10 Best Games to Play If You Loved Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

You reached the end of the game and watched the credits roll, maybe even shedding a tear or two – but we understand if you prefer to keep that private. Sandfall Interactive’s first game was a huge success, winning awards and selling 8 million copies. It brought something fresh to role-playing games: a combat system that combined turn-based strategy with the excitement of real-time blocking and dodging, characters you genuinely cared about, and a story that wasn’t afraid to tackle difficult themes – something rarely seen in big-budget titles.

Now that everyone has finished Expedition 33, players are wondering what game to try next. While no single game perfectly replicates everything that made Expedition 33 great – like its combat, characters, and story – several come close in different ways. Here’s a guide to help you find your next adventure.

Metaphor: ReFantazio Was the RPG That 2024 Deserved

Even before the release of Expedition 33 sparked a new wave of popularity, Metaphor: ReFantazio was well-received. It came out only a few months before Sandfall became the biggest hit of 2025, and the two games share a lot of similarities.

Atlus created a unique battle system that mixes quick, real-time fights against easier enemies with a more strategic, turn-based approach for tougher challenges. The game takes place in a detailed fantasy world with compelling political themes and meaningful consequences. You grow to care about the characters gradually, through natural interactions and shared experiences, rather than relying on dramatic cutscenes.

These two games represent the best of their kind right now. We highly recommend playing them one after the other, but be warned – they might just make you passionately debate turn-based combat with anyone who will listen!

Baldur’s Gate 3 Is the Spicy RPG That Ruins Your Social Life

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a role-playing game played with turns, where the bonds between your characters are just as important – and sometimes even more so – than the combat. It’s a story that honestly explores difficult themes like death and what people are willing to give up.

If the characters in Baldur’s Gate 3 are as emotionally impactful as those in its predecessors, players can expect an equally powerful experience, but with even more opportunities for both skillful gameplay and mischievous behavior.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is an incredibly rewarding role-playing game. Like Expedition 33, it encourages players to think outside the box in combat and truly understand its mechanics. Be prepared for your plans to change – it’s all part of the experience!

Sekiro, the Game That Taught Expedition 33 Everything

Guillaume Broche, the director of Expedition 33, explained that the game draws inspiration from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. He highlighted Sekiro’s approach to death – seeing it as a learning opportunity instead of a punishment.

I’m totally hooked on how deeply satisfying this game is! Every enemy has a rhythm you can learn, and it feels amazing when you finally nail it. Seriously, you can even beat the whole thing without getting hit once if you’re good enough. If you were one of those players who loved perfectly timing counters in Expedition 33, trust me, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice will feel instantly familiar – it’s all about that precise timing and reading your opponents.

The game has less dialogue and story, but a lot more intense action. It removes all the typical role-playing game elements and focuses entirely on skillful gameplay—which some players will love, and others might find overwhelming. Both responses are perfectly understandable.

Persona 5 Royal Is the Gateway Drug of Turn-Based Combat

If Expedition 33 gave you a taste of turn-based battles, Persona 5 Royal truly showcases what makes this style of combat so engaging. It focuses on finding and using enemy weaknesses, and linking attacks together with your teammates.

Expedition 33 continues to offer the same enjoyable gameplay loop, but with a more polished presentation. Over the course of 100+ hours, players will see the Phantom Thieves grow and evolve.

The music in this game is exceptional – it’s truly outstanding. Atlus consistently delivers high-quality experiences; they don’t seem interested in anything less. If you completed Expedition 33, you’re all set for what we’re covering next.

NieR: Automata is a Game That Will Break You. Twice.

Both Expedition 33 and NieR: Automata explore themes of mortality and loss. However, Yoko Taro, the creator of NieR: Automata, intensifies these feelings for the player.

The game centers on androids involved in a war that they start to believe is meaningless, and it explores this idea to a heartbreaking end. Unlike the previous game, Expedition 33, combat is fast-paced and action-oriented—there’s no blocking or turn-based fighting. However, it maintains the same emotional impact: a sad, thoughtful experience with characters you genuinely care about, making their struggles feel deeply personal.

If you go through it a second time, you’ll likely catch anything you overlooked. But a third time might leave you feeling drained and uninspired.

Final Fantasy XVI Is All Dark Fantasy, No Filter

Like Expedition 33, Final Fantasy XVI simplified classic RPG elements, and it sparked a similar debate among fans. It’s good to be aware of this going into the game.

If you enjoyed the story-focused gameplay of Expedition 33, Final Fantasy XVI offers a compelling dark fantasy adventure, complete with incredibly impressive and visually stunning battles.

Okay, seriously, Masayoshi Soken’s music is amazing. It’s right up there with the soundtrack to Expedition 33 – one of the best ever, in my opinion. And give me a troubled hero with a sad past any day – I’m totally hooked!

Octopath Traveler II Will Give You Eight Roads and One Obsession

For fans of classic RPGs, Octopath Traveler II delivers a truly traditional turn-based experience. It also features a gorgeous visual style—that unique ‘HD-2D’ look is still incredibly impressive. While the eight different character stories aren’t all equally strong, the best ones are genuinely moving.

The game offers a similar satisfying feeling of building and crafting as Expedition 33. If you’re new to Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs), Octopath Traveler II is a great place to start and will easily introduce you to the genre’s classic features. The game’s ‘Break’ system is its most impressive combat feature.

Each enemy has unique weaknesses – certain weapons and types of magic are more effective against them. Exploiting these weaknesses lowers their defenses. Once those defenses are down, the enemy becomes vulnerable, allowing for more powerful attacks. This makes every fight a strategic challenge, and the more you learn, the easier – and more rewarding – battles become.

Your Brain Is the Dungeon in Disco Elysium: The Final Cut

While no other game feels quite like Expedition 33, none capture its compelling storytelling as well. It features a central murder mystery and a city brimming with believable characters, each with their own unique perspectives and motivations.

Your inner thoughts often clash, creating internal debate. Talents transform into distinct personalities, and poor choices drive the story forward. It’s a uniquely humorous and deeply emotional exploration, suggesting that learning from setbacks is just as valuable as achieving triumphs.

If you enjoyed Expedition 33’s beautiful writing and thoughtful storytelling, you’ll love this game. It’s easy to pick up and play – there’s no combat tutorial needed. Even if you don’t usually like reading in games, this one might surprise you and make you a fan.

Get a Thousand Years of Feelings from Lost Odyssey

A true standout title, Lost Odyssey is the closest game on this list in terms of matching the themes of Expedition 33. It tells the story of Kaim, a soldier who lives forever and is forced to witness the passing of everyone he cares about—a deeply emotional story that feels almost too intense to experience.

We intentionally made the game a classic turn-based JRPG, and the battle system definitely feels a bit dated. But that’s okay! The short story segments, ‘Thousand Years of Dreams,’ written by acclaimed author Kiyoshi Shigematsu, are some of the most powerfully moving writing you’ll ever find in a game.

The emotional impact of this game is devastating and unforgettable. Fortunately, it’s playable on Xbox through backward compatibility.

Bank Turns, Not Regrets in Bravely Default II

If you enjoyed the turn-based combat in Expedition 33 and realized how fun it can be when well-designed, then…

Brave/Default’s unique turn system lets you save up turns for later or use them ahead of time, creating a strategic challenge where careful planning pays off, but rushing in can lead to mistakes. It’s similar to how Expedition 33’s parry system favors players who take their time and learn the timing, rather than those who just mash buttons. Overall, this game feels the most like a classic JRPG on this list, and it doesn’t try to hide it.

Sandfall’s combat is like a masterclass in turn-based RPGs – it demands precision, introduces fresh challenges, and is packed with rewarding resources. More than just a good game, Sandfall rekindled a love for the core appeal of the RPG genre for many players.

2026-05-10 03:48