bonjour, everyone! I’m back and I want to kick this new year off with a bang. Last time, we covered the indie game Celeste, which was a beautiful, emotional adventure. With this new expedition, however, I wanted to aim for something a bit…larger. A game that promises both scale and ambition. This time, I wanted to cover the critically acclaimed title Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This is one that wasn’t originally on my radar, but after seeing it sweep The Game Awards and hearing the buzz from the community, my curiosity was piqued. I decided to dive in and see what all the fuss is about, wondering if it could live up to the hype that’s been building around it.

So, the first thing that hits me is the graphics. To put it simply, the game looks fantastic. From the characters to the reflections of myself in the puddled water as I dashed by, it all looks great. The environments are richly designed, each area brimming with detail and atmosphere that draws you in. I’ll admit there were times when I had to stop and take in this new, yet familiar world, appreciating the artistry and technical achievement on display. The lighting, the color palette, and the look of the city, all add to a sense of immersion that’s rare to find.

But while the graphics are what drew me in, it’s what I said at the end of that last sentence that has me hooked: the world itself. In only the first hour of playing, my mind was already packed full of so many questions. What is the Fracture? Who, or what, is the Paintress? What exactly do the expeditions entail? Clearly, nothing good considering we started at 100, or expedition 0 and now we’re at 33. The game does an excellent job of balancing its initial sense of celebration with an undercurrent of unease. Despite the festival we have on this bright day, there’s a contrasting undercurrent of despair running just beneath the surface. At every turn, conversations hint at a much darker reality, and the lore teases more than it reveals. That’s the feeling I got from talking to many of those around—the joy is real, but so is the dread.

Honestly, I’m kinda pumped to see where things go from here. I’ve been looking to dive into something bigger. Something larger. Something that’s not a platformer because, while I love them, I could use some diversity. So, I’m really looking forward to what comes next in this exciting new expedition!