Yeah this one rocked my world.

Ever since I was a kid, video games have been a constant in my life. I’m 36 now, and aside from the Atari, I’ve played on just about every console that’s been released in my lifetime. From platformers to shooters to puzzle games, I’ve tried them all—but there’s always been a special place in my heart for RPGs and open-world adventures.

Growing up, I was obsessed with games like The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, and Sonic the Hedgehog. But everything changed when the original PlayStation came out and I was introduced to a little franchise called Final Fantasy. Getting Final Fantasy VII, VIII, and IX for Christmas in consecutive years felt like being handed entirely new universes to explore. Those games didn’t just entertain me—they expanded my imagination. The characters, the battle systems, the music, the emotional storytelling—it was all next-level.

Final Fantasy is still going strong today (XVI is absolutely stunning), and alongside Kingdom Hearts, it remains one of my all-time favorite franchises. Kingdom Hearts might lean more whimsical thanks to its Disney roots, but I’d never call it childish. It balances light and dark in a way few games can. Both series share the ingredients I care about most in games: rich characters, immersive worlds, engaging combat, and unforgettable music. Seriously—the music is the emotional heartbeat of these experiences. It’s what lingers long after the credits roll.

And then… Expedition 33 happened.

About a month ago, a new turn-based RPG—Claire Obscure: Expedition 33—started getting a lot of buzz. A couple of people told me I had to play it. So I caved… and I haven’t been the same since.

This game, developed by a small team of about 30 people—apparently former Ubisoft devs—feels nothing short of miraculous. It’s absolutely beautiful. And I don’t say this lightly: Expedition 33 might be one of the best games I’ve ever played. I’m not saying it is—Recency Bias is real—but every part of me is pointing to this being one of the most enjoyable, emotionally powerful games I’ve ever experienced.

Everything about it works. The voice acting is phenomenal—special shoutout to Ben Starr, who’s quickly becoming one of the best voice actors in video games today. And speaking of star power, Andy Serkis voices Renoir, the game’s main antagonist, and delivers a powerhouse performance that had me saying “sheesh” out loud more than once.

The main cast is stacked: Verso, Sciel, Maelle, Lune, Monoco, and Gustav (voiced by Charlie Cox, a.k.a. Daredevil himself). Every single character is layered and memorable, and they all get their time to shine. There’s real depth in this party—real heart. And yes, Esquie—goofy, weird, hilarious—was a total win for me too. Everyone in the cast delivered. It’s honestly remarkable how well-acted the entire game is.

The game’s environments are stunning—breathtaking at every step of the journey. The monster designs are eerie, artistic, and unforgettable. And while the combat is turn-based, it’s never boring. It’s interactive, demanding, and, at times, punishing. You have to pay attention. This isn’t the kind of RPG where you can coast on auto-pilot. It’s challenging. It’s rewarding. It’s alive.

And again… the music. My god, the music.

I’ve played a lot of games with great soundtracks, but this might be the greatest I’ve ever heard. No joke. It’s emotionally rich, cinematic, and soul-shaking. It pulled on my heartstrings in a way few game scores ever have. There’s a boss fight fairly early in the game where the music kicked in, the atmosphere clicked, and I just sat there, completely floored, thinking: This is it. This is why I play video games. This is everything I love about them in one moment. That’s when I knew this wasn’t just a good game. This was an all-time game.

I just finished it today. And I’m already thinking about going back. I rarely try to platinum games—but I’m doing it with Expedition 33. Not because I feel like I have to, but because I genuinely want to. There are moments I can’t wait to relive. Moments that gave me goosebumps. And I know that on a second playthrough, I’ll appreciate them even more.

The story? Wild. Complex. Emotional. Full of twists and gut punches. There’s one moment—no spoilers—where I had to put the controller down and walk away. That’s how emotionally wrecked I was. The game holds nothing back. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s dark. And it’s beautiful.

It’s like someone took all the best aspects of Final Fantasy, Dark Souls, and Elden Ring and wrapped them into one perfect, mysterious gift. Sure, there are a few things that could be improved—fast travel could be snappier, a completion tracker would be nice, maybe a way to see which big bosses are still left—but none of that takes away from what this game is. If anything, it’s a testament to what the developers chose to focus on. They poured everything into the story, the characters, the combat, the music, the world. And it shows.

Bottom line? Claire Obscure: Expedition 33 is a 10/10. A masterpiece. A reminder of why I’ll never stop playing video games. Ever.

If you love RPGs, if you love storytelling, if you love boss fights that mean something—play this game. I was absolutely blown away.

Published by Wannabe Movie Critic

Hey Guys & Girls.

Ever since I can remember, I have loved movies, pop culture and everything geek and nerd related. So I have decided to start writing my thoughts on things that I love.

Just a wannabe movie critic, trying to make it big

Check ya later.
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