In a world of huge RPGs like BG3, Expedition 33 is the one you need to play

At a time when it’s the largest of RPGs that tend to dominate the gaming world, Baldur’s Gate 3, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, as well as Metaphor ReFantazio are constantly upping the game with their vast, sprawling worlds. Games are larger, denser and more time-consuming than ever. One time, that sheer size was intoxicating — so many hours disappeared in the Dragon Age: Origins, L.A. Noire and, yes, Cyberpunk 2077 universes. But as life has become more cluttered, the allure of the mega adventure has begun to fade. Suddenly, spending weeks inside some other giant game seems less thrilling than it is like a commitment you’re not going to follow through on. Age, responsibility, a dwindling attention span, or something are all easy culprits to point to. But then there’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and suddenly it feels like you’re into something else.

That first sigh, even for the beginning of Expedition 33, was almost reflexive. 30 hours with the main story plus 30 more for anyone chasing every side quest? It sounded like one more lovely world doomed to gather dust beside other lovely worlds. But if you entered Lumiere, Expedition 33 made an immediate impression. It wasn’t another oh-my-God sprawling epic commanding you to invest 100 bazillion hours in it. It felt somehow focused, direct, surprisingly inviting. Despite the clock ticking away in my mind, whispering reminders of failed games in days gone by, Expedition 33 sounded like something I’d jump at. That pull remained dragging at me, day by day, much as the only a handful of RPGs have kept me during the last few years.

What gives Expedition 33 so much power is their emphasis on story. There are major story beats from the very beginning, and they continue to come through thick for the player. Combat serves as an unimpeded guide, ushering you through environments without ever feeling tedious or overly challenging. Exploration is light and optional; you won’t get lost for hours of wandering. Rather, the game pushes you along, always teasing the next chapter of its story. It’s exactly the kind of hand-holding that massive games such as Baldur’s Gate 3 often end up failing at, as it occasionally loses you on a sprawling side quest or an endless diversion.

This nimble form ensures the game’s momentum seldom wavers. As soon as you’re just comfortable and getting a sense of getting used to one part of the ride, then the story will flip itself in service to another direction of pull. There’s no extensive stretches of filler, no burdensome lore dumps that bog things down. Every reveal is earned, and each one takes you a step closer to the showdown. It’s especially easy to dawdle halfway through in Baldur’s Gate 3 or Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Yet in Expedition 33, you zip along from start to finish on a wild high.

A lot of that can be attributed to the characters themselves. Baldur’s Gate 3 Shadowheart actress Jennifer English stars as Maelle, the story’s optimistic and tough heroine. Her voice gives form and soul to Maelle’s journey in a manner that is sincere and emotionally resonant enough to allow the character to become instantly recognisable. Seeing her play off her fellow cast members who range from Devora Wilde to Charlie Cox to Andy Serkis adds an extra layer to the experience. Serkis’ Renoir is a fearsome and charismatic villain, while Cox’s Gustave is a mixture of warmth, loyalty, and humor in just the right proportions.

Together the cast make for a lively gang akin to those Dragon Age: Origins parties you can’t help but to love or the lovable problem children of Baldur’s Gate 3. The friendships, the quips, the silent interludes between-combat make you care. You want them to succeed. You cheer them on through every plot twist and turn. A game that can form that kind of attachment between player and character is no longer just another RPG to me, but an emotional investment.

Expedition 33 finds a nearly perfect medium in world design as well. The world that Lumiere created is a beautiful, big world with so much potential, but it never seems overpowering. It’s up to you how far you pursue side quests, collectibles and just wandering around. There is no pressure to reveal all the secrets, though, unless you feel so inclined. For players who like checking boxes, there’s plenty of extra content, with goofy inclusions such as baguette-themed outfits and encounters with mimes. But for the latter, for those who only want a compelling story, the game never wags distractions in your face.

In an age filled with open-world games where the screen is cluttered with infinite side quests and branching storylines and maps that go on forever, it’s nice to still be able to find an RPG that is simply built on the heart of good storytelling. Expedition 33 doesn’t overwhelm you with busywork or weigh you down with too much fluff. Instead, it has something else to offer: A sophisticatedly plotted narrative that’s simply given the chance to shine. It’s also proof that in a world that’s determined to make games bigger, and bigger, and bigger again, sometimes it is the little, or rather less little, that means the most in the end.

Indeed, while Baldur’s Gate 3, God of War and Dragon Age are justly consecrated to the pantheon of the greats, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 should be mentioned in the same breath. A passionate, engaging adventure that calls back to why we all fell in love with RPGs to begin with. If there’s one big narrative adventure you get to lose yourself in this year, Expedition 33 should be it.