“I haven’t felt this way about a game in a very long time,” game designer Adrian Chmielarz shares his views on Sandfall Interactive’s hit

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Without a shadow of a doubt, Clair Obscure Expedition 33 was undeniably the most successful video game in April and a serious Game of the Year contender. The sales soared from the very first day, surpassing developers’ targets much earlier than anticipated. However, it’s not just about the numbers; the game has garnered widespread acclaim. From Steam and OpenCritic reviews (including ours) to the industry experts, everyone seems to be raving about this game. Even the creator of The Vanishing of Ethan Carter and Witchfire dubbed Expedition 33 as “a marvel.

Expedition 33 – a fresh take on RPGs

Adrian Chmielarz, one of the founders at The Astronauts (previously with People Can Fly – creators of Painkiller and Bulletstorm) expressed his insights comprehensively on the subject of Expedition 33. He approached it from multiple perspectives.

Regarding the game’s design, he’s fully committed to aspects such as combat mechanics, pacing, and the way the world unfolds. However, he notes a few minor issues like Quick Time Events (QTEs) and user interface. As a seasoned producer with extensive experience under his belt, he’s genuinely amazed by the feat achieved by such a compact team on such an ambitious project, despite the fact that the credits hint at the involvement of over 30 individuals.

As a scribe, he is utterly captivated by the dialogues, the rich emotional nuances, and the intricate narrative structure. However, what truly stands out to him are his own words:

Without a doubt, I must convey my thoughts as a gaming enthusiast: It’s been ages since a game has stirred such emotions within me. While I may no longer be the child who was blown away by Final Fantasy VII’s arrival, Expedition 33 came remarkably close to replicating that feeling. It felt almost too good to be true.

To Chmielarz, Expedition 33 is nothing short of a “marvel,” and he firmly suggests that anyone with a passion for gaming simply cannot miss out on it.

Apart from him, there are many others who are excited about it. Just recently, David Gaider, the creator of the first three Dragon Age games and a co-creator of Baldur’s Gate 2, compared Expedition 33 to what Baldur’s Gate 3 is for cRPGs in the world of jRPGs. In my view, Expedition 33 isn’t simply another game – it offers a unique and innovative experience that is pushing the boundaries of what narrative-driven RPGs can achieve.

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2025-05-19 17:02