5 Must-Play Games Similar to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

In my review of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, I mentioned that, like many others, I was blown away by Sandfall Interactive’s stunning debut.. Now that you’ve reached the end of the journey, you might be wondering what could possibly follow such a memorable experience. I’ve got you; here’s a list of similar games that might help fill that gap.

Persona 5 Royal

I’m about to state the obvious, bear with me. Of course, it makes perfect sense to bring up turn-based RPGs, and Persona 5 Royal is simply a must-play.

In Persona 5, you play as Joker, a member of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. Alongside a group of fellow students, you tap into your Persona powers to infiltrate an alternate reality, where you “steal” the hearts of corrupt adults, forcing them to confess their crimes in the real world.

Like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Persona 5 balances high-concept fantasy with deeply human storytelling. Outside of combat, you’ll spend time building social links with classmates, teammates, and others, each with their own emotional, personal arc.

Add in one of the greatest soundtracks of all time and some of the most stylish, satisfying combat in the genre, and you’ve got a game that could easily keep you hooked for 100 hours or more.

Persona 3 Reload

Even though Persona 4 remains my personal favorite, I promise this is the last Persona entry on the list. These 2 are the most recent and the most accessible for new players.

When the remake of Persona 3 was first announced, I was skeptical, as I often am with remakes. But that doubt quickly faded. Reload preserves everything that made the original so beloved, while meaningfully improving on the areas that needed refinement.

The reason I recommend it as your next stop after Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is much the same as before. Like Persona 5 Royal, Reload is packed with emotional social links and stunningly artistic turn-based combat that will keep you engaged from beginning to end.

And incredibly, the remake pulls off something I thought was nearly impossible: it delivers an even better soundtrack than the original, without losing its identity or diminishing what came before.

Nier: Automata

Let’s step away from turn-based combat for a moment, but don’t worry, there is one more to come. NieR: Automata may differ in gameplay mechanics, but it shares a surprising number of thematic and atmospheric similarities with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

The game that brought you here stands out for its high-level visual presentation and how that works in harmony with a fantastic soundtrack. That exact combination is also one of NieR: Automata’s biggest highlights.

In this third-person action game, you experience the intertwined stories of several androids. These androids are part of YoRHa, a military organization fighting a war against machines in a post-apocalyptic world.

And even though we’re dealing with androids here, another thing the two games have in common is their focus on human emotion and feeling. What does it mean to live? What is our place in the world? These are just a few of the existential questions the androids seek to understand.

Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth

Online, you’ll come across plenty of comparisons between Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth. And while I’m about to do the same, making me a bit of a hypocrite, I actually don’t think the two games are all that comparable.

Granted, I still have a lot of Final Fantasy titles left to explore, but based on what I’ve experienced so far, they strike me as relatively lighthearted games. Yes, they absolutely have emotional moments that hit hard, but they’re also filled with quirky humor and outright bizarre scenarios that are sure to put a smile on your face. In that sense, Expedition 33 felt like a much rawer, more grounded experience, which I believe could appeal to a different kind of audience.

That said, there are still some areas where Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 do align. The visual presentation and outstanding soundtrack are obvious standouts. The combat is slick, fast-paced, and incredibly satisfying. During battles, you can trigger special abilities that slow time to a near halt, creating a fluid mix of real-time action and turn-based strategy.

And then there are the quieter moments outside of combat, when you get to spend time with your party, learn more about them, and deepen your connections. These moments are easily among the game’s highlights.

Metaphor: ReFantazio

We’re wrapping up the list with one more turn-based game. Metaphor: ReFantazio was one of the best games of 2024, and one of the best I’ve played in the last 10 years. If you enjoyed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, I’m confident you’ll appreciate the magical world of Metaphor as well.

When King Hythlodaeus V is assassinated, the kingdom descends into chaos. To choose the next ruler, a Royal Tournament is declared. You set out to gather support, but more importantly, to uncover the truth behind the dark forces that led to the king’s murder and the curse that keeps his rightful heir into a long slumber.

This fantasy RPG, like Persona, is the third Atlus game on the list, and it shares many of the same qualities. Unforgettable social links, sleek, stylish graphics, and an absolute banger of a soundtrack combine with a deep and challenging combat system, making it an essential addition to the list.

Hopefully, these five games will help ease the transition after finishing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Or… you know, you could always start a second playthrough.