It's hard to express just how good this game is. Sandfall Interactive's Claire Obscur: Expedition 33 feels as impactful and genre-defining as ground-breaking Japanese-style roleplaying games before it, like Final Fantasy.
It mixes classic turn-based combat with real-time action gameplay, giving the combat a new yet familiar feel. The story pulls you in right from the start with its melancholy tone and gorgeous French setting, and the cast of characters will no doubt be forever etched into video game history, like the members of FF7's Avalanche.
From the storytelling to the music to the acting, it's a near-perfect game and shouldn't be missed. It's no wonder many expect it to win game of the year. There's even a story-mode setting, so if you're not a gamer, you don't need to miss out. Sandfall Interactive proves you don't need to be a massive studio to create a fantastic game. And best of all, Claire Obscur: Expedition 33 is only $50.
Genre: JRPG
Number of players: Single player
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC