Introduction: A Beacon of Hope in a Struggling Industry
On April 24, 2025, Sandfall Interactive, a small French studio with a team of just 33 developers, launched Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a turn-based RPG that has taken the gaming world by storm. Selling 500,000 copies on its first day and surpassing 1 million sales in just three days—excluding Xbox Game Pass players—the game has achieved what many thought impossible: proving that a high-fidelity, turn-based RPG can not only succeed but dominate in an industry increasingly obsessed with action-heavy, mainstream titles. Amid a gaming landscape plagued by bloated AAA budgets, soulless releases, and corporate overreach, Sandfall Interactive’s debut has been hailed as a savior, breathing new life into an industry in desperate need of innovation and passion. Let’s explore how Sandfall accomplished this feat and why it’s being celebrated as a turning point for gaming.
The Gaming Industry’s Crisis: A Bloated, Soulless Mess
By early 2025, the gaming industry was grappling with a crisis of identity. Major publishers like Ubisoft and Square Enix were facing backlash for prioritizing profits over creativity, with releases like Star Wars Outlaws underperforming and Final Fantasy XVI alienating fans by abandoning turn-based combat for real-time action. Ubisoft, in particular, was mired in controversies, from historical inaccuracies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows to allegations of illegal data harvesting, further eroding trust with players. The industry’s reliance on telemetry-driven design—where data dictates game development over artistic vision—had led to a slew of uninspired titles that felt more like products than experiences. Meanwhile, rising development costs, often exceeding $100 million for AAA titles, pushed publishers to play it safe, favoring repetitive open-world formulas over risky, innovative projects.
This environment stifled creativity, particularly for genres like turn-based RPGs, which were dismissed as niche and unprofitable by industry giants. Square Enix, once a bastion of turn-based excellence with Final Fantasy, had largely abandoned the genre, citing a lack of market appeal. Yet, smaller studios like Atlus and Larian Studios had quietly proven otherwise, with Persona 5 and Baldur’s Gate 3 achieving massive success. Sandfall Interactive, however, took this defiance to a new level, delivering a game that not only embraced turn-based mechanics but elevated them to new heights, proving that passion and vision could triumph over corporate cynicism.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33—A Game That Defies Expectations
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a dark fantasy turn-based RPG set in a Belle Époque-inspired world, where the Paintress, a godlike entity, annually paints a number on a monolith, erasing everyone of that age. This year, the number is 33, and the expedition’s volunteers must stop her before she wipes out their generation. Developed using Unreal Engine 5, the game boasts stunning visuals, with warped Parisian landmarks, eerie forests, and hauntingly beautiful environments that feel both historical and fantastical. Its 35-hour campaign is tightly paced, focusing on a somber yet hopeful narrative about mortality and perseverance, brought to life by a star-studded voice cast including Charlie Cox, Andy Serkis, and Jennifer English.
What sets Clair Obscur apart is its innovative combat system, which Sandfall describes as an “evolution of JRPGs.” The game blends traditional turn-based mechanics with real-time elements, allowing players to dodge, parry, and counter enemy attacks during battles. Quick-time prompts during attacks boost damage, adding a layer of skill to the strategy. Each character in the party has unique mechanics—like a scythe-wielding card dealer who manages light-dark phases or a philosopher-puppet named Monoco who’s “friendly but kinda bloodthirsty”—ensuring that combat remains varied and engaging. This hybrid system appeals to both turn-based purists and action fans, broadening its audience while staying true to its roots.
The Impossible Feat: A Small Team’s Big Win
Sandfall Interactive’s success is nothing short of miraculous given the odds stacked against it. Founded in 2020 in Montpellier, France, the studio consists of just 33 developers, many of whom are ex-Ubisoft veterans seeking creative freedom. Operating out of an Art Deco mansion, the team worked on a modest budget, relying on funding from publisher Kepler Interactive and an Epic MegaGrant to bring their vision to life. Unlike AAA studios with thousands of employees and multimillion-dollar budgets, Sandfall focused on a clear, passion-driven project, free from the corporate constraints that often stifle innovation.
The game’s launch on April 24, 2025, was a resounding success, selling 500,000 copies on day one and reaching 1 million sales in three days. On Steam, it hit a concurrent player peak of over 70,000, making it the second best-selling game at the time, behind only The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, which launched two days earlier. Critically, Clair Obscur earned a 91 average on Metacritic and OpenCritic, the highest-rated game of 2025, with a user score of 9.7 on Metacritic—one of the highest ever recorded. This universal acclaim, paired with its commercial performance, directly challenges the notion that turn-based games can’t sell, proving that quality and innovation can triumph over market trends.
Defying the “Turn-Based Doesn’t Sell” Narrative
For years, industry giants like Square Enix have argued that turn-based RPGs lack broad appeal, pushing the genre to the fringes of AAA development. Yet, Clair Obscur’s success—alongside titles like Octopath Traveler (5 million sold) and Baldur’s Gate 3—demonstrates a clear demand for well-crafted turn-based games. Sandfall Interactive drew inspiration from JRPG classics like Final Fantasy and Persona, as well as lesser-known titles like Lost Odyssey, incorporating quick-time events and real-time mechanics to modernize the formula without abandoning its strategic core. This approach has resonated with players, who have praised the game’s depth, accessibility, and emotional weight.
The gaming community has rallied around Clair Obscur, with posts on X reflecting a sense of vindication. Many fans have highlighted how Sandfall’s success exposes the flaws in Square Enix’s dismissal of turn-based mechanics, especially since Square Enix’s own Octopath Traveler series has thrived. Others have contrasted Sandfall’s small team with Ubisoft’s 18,000 employees, noting that Clair Obscur outperformed every Ubisoft title from 2024 and 2025 on Steam charts, despite Ubisoft’s vastly greater resources. This sentiment underscores a broader frustration with AAA studios, which often prioritize safe, data-driven design over creativity, leading to a cycle of uninspired releases.
A Wake-Up Call for AAA Studios
Sandfall Interactive’s triumph is a wake-up call for the gaming industry, particularly for AAA publishers like Ubisoft and Square Enix. First, it highlights the potential of smaller, focused teams to create high-quality games without massive budgets. Sandfall’s lean development model allowed for agility and passion, resulting in a game that feels polished and personal—qualities often lacking in AAA titles. This stands in stark contrast to Ubisoft’s recent struggles, including a 2023 data breach, the underperformance of Star Wars Outlaws, and ongoing controversies over data harvesting and cultural representation in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Second, Clair Obscur proves that turn-based RPGs can compete with action-heavy games when executed well. Square Enix’s shift away from turn-based combat has been driven by a desire to chase trends, but Clair Obscur shows that players crave authenticity and innovation, not just market-friendly formulas. The game’s success could encourage Square Enix to revisit turn-based mechanics in future Final Fantasy titles, potentially blending them with action elements to satisfy both old and new fans. More broadly, Sandfall’s achievement challenges the industry’s reliance on telemetry-driven design, suggesting that passion and vision can yield better results than data alone.
Cultural Impact and Future Prospects
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn’t just a commercial success—it’s a cultural phenomenon. In January 2025, Story Kitchen announced a live-action movie adaptation, signaling the game’s broader impact. Its haunting narrative and Belle Époque aesthetic have captured imaginations, while its soundtrack, blending orchestral and rock elements, has drawn comparisons to NieR’s evocative scores. The game’s characters, with their flawed yet deeply caring dynamics, have inspired fan art and discussions across platforms like Reddit, where players have lauded its emotional depth and innovative combat.
Looking ahead, Sandfall Interactive is poised to become a major player in the industry. Fans are already clamoring for DLC or a sequel, and the studio’s success could inspire other small developers to take risks on ambitious projects. For the broader industry, Clair Obscur’s triumph may lead to a resurgence of turn-based RPGs, as publishers recognize the genre’s untapped potential. It also sets a new standard for what small teams can achieve, challenging AAA studios to prioritize creativity over corporate mandates. If Sandfall continues on this trajectory, it could indeed become the next Square Enix, as some fans have predicted on X, but with a focus on passion-driven development rather than market-driven conformity.
Challenges and Critiques
No game is without flaws, and Clair Obscur has faced some criticism. Some players have noted that outside of combat, the game can feel linear, with exploration often limited to corridors rather than open-world environments. Others have pointed out that the difficulty spikes in later chapters can be punishing for those who haven’t mastered the hybrid combat system. However, these critiques are minor in the face of the game’s overwhelming strengths, and Sandfall has already expressed a willingness to listen to feedback, potentially addressing these issues in updates or future projects.
Conclusion: A New Era for Gaming
Sandfall Interactive has done the impossible, saving the gaming industry from its own cynicism by proving that a small team with a clear vision can create a turn-based RPG that outsells and outshines AAA titles. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s record-breaking sales, universal acclaim, and cultural impact have redefined what’s possible in gaming, challenging the “turn-based doesn’t sell” narrative and exposing the flaws in corporate-driven development. As the industry grapples with its identity, Sandfall stands as a beacon of hope, showing that passion, innovation, and authenticity can still triumph in a landscape dominated by bloated budgets and soulless releases. With Clair Obscur leading the charge, the future of gaming looks brighter than ever—jump in and see why this game is the talk of the town!
