5 Best Video Games Like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

One of the best video games of 2025 was "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33," developed by French studio Sandfall Interactive. Among the best RPGs outside of "Final Fantasy," the game relies on turn-based combat as it weaves an engrossing epic tale with memorable characters. The story is set in a fantasy vision of France's Belle Époque as a group of adventurers set out to save their community from a mysterious villain known as the artist. With a dazzlingly original world brought to life by sharp writing and engaging gameplay, "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" reminds gamers what's possible with turn-based RPGs.

Of course, "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" has worn its influences on its sleeve and there are plenty of similar turn-based RPGs worth giving a try. From the games that inspired the 2025 title to releases that have gameplay systems that resemble "Clair Obscur," we've rounded up our favorites. Many of these games are cornerstones in the industry when it comes to stellar turn-based RPGs. These are the five best video games like "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" that fans should check out next.

Nintendo and Square formed a tight partnership during the Super Nintendo era, with acclaimed titles like "Chrono Trigger" and "Secret of Mana" coming to the console. One game during this period that feels notably similar to "Clair Obscur" is "Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars," originally released in 1996. The game has Mario join a new team of friends, including Geno and Mallow, as they battle the villainous Smithy Gang that's invading the Mushroom Kingdom. Combat unfolds from a turn-based system, but real-time elements are included to make techniques more effective when input properly.

While "Super Mario RPG" is the most playful game on this list in regard to its tonal qualities, its gameplay mechanics definitely serve as a precursor for "Clair Obscur." But the game is a bold reinvention of what a "Super Mario" title can be, further proving that Nintendo's flagship character was more than a platforming protagonist. Nintendo released a remake of "Super Mario RPG," reimagining the classic for the Switch in 2023, wisely staying faithful to the SNES source material. While the Nintendo game and "Clair Obscur" may not share that much at first glance, that combat system and its surprisingly deep world connects the two titles.

Nearly 30 years after its initial release, "The Legend of Dragoon" is among the forgotten PS1 exclusives. A medieval fantasy RPG for a console with a game library full of them, the 1999 title follows the protagonist Dart searching for the figure who murdered his parents. Dart is joined by several playable allies in the campaign who gain the ability to temporarily transform into magical beings through what's referred to as a Dragoon Spirit. The game's combat system is its most unique aspect, revolving around turn-based inputs but in a quick time event sequence to string together combos.

It's this combat system and the general aesthetics around "The Legend of Dragoon" that reminds us of "Clair Obscur" when we play it. This is augmented by the game's transformation mechanic, allowing access to different and more powerful techniques for each character. Through a prominent use of its richly rendered in-game cinematics, the game also places a strong emphasis on its narrative, adding to the stakes. While overshadowed by titles like "Final Fantasy" and "Chrono Cross" on the PS1, "The Legend of Dragoon" definitely deserves more recognition.

Of all the "Final Fantasy" games that align with "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33," the closest the fan-favorite franchise gets is "Final Fantasy X." A title from 2001 that changed gaming forever, the story has an athlete named Tidus who is transported to the world of Spira. Teaming up with a group of adventurers, including the powerful summoner Yuna, Tidus sets out to stop the villainous Sin from destroying the world. The game's combat system returns to more traditional turn-based gameplay rather than the Active Time Battle mechanics in prior entries, which included real-time elements.

Just looking at the broader narrative, "Final Fantasy X" and "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" both have a similar setup and stakes, albeit executed in very different ways. But the extensive party system in "Final Fantasy X" also evokes "Clair Obscur," allowing players to freely swap out members in combat. "Final Fantasy" has since largely moved away from turn-based combat, but "Final Fantasy X" still maintains its fun factor 25 years later. One of the best "Final Fantasy" games of all time, "Final Fantasy X" redefined the franchise for the 21st century.

The "Persona" RPG series has been a staple for 30 years and feels bigger than ever, especially in regard to international audiences instead of only its native Japan. The best in the franchise to date is "Persona 5," originally released in 2016 for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. Since then, the game received an enhanced remaster, rebranded as "Persona 5 Royal" in 2019 while significantly expanding its availability on other platforms. The game's story has its protagonist, Joker, transfer to a new high school and tap into his powers to take on shadowy supernatural threats.

"Persona 5" is an ambitious blend of RPG combat, dungeon-crawling exploration, and social simulator elements within the context of its high school setting. Somehow, all of these disparate elements come together beautifully, with its dungeon-crawling planning complementing its combat system especially well. Like "Clair Obscur," the game also has a striking menu layout that keeps players engaged with the action, never overstaying its welcome. Perfectly accessible if you've never played another game in the series, "Persona 5" is a modern RPG masterpiece.

While the "Yakuza" series was initially built around real-time third-person beat'em-up gameplay, the franchise pivoted in a big way with "Yakuza: Like a Dragon." The 2020 game introduces new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga but also pivots to turn-based combat instead of the series' typical real-time brawling. The game also shifts its setting to Yokohama as Kasuga tries to make a name for himself in the world of organized crime in Japan. Kasuga can recruit parties of up to four characters to participate in these battles, mixing hard-hitting action with the series' penchant for wacky humor.

The shift to turn-based gameplay that "Yakuza: Like a Dragon" took could've turned out disastrously in lesser hands, but the game gives the whole series a fresh energy that elevates it as it solidifies its place in the current console generation. The game also incorporates quick time mechanics that help enhance the combat, keeping players engaged both defensively and offensively, like "Clair Obscur" and its own combat timing. "Yakuza: Like a Dragon" provides a boldly new direction for the long-running series.