Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Becomes Highest-Rated Original IP on PlayStation Platform

French Indie RPG Shatters PlayStation Store Rating Records

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has established itself as the highest user-rated original IP on the PlayStation Store, achieving an unprecedented 4.92 rating based on over 11,300 user reviews. This remarkable achievement has dethroned previous record-holder OMORI (4.91) in just a matter of days since its April 24 worldwide release.

The French indie title’s exceptional reception extends beyond PlayStation’s ecosystem, setting a new record on Metacritic with an unprecedented user score of 9.7/10, making it the highest user-rated game in the site’s history.

Among professional critics, the game has garnered equally impressive acclaim, with a Metacritic score of 92 across 66 reviews, placing it among the highest-rated games of 2025. This positions Expedition 33 as a rare example of a title achieving both critical acclaim and extraordinary player satisfaction.

Commercial Success Attracts Presidential Recognition

Beyond ratings, the title has achieved impressive commercial milestones, selling 1 million copies shortly after release. This remarkable performance has garnered attention at the highest levels of French government, with President Emmanuel Macron publicly congratulating developer Sandfall Interactive.

“A million copies and to this day one of the best-rated games in history: and yes, it’s French,” said President Macron. “Congratulations to Sandfall Interactive and all the creators of Expedition 33. You radiate boldness and creativity in French.”

Innovative Gameplay Drives Success

What makes this turn-based RPG so exceptional? Described as a “ground-breaking turn-based RPG with unique real-time mechanics,” the game blends traditional JRPG elements with active combat interactions that keep players engaged throughout its approximately 35-hour main campaign.

The combat system provides players with numerous tactical options, including real-time dodging, parrying and countering, combo-chaining through attack rhythms, and targeting enemy weak points via a free-aim system. This approach has been praised for evolving the JRPG formula while maintaining strategic depth.

Compelling Narrative in a Unique Setting

Set in a fantasy world inspired by Belle Époque France, Expedition 33’s narrative centers around a haunting premise: a mysterious entity called the Paintress awakens annually to paint a number on a monolith, causing every person of that corresponding age to “turn to smoke and fade away.” With the Paintress about to mark the number “33,” players join a desperate mission to stop this cycle of death.

The game invites players to “explore an enchanting realm populated by surreal adversaries” while wandering through diverse landscapes, from the Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield, as they follow the trail of previous expeditions.

Indie Success Story

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 represents a remarkable achievement for Sandfall Interactive, an independent French studio founded in 2020 in Montpellier. With approximately 20 employees who spent four years developing the game using Unreal Engine 5, the studio has delivered a debut title that now sits atop an impressive list of PlayStation Store favorites.

The game’s 4.92 rating places it above beloved titles including OMORI (4.91), Vampire Survivors (4.88), Split Fiction (4.88), Persona 5 (4.87), Hades (4.86), Signalis (4.86), 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (4.85), Astro Bot (4.84), and The Walking Dead (4.84).

Industry Implications

This success story is particularly significant given Sony’s recent acknowledgment that the company “doesn’t have enough original IP” and its “multibillion-dollar” investment commitment to creating original content, announced in September 2024.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 demonstrates the substantial market potential for new intellectual properties when executed with skill and passion, potentially influencing PlayStation’s content strategy moving forward.

For RPG enthusiasts and PlayStation owners seeking their next gaming experience, the unprecedented user and critical consensus suggests Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 offers something truly special that shouldn’t be missed.