Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 head was “bored” at Ubisoft and hungry for a JRPG, and made the highest-rated game of 2025 – “Somehow it worked, which still makes no sense to me”

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s director, Guillaume Broche, was formerly a brand development manager and narrative lead at Ubisoft. He departed in 2020 to establish Sandfall Interactive after feeling “bored” and “desiring something new,” as he shared with BBC.

Broche envisioned an RPG, influenced by co-founder François Meurisse’s insights earlier this year, shaped by a “legacy of JRPGs” such as Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9, and 10. The team also drew inspiration for its dynamic turn-based combat system from Sekiro, incorporating elements from deckbuilders for added depth.

This envisioned RPG transformed into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the highest-rated new game of 2025 (numerically tied with Blue Prince on Metacritic, but with a greater number of reviews strengthening its score) and a remarkable launch for Sandfall.

Clair Obscur achieved over 1 million sales within three days – a significant debut for virtually any game other than GTA 6, particularly impressive for a nascent, relatively small studio.

There can be some injustice in the narrative suggesting that leaving Ubisoft is the sole route to a game of the year; Assassin’s Creed Shadows is notably successful and performing well – yet it’s undeniable that AAA studios like Ubisoft are not typically recognized for delivering bold, innovative games like Clair Obscur.

Increasingly, refreshing and trend-setting successes such as Palworld, Balatro, and Astro Bot are emerging beyond the AAA realm. Ex-Blizzard developer Chris Kaleiki stated earlier this year that the AA gaming sector is poised for a resurgence, as it often provides a healthier and more enjoyable experience than creating the AAA “colosseum,” a sentiment echoed by others in the industry. Broche was indeed “bored” for a substantial reason.

Former PlayStation head Shuhei Yoshida describes Clair Obscur, a $50 title, as the “ideal harmony” of AAA quality and ambition paired with a sensible scope, advocating that it represents “the direction the industry should follow” as exorbitant production costs continue to rise elsewhere.

Broche informed BBC that much of the project’s success can be attributed to the Covid gaming surge and a stroke of “enormous luck,” along with positive outcomes in Sandfall’s recruitment process. For example, the lead writer for the game was initially brought on board as a voice actor after she “saw a post on Reddit” inviting auditions.

“We have, I think, a fantastic team predominantly made up of junior members, but they are profoundly committed and skilled,” Broche remarked. “Somehow it came together, which continues to astound me after all these years.”

Square Enix is “probably regretting” the success of realistic turn-based JRPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, analysts suggest, after hesitating to explore this with the Final Fantasy series.

Austin has been a gaming journalist for twelve years, writing for prominent outlets such as PC Gamer, Eurogamer, IGN, and Sports Illustrated, all while completing his journalism degree. He has been with GamesRadar+ since 2019. So far, they haven’t noticed that his position also serves as a front for a career-spanning Destiny column, which he has maintained alongside covering news and the occasional feature, all while indulging in various roguelikes.