If you had told me that the debut double-A game from a little-known developer’s studio would be one of the biggest contenders for the 2025 Game of the Year award and one of the best RPGs of all time, I would have laughed. But 2025 was a very good year. Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33 Not your average game. If you haven’t played Sandfall’s masterpiece yet, or if you’ve been waiting for a sale, we’ve got some good news for you. You can get it now at the lowest price ever at Loaded.
I love a good RPG, but I prefer the fast-paced combat of action-focused games like Final Fantasy 16 to the standard JRPG-style turn-based gameplay. But even as someone who enjoys real-time action, I can’t fault Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which quickly ranks on my list of the best PC games of all time.
Inspired by many of the best JRPGs, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s main story involves the end of the world. Paintless, a god-like figure who paints numbers every year and essentially kills everyone over his age, is a looming threat that feels both invincible and existentially terrifying. But that doesn’t stop the residents of Lumière from launching expeditions to stop her every year, even though no one has been able to accomplish it.
Although fighting The Painttress is the crux of the game’s plot, Expedition 33’s story is anything but simple. The characters, from the lovable Gustave to the brave and courageous Mael, all have their own unique personalities. genuine. It also helps that the cast is full of great voice actors, all of whom make their characters special and unique.
In addition to this, Sandfall’s debut features turn-based combat and more strategy, forcing you to use effective combos as a party. Having to dodge and parry enemy attacks makes each battle more engaging than just pressing a button and watching the turns unfold.
Expedition 33 was an amazing experience and my family and friends are probably tired of me talking about it. Therefore, I also recommend it to you, dear reader. Considering you can buy it from Loaded (formerly CDKeys) for $29.19 / £21.49, there’s no reason not to give it a try.
While we recommend just jumping into Sandfall Interactive’s RPG, there are a few things you can do to make the experience a little easier. Personally, I recommend reading our best Expedition 33 build guide to make sure each character is well-equipped to fight the Paintless, or check out our list of the best Expedition 33 weapons to make your attacks even more powerful.
Whether you cried while playing Expedition 33 and want to talk about it (note, we’re not trained professionals), or you’re wondering the best way to see your damage numbers grow with other players, check out the Discord server. If you join, please excuse my ramblings.
