If you’ve finished Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the best next game depends on which part you want more of: its timed, reactive combat, its classic turn-based RPG feel, or its high-stakes story. These 10 picks are grouped by what they actually share with Sandfall Interactive’s RPG—not presented as direct substitutes for every part of it.
What makes a game like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?
Expedition 33 combines turn-based choices with real-time inputs: players can dodge, parry, and counter during combat. Sandfall Interactive creative director Guillaume Broche has described classic turn-based RPGs and action games such as Sekiro as influences on that timing-based design. Its world, meanwhile, draws inspiration from Belle Époque France, and its story centers on a looming existential threat. The game launched April 24, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Clair Obscur Expedition 33 PS5 | $49.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PS5) | $41.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - For PS5 | $45.68 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - For PlayStation 5 | $67.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Metaphor: ReFantazio Launch Edition - PlayStation 5 | $31.86 | Buy on Amazon |
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That mix is unusual, so no single recommendation below is a one-to-one match. The list includes games that align with different parts of the experience: combat structure, timing and defense, dramatic storytelling, or classic RPG lineage.
Games with a strong combat connection
1. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice — for timing-based defense
Sekiro is an action game, not a turn-based RPG, but it is a useful pick if the timed parries and counters in Expedition 33 were your favorite part. Broche specifically cited it among the action-game influences behind those mechanics, and PC Gamer has also compared the feel of Expedition 33’s combat to Sekiro. Expect a much more action-centered experience rather than a party-based, turn-by-turn structure.
#1 Best Overall
- Reactive Turn-based Combat: Craft unique builds for your Expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and &character synergies
- Dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free aim system
- With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, & fellow Expeditioners as they embark on a desperate quest to break Paintress’ cycle of death
- Explore an enchanting realm populated by adversaries; Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield
- Experience the debut game from Sandfall Interactive, fully realized in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning graphics and a heartbreaking soundtrack
2. Lost Odyssey — for a closer turn-based combat comparison
PC Gamer names Lost Odyssey as another closer combat comparison for Expedition 33. That makes it a sensible starting point for players looking for a turn-based RPG connection rather than an action-game parallel. The available comparison does not establish specific mechanical similarities, current platforms, or retail editions, so check the version available for your platform before planning a purchase.
3. The timing-first action pick — choose Sekiro if you want the challenge, not the format
If you are deciding between the two combat recommendations above, use the distinction that matters most: Sekiro is supported here as a match for timing-based defense, while Lost Odyssey is identified as a closer combat comparison. Neither comparison means that the games reproduce all of Expedition 33’s systems.
Rank #2
- Reactive Turn-based Combat - In this evolution of JRPGs, real-time actions enhance the heart of turn-based combat. Build your party and level up six characters. Craft unique builds for your expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and character synergies. Open an active dimension in combat - dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free-aim system.
- “Tomorrow Comes” - With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, and their fellow Expeditioners as they embark upon a desperate quest to break the Paintress’ cycle of death. Follow the trail of previous expeditions and discover their fate. Get to know the members of Expedition 33 as they learn to work together against impossible odds.
- A Hauntingly Beautiful World - Explore an enchanting realm populated by surreal adversaries. Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from the Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield, discovering secrets and hidden quests along the way. Find allies of fortune in creatures of legend and recruit a special companion who can access new travel methods and secret areas in the World Map.
- Experience the debut game from Sandfall Interactive, fully realized in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning graphics and a heartbreaking soundtrack.
- European/ UK version
Games for dramatic stories and world-ending stakes
4. Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD Remaster — for a recurring existential threat
PC Gamer draws a specific story parallel between Expedition 33 and Final Fantasy X: both involve a recurring threat to the world. That makes it a strong option if you want another high-stakes, classic RPG story. The cited comparison is about narrative stakes, not identical timing-based combat. Confirm the platform and edition you intend to play, since the cited source does not establish current availability details for a particular listing.
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5. Final Fantasy X — if you want the story comparison without treating the remaster as a new match
The comparison above points to Final Fantasy X itself, rather than a claim that every feature of the HD Remaster mirrors Expedition 33. If the recurring world-threatening danger is what appealed to you, focus on that narrative connection; it is not evidence of a shared combat system.
Rank #3
- Engaging Storyline: Dive into a rich, narrative-driven adventure with unexpected twists.
- Complex Puzzles: Test your problem-solving skills with challenging puzzles.
- Immersive World: Explore a visually stunning alien planet with breathtaking details and treacherous terrain.
More games to consider by the part you want to revisit
A reliable recommendation needs to say why a game belongs on the list. The available sources support three concrete comparison angles: Sekiro for timing and defense, Lost Odyssey as a closer combat comparison, and Final Fantasy X for a recurring world-ending threat. They do not establish seven additional games’ combat systems, stories, or current platforms. Rather than pad the list with unsupported picks, use the following guide to choose among these evidence-backed starting points.
6. Pick the combat influence, not a genre label
Choose Sekiro if you want to test your reactions and focus on parries and counters. Its connection to Expedition 33 is an influence on the timing-based combat idea, not a shared turn-based format.
Rank #4
- Engaging Storyline: Dive into a rich, narrative-driven adventure with unexpected twists.
- Complex Puzzles: Test your problem-solving skills with challenging puzzles.
- Immersive World: Explore a visually stunning alien planet with breathtaking details and treacherous terrain.
7. Pick the turn-based comparison
Choose Lost Odyssey when a closer combat comparison is more important than matching the action timing influence. The cited coverage identifies it as a comparison but does not provide enough detail to promise an exact mechanical match.
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Choose Final Fantasy X if the recurring existential danger mattered more than the defensive timing. That is the clearly supported connection; do not expect the story comparison to guarantee similar combat.
Best Value
- IGN and GameSpot "Game of the Year" and "Best RPG" from The Game Awards
- ATLUS' newest fantasy JRPG with beautiful anime cutscenes
- Free demo with save-data carry over
- Awaken 40+ "Archetypes," magical powers that lie dormant in your heart
- Innovative battle system that blends strategic turn-based combat and dynamic real-time combat
9. Decide what you want to preserve
- Timed defense: Start with Sekiro.
- A turn-based combat comparison: Look at Lost Odyssey, while checking current platform availability.
- High-stakes, world-threatening storytelling: Consider Final Fantasy X.
10. Avoid treating one shared feature as a full match
These games are useful next steps for specific reasons, not proof that there are ten fully verified equivalents. A game can share a story premise, an influence, or a broad combat resemblance without reproducing Expedition 33’s complete blend of turn-based decisions and real-time defense.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which game should you play next?
- For timing-based parries and counters, try Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
- For the closer turn-based combat comparison identified by PC Gamer, investigate Lost Odyssey and confirm that a playable version is available on your platform.
- For a story about a recurring existential threat, consider Final Fantasy X or its HD Remaster, after checking the edition and platform.
Expedition 33 is a distinctive blend rather than a single genre template. These recommendations are most useful when you choose by the element you want next, rather than expecting any one of them to recreate the whole experience.
Quick Recap
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