Why Expedition 33 is the Must-Play RPG in a World Dominated by BG3

Yes Baldur's Gate 3 patch 8 and Oblivion Remastered just came out but you should really be playing Clair Obscur Expedition 33.

Today many video games are really long often taking over 100 hours to finish. Games like Baldur’s Gate 3 Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Metaphor Refantazio and Yakuza are huge. So When I was younger I loved this. I spent days playing big games like Dragon Age: Origins L.A. Noire and Cyberpunk 2077. But now as RPGs get longer. I find myself less interested in massive games like God of War and Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Instead I enjoy smaller but still emotional games like A Plague Tale Indika and South of Midnight. I wondered why this changed. Is my attention span shorter? Is it because I have more adult responsibilities like work? At first. I thought it was just because I’m getting older. But then I played Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and it made me think differently.

Expedition 33 is a story-driven RPG that takes about 30 hours to finish plus another 30 hours of extra quests if you want to do everything. When I first started the game. I sighed thinking it would be like Dragon Age: The Veilguard or Baldur’s Gate 3 I’d enjoy it for a week then go back to playing League of Legends. But as soon as I arrived in the city of Lumiere. I realized Expedition 33 was something different.

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Baldur’s Gate 3 and God of War were the same for me. I kept thinking about the 30 hours it would take and it made me feel bad because I struggle to stick with long games. When Expedition 33 started its journey to stop The Paintress I played for a while then went to bed feeling good that I finally tried the game I had been excited about since Summer Game Fest last year. But the next day and the day after that I kept wanting to play more. For the first time since Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty I actually wanted to keep going with a long RPG. So I wondered what had changed?

From the start Expedition 33 focuses on its story. Big events happen often even in just a few hours of play. The gameplay is smooth with fights guiding you from one area to the next without getting annoying. There is not much exploring usually side paths just give you upgrade materials. The main goal is to move you from one part of the story to the next without much trouble.

Baldur’s Gate 3 had lots of things to do but the sidequests often distracted me and made me lose track of the main story. Sometimes I even stopped playing for a month because it felt like I wasn’t making progress. I enjoy a big lively world but Expedition 33’s tighter focus makes its story stand out more.

It also helps with the game's pace. There's a surprise at every corner keeping you curious about what happens next. The story moves fast but not too fast giving you enough details without overwhelming you. Unlike Baldur’s Gate 3 Act 3 which slows down and Dragon Age: The Veilguard which starts slow, Expedition 33 keeps things going smoothly.

A story needs its characters and Jennifer English shines as Maelle. She brings a sense of hopefulness to the role and keeps it strong throughout. Her performance proves she’s more than just Shadowheart she is a talented actor. In Expedition 33 she makes you laugh cry and her scenes with Devora Wilde are a joy to watch. While Neil Newbon’s Astarion was a standout in Baldur’s Gate 3 Jennifer English’s Maelle is truly something special.

Charlie Cox and Andy Serkis performances are more than just small roles. Serkis Renoir is a scary and interesting villain while Cox’s Gustave is fun lovable and very loyal. Together with the rest of the cast they form an exciting team. It is like the group of characters in Dragon Age: Origins or Baldur’s Gate 3. They are friends working together to stop a mysterious evil balancing the serious moments with laughter. I care about them and want them to win. Strong characters are key to a great story-driven game they make the plot come alive.

While games like Baldur’s Gate 3 and God of War have earned praise, Expedition 33 is the first game in a long time that has caught my attention for 30 to 60 hours. Its straightforward story and fun combat let the plot take the spotlight allowing the voice actors to really shine. The world is beautiful and vast but you can explore it at your own pace without feeling like you are missing anything. There are plenty of side quests and collectibles for completionists like unique outfits and mimes to smack. In short Expedition 33 is as big or small as you want it to be.

In a world full of long RPGs with big open worlds lots of side-quests and complex stories. it can be hard for the main story to stand out. Expedition 33 is a great example of an RPG that tells a strong engaging story while still giving players a lot to enjoy. Games like Baldur’s Gate 3 God of War and Dragon Age are some of the best RPGs ever. Expedition 33 should be considered one of them too. If you play just one big story-driven game this year make it this one.