Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took the gaming world abruptly when it grew to become top-of-the-line reviewed video games of 2025 to this point, and bought over 3.33 million copies. It hit ranges of on-line dialog and reward usually reserved for the Elden Rings and Legend of Zeldas of the world. Part of that reward has described Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as revitalizing the turn-based style, one thing that is not actually true until you solely play Final Fantasy video games. But with the excessive reward from critics and optimistic reception from followers, it appears doubtless that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will affect future RPGs, and that may have each optimistic and unfavorable repercussions. There are some points that possibly should not be taken for different video games, however there are methods in right here that different RPG builders completely ought to study from.RPGs ought to steal character-specific fight mechanicsSciel’s foretell system creates a easy loop to construct extra difficult builds round.On paper, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s use of character-specific fight mechanics simply looks like a distinct model of courses or jobs in turn-based fight, nevertheless it goes past that. While a knight will excel at completely different points of fight than a mage, the move of fight for every is often both the identical or has small variations, like the kind of buffs and debuffs you’ll be able to apply to every character.The fight variations in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 go far past class variations, and permit for nice class constructing consequently. For instance, the way in which that Maelle’s stance altering works encourages far completely different Lumina builds in comparison with Monocco or Lune, creating 5 characters that really feel like distinct people, and never simply class archetypes.RPGs ought to keep away from parrying (sure, actually)Parrying is key to each Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s fight and success, because it gives a fascinating strategy to actively take part in turn-based fight. Yet a part of the explanation that it really works is as a result of it is fundamental–the total recreation is constructed round parrying enemies. Enemy actions, fight problem, and full points of character builds are designed solely round this method.Due to the recognition of Sekiro and different FromSoftware program video games, parrying has turn into pretty commonplace in video video games of late. This not solely makes the mechanic really feel way more stale than it ought to, nevertheless it has additionally made it simple to establish the 2 varieties of parry video games. There are parry video games like Sekiro and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which might be constructed round parrying, and there are video games like The First Berzerker: Khazan, which have parrying, however aren’t reliant upon the mechanic.Sekiro and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 require parrying, and are designed round that. Enemies assault in methods meant to confuse your skill to parry, however at all times observe the identical assault patterns, to allow them to be discovered. In different experiences, parrying is a device in your device belt, and since you do not have to make use of it, enemy assault patterns cannot be constructed with that in thoughts. It usually turns into probably the most highly effective transfer in that type of recreation, since parrying deflects away assaults and can supply a gap for a robust assault. In these circumstances, parrying truly takes away from the opposite points of fight.What RPG makers ought to take from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is that they need to spend money on fight methods that characteristic points that add depth and dynamism to turn-based video games, and construct round these features–not that they need to simply copy Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s homework. Turn-based RPGs have been using lively components for many years with video games like Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, and the very best examples share that purposeful use of lively components. Another turn-based recreation might use parrying efficiently, but when it is simply being tacked on as a result of it is in style, the outcomes will not be wherever close to as profitable.RPGs ought to steal extra impactful toolsWeapons having such impactful passives makes every one really feel extra distinctive than tools in another turn-based RPGs.Weapons, Luminas, and Pictos are a number of the extra underrated points of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, as these methods permit for inventive (and busted) fight builds. While I do not want these particularly lifted, nor do I want each RPG to permit me to interrupt the fight with a busted construct, I discover that many RPG’s tools feels so easy that it is not price fascinated by past the numbers getting greater.Weapons in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 all have distinctive passive skills that drastically change the way you play. For instance, the weapon I used with Sciel at all times utilized the utmost quantity of Foretell, as a substitute of the quantity listed on a talent. That allowed me to make use of abilities with decrease prices to use Foretell, since I’d at all times get the max, so I might use the financial savings to afford higher-cost skills that apply additional harm based mostly on Foretell, maximizing my harm. If I used a distinct weapon, I’d have needed to utterly change my battle technique. The manner these points can drastically change your strategy even to a single character gives a lot extra depth than many RPGs.RPGs ought to keep away from a whole lack of map markersThe pushback in opposition to recreation world maps coated in goal markers has been going sturdy, reaching a fever pitch with the discharge of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in 2017, which opted to have few goal markers on its large map. People in opposition to goal markers argue that they flip any quantity of story-telling or exploration that might occur into you simply going from one goal to the following, not participating with the areas in between.The argument has been that not having map markers encourages exploration and discovery, and when applied nicely, like in Elden Ring, it really works wonders. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 doesn’t have degree design, nor overworld design, that works nicely with a scarcity of goal markers. The most profitable examples are open-world video games, however Clair Obscur options small, principally linear ranges. Even the facet areas are normally brief, winding areas, so as a substitute of a scarcity of map markers resulting in participating exploration, it results in you getting misplaced in these areas, as you’ll be able to’t at all times establish which manner leads ahead and which leads again when you get circled.The overworld map suffers not as a result of it is simple to get misplaced, however as a result of so many areas are finest left to come back again to. But when you attain the purpose the place you need to return, you will understand you are not certain which areas you have explored, and which of them you have not. Without an in-game tracker, and even one thing so simple as stamps for the map, you are left to your reminiscence or a guidelines exterior of the sport, which may take you out of the story.RPGs ought to steal quick introsClair Obscur: Expedition 33 has acquired excessive reward for its shorter runtime, clocking in someplace between 24-60 hours, shorter than different high-profile turn-based RPGs, like Metaphor: ReFantazio and Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth. While I believe there’s a place for RPGs of all lengths, there’s a facet of Clair Obscur’s shorter run time that I do assume different RPGs ought to steal.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hits the bottom operating. You get a short however actually efficient stroll across the metropolis of Lumiere initially that gives tons of world-building to chew on, earlier than shortly sending you out into the world. Turn-based RPGs can usually spend a ton of time initially, front-loading a ton of world-building, leading to it taking just a few hours to truly get into the rhythm of the sport. Clair Obscur’s quick intros not solely present a extra engaging hook to stay round, however the quicker tempo additionally signifies that it would not have the time to overwhelm you with backstory and correct nouns. The gradual introductions in different RPGs are sometimes used to do a considerable amount of exposition and world-building, which cannot solely make for a gradual begin to the story, however may also overload you with data, making it tough to truly digest.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will proceed to be a scorching subject relating to video games, particularly in dialog with different RPGs. It has an important shot at making an look in many retailers’ recreation of the 12 months conversations, so it is prone to be on the thoughts of different builders for some time, too. But whereas there are many nice points of Clair Obscur to take inspiration from, hopefully not each component will make an look in future turn-based RPGs, and builders will put ingenuity first.
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