🔥 Every Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Fan Should Play These 10 Incredible RPGs ASAP!

Looking for your next epic adventure? 🎮

If you love Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, you NEED to check out these 10 RPGs. From unforgettable stories to mind-blowing gameplay, these gems will have you hooked from the start. 😍

Which one will you dive into first? 🏆

👉 Click here to discover the must-play RPGs you can’t miss!

If you’ve finished playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and want to play something that scratches the same itch, there are quite a few role-playing games out there that share similar gameplay styles and likely even influenced the development of Clair Obscur. Before you get to any of the games on this list, though, I’d highly recommend replaying Clair Obscur at least one more time, as you’ll likely catch something you didn’t on your first (or even your second) playthrough.

Clair Obscur is full of mysteries and secrets that are well worth replaying, and the turn-based combat mechanics and diversity of character builds that are possible make it well worth replaying multiple times. However, if you’re finally ready to move on and haven’t played any of the games below, you’ll find very similar styles of gameplay in each of these selections.

Legend Of Heroes: Trails In The Sky Is A Great World

The Trails Series Shares Many Common Features With Clair Obscur

You can’t really go wrong with any game in the Legend of Heroes series in terms of similarities with Clair Obscur. The Trails in the Sky trilogy would be my top recommendation from the series, though all of them share common JRPG features from Clair Obscur. Both games share a deep focus on narrative, world-building, and rich character development. Like Expedition 33, Trails delivers emotionally driven storytelling with high-stakes conflicts and deep philosophical themes.

Trails also excels in building interconnected stories across multiple titles, much like how Expedition 33 teases a larger mythos.

Turn-based combat is central to both, offering strategic depth and unique abilities tied to each character’s personality and growth. Trails also excels in building interconnected stories across multiple titles, much like how Clair Obscur teases a larger mythos. Players who appreciate the artistic flair and atmospheric tone of Clair Obscur will find similar immersion in Trails’ vibrant setting. If you’re looking for an emotionally resonant JRPG with strong writing and satisfying progression, the Trails series delivers that experience in spades.

Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age Has It All

A Vibrant World With Engaging Characters

If you loved Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Dragon Quest 11 is a natural next step. Both games feature turn-based combat systems with strong strategic elements and visually stunning, stylized worlds. Like Clair Obscur, Dragon Quest XI delivers a rich narrative filled with emotional moments, memorable characters, and a journey of self-discovery. The story unfolds with dramatic twists and philosophical undertones, much like the introspective themes found in Clair Obscur.

If you like the fusion and focus on art and narrative in Clair Obscur, you’ll enjoy Dragon Quest 11’s vibrant environments and beautiful music. The pacing balances exploration, character growth, and high-stakes battles, offering a complete and satisfying RPG experience. If you’re looking for another emotionally engaging adventure with heart and depth, Dragon Quest 11 is an excellent choice.

Persona 5 Is Big On Style

Clair Obscur Director Says This Is “The Best Game In The World”

Persona 5 offers a similarly unforgettable experience as Clair Obscur. Both games blend stylish visuals, deep emotional storytelling, and turn-based combat with a unique flair. Like Clair Obscur, Persona 5 explores psychological themes and the inner struggles of its core characters, diving into the hearts and minds of its characters. The game’s narrative is rich with moral complexity, and the director of Clair Obscur, Guillaume Broche, has even stated that Persona 5 is“the best game in the world when it comes to UI and combat visuals.”

Its bold art direction and soundtrack create a strong atmosphere, very similar to Clair Obscur’s style. With a dynamic cast of complex characters, layered storylines, and high-stakes battles, Persona 5 is perfect for players seeking depth and meaning in their RPG experience. If you were captivated by the emotional themes and striking ambiance of Clair Obscur, Persona 5 (and the entire Persona series really) should be on your list.

Metaphor: ReFantazio Has Strategic Combat

Strategy Is Key In Both ReFantazio & Clair Obscur

Metaphor: ReFantazio offers a compelling combat experience that’s perfect for fans of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, especially the strategic gameplay elements. Like Clair Obscur, every encounter requires well-thought-out decisions. Its hybrid system combines fast-paced real-time skirmishes in the overworld with deep turn-based battles built around a refined Press Turn mechanic.

Each party member contributes a “turn icon,” and exploiting enemy weaknesses grants extra icons, while missteps can cost multiple turns. The intricate archetype system allows skill inheritance across 40+ roles, enabling bespoke builds and synergized attacks. Combat also emphasizes strategic positioning, buff/debuff mechanics, and tactical resource use. If you enjoyed the layered strategy of Clair Obscur’s combatencounters, ReFantazio elevates that by demanding sound strategy.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Has Combat Timing

A Charming & Light-Hearted Experience Reminiscent Of Clair Obscur

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 fans will want to play Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, as it offers a surprisingly similar experience with its blend of turn-based combat, emotional storytelling, and unique visual style. Both games balance a whimsical presentation with deeper themes hidden beneath the surface. Thousand-Year Door’s combat system stands out with its timing-based mechanics, making every battle more interactive and strategic, much like the thoughtful choices and precise dodge/parry timing required in Clair Obscur.

While Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door was originally released on the GameCube, a remake of the original is available for the Nintendo Switch.

The game’s world is full of personality, mystery, and narrative depth, with each chapter revealing new layers and quirky characters who grow alongside Mario. If you were drawn to the artistic storytelling, stylized combat, and narrative stakes of Clair Obscur, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door will charm and challenge you in all the right ways.

Final Fantasy 10 Sets A Standard

The Game Clair Obscur Strives To Be

Final Fantasy 10 is arguably the game that Clair Obscur wanted to be, especially for its refined turn-based combat. FF10 uses the Conditional Turn-Based Battle (CTB) system, which removes the typical time pressure and lets you see the turn order, allowing for deliberate, strategic planning. Swapping party members mid-battle adds another layer of tactical depth, letting you respond to varying enemies and battle conditions, similar to how Clair Obscur encourages thoughtful team synergy with skill selection and buff/debuff strategies.

Both games emphasize emotional storytelling as well, with Final Fantasy 10’s world of Spira echoing Clair Obscur’s melancholic beauty and existential themes. The tone is mature and reflective, exploring sacrifice, identity, and fate. If you appreciated Clair Obscur’s balance of narrative weight and smart, stylish combat, Final Fantasy 10 delivers in a timeless, unforgettable way.

Disco Elysium Offers Philosophical Storytelling

An Untraditional RPG With Clair Obscur Vibes

Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic

If you were drawn to the introspective storytelling and philosophical themes of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Disco Elysium is a natural next step. While not a traditional RPG, it shares a deep focus on character development and internal conflict. Both games place a strong emphasis on narrative turning points and the consequences a character’s decisions carry, only in Disco Elysium, the battles are psychological rather than physical.

Instead of turn-based combat, you engage in thought-provoking dialogue and internal debates shaped by your skills and past decisions. The surreal, painterly world of Revachol mirrors the dreamlike yet decaying beauty of Clair Obscur’s setting. If you appreciated how Clair Obscur used fantasy to explore meaning, identity, and despair, Disco Elysium offers a raw, haunting, and brilliantly written experience that challenges you just as deeply.

Citizen Sleeper Explores Rich Themes

A Space Adventure With A Similarly Melancholic Atmosphere As Clair Obscur

Citizen Sleeper offers a similarly powerful experience as Clair Obscur, but as with Disco Elysium, it’s through a completely different lens. Both games explore themes of identity, mortality, and the struggle for meaning in a fading world. Citizen Sleeper trades traditional combat for a dice-based system that emphasizes survival, choice, and consequence, much like how Clair Obscur’s turn-based battles are shaped by strategy and emotional stakes.

The narrative in Citizen Sleeper is deeply personal and branching, driven by your relationships and the ethical dilemmas you face, echoing Clair Obscur’s philosophical depth. Set on a crumbling space station, its setting feels as artistically distinct and melancholic as Clair Obscur’s dreamlike world. If you were moved by Clair Obscur’s atmosphere and narrative weight, Citizen Sleeper delivers a similarly thoughtful and immersive journey.

NieR: Automata Delivers Grand Emotions

A Quintessential RPG Experience

If you were moved by the emotional weight and depth of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, NieR: Automata is an absolute must-play. Both games explore existential questions of life and death through stylized, melancholic worlds and deeply human characters, even when those characters aren’t human at all. While NieR: Automata uses real-time combat instead of turn-based systems, it shares Clair Obscur’s emphasis on poetic and linear storytelling in a mysterious and highly explorable world.

The gameplay fluidly shifts between combat, exploration, and narrative sequences, all reinforcing its core themes. Like Clair Obscur, NieR excels at emotional storytelling that challenges players’ understanding of what’s happening. Multiple playthroughs unveil new perspectives, which is likewise one of the best aspects of Clair Obscur’s NG+ mode. If you appreciated Clair Obscur for its soul, atmosphere, and thought-provoking narrative, NieR: Automata is an essential RPG to add to your library.

Lost Odyssey Lays Out Some Clair Obscur Ideas

Clair Obscur Is Like A Spiritual Successor To Lost Odyssey

If you enjoyed the combat mechanics of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Lost Odyssey is an Xbox exclusive that offers a similarly interactive system with turn-based mechanics. In particular, the Pictos system, where you can learn the passive effects and equip it as a Lumina, is straight out of the Lost Odyssey playbook. Like Clair Obscur, Lost Odyssey also relies on strategic party composition and perfecting timing during combat. Its unique “Aim Ring” system adds an interactive layer to attacks, with quick-time events that can enhance damage or apply specific effects, bringing an interactive element to otherwise classic turn-based encounters.

Each character has a distinct role and unique abilities, and immortals must learn skills from mortals, encouraging experimentation and planning for the endgame. Boss fights in both games reward strategic balance and resource management, making every encounter meaningful. Lost Odyssey delivers a grounded but emotionally charged system that feels equally impactful and rewarding as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and it should definitely be on your list of RPGs to play next.