After 47 hours of exploring The Continent and uncovering most of Lumiere’s secrets, I can safely say that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a groundbreaking addition to the turn-based genre. While I haven’t played any of the Persona or Final Fantasy games that inspired it, Sandfall’s take on JRPGs is a work of art that I simply cannot believe was made by a studio of just thirty developers.

It’s a testament to Sandfall’s talent that I put down my controller to stare slack-jawed at my screen on many occasions, stopping to think about what had just unfolded as my party overcame challenge after challenge in their desperate bid to save humanity from extinction. Clair Obscur balances grand set-pieces and quiet, poignant moments with aplomb, making it a game that everyone should experience at least once.

The Perfect Balance Between Light and Dark

The first five minutes...