Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the debut RPG from Sandfall Interactive, has captivated players with its surreal Belle Époque-inspired world, innovative hybrid combat, and haunting narrative. Released on April 24, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, the game follows Gustave and his expedition team as they navigate The Continent to defeat the Paintress, a godlike entity whose annual ritual erases people of a specific age. While the main quest drives the story, optional areas like Frozen Hearts in Act 2 offer rich rewards, challenging encounters, and deeper lore. But should you explore Frozen Hearts? Absolutely—here’s why this icy zone is an essential stop for any expeditioner, packed with unique loot, memorable moments, and gameplay that enhances your journey.
Frozen Hearts becomes accessible in Act 2 after recruiting Monoco and battling the Stalact at Monoco’s Station. Located east of The Carousel and northeast of Monoco’s Station, this optional zone is a snowy, treacherous region marked by icy caverns, wrecked trains, and paint-corrupted landscapes. Its clair-obscure aesthetic—blending light and shadow—creates a striking contrast between shimmering ice and ominous darkness, making it one of the game’s most visually arresting areas. For players debating whether to detour from the main path, Frozen Hearts offers compelling reasons to venture in: powerful weapons, rare Pictos, and a critical quest item that unlocks exclusive gear from the Grandis Merchant.
To reach Frozen Hearts, exit Monoco’s Station through the eastern back door and head right past The Carousel. The overworld map, devoid of a minimap, encourages exploration through visual cues like glowing lanterns or paint streaks. Upon entering, you’ll find the Icebound Train Station Expedition Flag, a rest point for healing and upgrading. The area’s layout is intricate, with branching paths, grapple points, and caves leading to hidden treasures. Early on, you’ll spot a Colour of Lumina near some crates, boosting your Pictos effects at the Curator’s camp. These collectibles are scattered throughout, rewarding thorough exploration with resources to enhance your party’s combat prowess.
One of Frozen Hearts’ biggest draws is its loot, particularly the Eternal Ice, a quest item dropped by the optional boss Gargant at Icebound Terminal. This hulking creature, fought at level 50 or higher, switches between Fire and Ice stances, absorbing attacks of its current element while being weak to the opposite. Equipping characters like Maelle, Lune, or Monoco with Fire skills (e.g., Maelle’s Rain of Fire) and Ice skills (e.g., Lune’s Snowim weapon, also found here) is key. The Gargant’s slow but heavy attacks, including an Ice beam that can Freeze, demand precise dodging and parrying. Equipping the Anti-Freeze Pictos, found in a Paint Cage down a slope near the Chromatic Veilleur, prevents Freeze status, making the fight more manageable. Defeating Gargant yields the Eternal Ice, which, when given to the Grandis Merchant at Monoco’s Station, unlocks a trove of high-tier gear, including the Pelerin Outfit for Verso and Danseuse Outfit for Sciel, both cosmetic and functional boosts.
Beyond the Eternal Ice, Frozen Hearts is a treasure trove of collectibles. Two Paint Cages offer significant rewards: one contains the Anti-Freeze Pictos, while another holds a Revive Tint Shard, increasing your maximum Revive Tints for clutch battle moments. To open a Paint Cage, shoot three glowing locks hidden in the environment—look for them on statues, pillars, or train wreckage. A Petank, a puzzle-like enemy, roams near an abandoned building by a piano. Chase it to its magnet point by sprinting and fading left to manipulate its path, then defeat it quickly in combat to earn a Chroma Catalyst or Recoat for weapon upgrades or skill respeccing. These materials are vital for optimizing your party, especially in Act 2’s tougher battles.
Frozen Hearts also shines in its side quests and NPC interactions. The Danseuse Teacher, found on a fiery pit near Glacial Falls, offers a minigame where you must parry and counter her attacks perfectly. Completing it rewards the Danseuse Outfit for Lune, a stylish cosmetic that boosts her Ice affinity. You can choose to attack or spare her afterward, adding a moral layer to the encounter. Nearby, Verogo the Gestral Merchant sells cosmetics like the Pelerin Outfit for Verso (20,000 Chroma) and Danseuse Outfit for Sciel (10,000 Chroma), but only after you’ve earned enough Chroma from defeating enemies or opening Paint Cages. A hidden Mime near Verogo, tucked behind boxes, drops Lune’s Short Haircut cosmetic upon defeat, adding flair to her appearance. These interactions make Frozen Hearts feel alive, blending gameplay rewards with world-building.
For lore enthusiasts, Frozen Hearts offers Expedition Journals that deepen the game’s narrative. One journal, found near a patrolling enemy by train wreckage, details Expedition 51’s failed mission, hinting at the Paintress’s cyclical curse. Another, “Clea! Don’t Pull Your Sister’s Hair!” Music Record, is tucked behind a Manor Door in a cavern near the Chromatic Veilleur. This record, accessible via grapple points and roping, adds to your camp playlist and ties into the Dessendre family’s tragic backstory, a recurring theme in the game. These collectibles not only enhance immersion but also contribute to achievements, making them a priority for completionists.
Combat in Frozen Hearts is challenging but rewarding, with enemies like Stalacts and Chromatic Nevrons patrolling the area. Stalacts, found near Monoco’s Station, are weak to Fire, so equip Maelle’s Brulerum or Lune’s Fire-based skills to exploit their vulnerabilities. Chromatic Nevrons, which shift between Ice and Fire elements, require adaptability—use the Battle Wheel to track their weaknesses and switch tactics mid-fight. The optional boss Chromatic Veilleur, located in a cavern near the Manor Door, is a level 50+ challenge that can reduce your party’s health to 1 with its Blight status effect. Dodging or parrying its attacks is crucial, and bringing Monoco’s Stalact Punches can deal significant Break damage. Defeating it rewards the Glaceso weapon for Verso, a versatile sword-dagger combo that excels in Act 2 battles.
Exploration is enhanced by traversal mechanics, particularly Esquie’s abilities. After unlocking his coral-breaking or grappling skills by collecting missing rocks, you can access previously unreachable areas, like a subterranean cave with a roping point leading to the Manor Door. The zone’s platforming challenges, such as grappling across floating trains or zipping up golden threads, add variety to navigation. However, the lack of a minimap can make backtracking tricky, so rest at Expedition Flags to reorient and heal. Be cautious when resting, as it respawns enemies, but this can be a boon for XP farming—Frozen Hearts’ enemies yield 20,000–40,000 XP per battle, making it a solid grinding spot for level 50+ players.
Frozen Hearts ties into the game’s broader themes of sacrifice and resilience. The icy landscape, dotted with broken trains and paint corruption, mirrors The Continent’s decay under the Paintress’s influence. Environmental details, like abandoned camps or glowing glyphs, suggest past expeditions that succumbed to the cold, reinforcing the narrative’s weight. Helping the Danseuse Teacher or sparing the Mime adds emotional depth, reflecting the expedition’s struggle to retain humanity in a cursed world. These moments make Frozen Hearts more than a loot hub—it’s a microcosm of the game’s heart.
Strategically, Frozen Hearts prepares you for Act 2’s challenges. The Glaceso, Snowim, and Pictos like Anti-Freeze and Energising Pain (dropped by a Pèlerin near the entrance) enhance your party’s elemental versatility, easing fights against bosses like Renoir. The zone’s XP and materials help you level up without overleveling, maintaining the game’s balanced difficulty. For players aiming for 100% completion, Frozen Hearts’ collectibles and optional bosses contribute to achievements like Carreau Parfait (from defeating the Chromatic Petank) and the Professional trophy (for no-damage boss kills).
In conclusion, Frozen Hearts is a must-explore area in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Its blend of epic loot, like the Eternal Ice and Glaceso, challenging combat against Gargant and Chromatic Veilleur, and rich lore through journals and NPC quests, makes it a standout. The zone’s icy beauty, intricate traversal, and rewarding puzzles keep you engaged, while its strategic benefits prepare you for the Paintress’s trials. Whether you’re a completionist, lore hunter, or combat enthusiast, Frozen Hearts delivers an unforgettable experience. So, equip your Fire and Ice skills, rally your expedition, and brave the cold—you’ll see why this zone is a fan favorite.
