Discover the fascinating journey behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a game that emerged as the highest-rated title of 2025 and sold over 1 million copies in just three days. This instant classic was born from the boredom and creative aspirations of its director, Guillaume Broche, and his team at Sandfall Interactive.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Was Made Out of Boredom

Doing Something Different

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has captured the hearts of gamers worldwide, achieving the coveted status of the highest-rated game of 2025. Its success story began during the height of the 2020 pandemic when Broche, then working at Ubisoft, felt restless and yearned for something new. Inspired by his childhood love for the Final Fantasy series, he embarked on a mission to create a similar JRPG.

In an interview with BBC News on May 4, Broche shared how his project started as a personal endeavor to combat boredom. His journey to bring his vision to life began on Reddit, where he sought like-minded individuals to join his quest.

A Stroke of Luck

Broche's initial outreach on Reddit and online forums was met with a mix of skepticism and curiosity. His concept of a Belle Époque-inspired, classic turn-based gameplay was unconventional, but his determination never wavered. It was during this time that Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, locked down in Australia, stumbled upon Broche's post seeking voice actors. Intrigued, she auditioned and was initially cast for a major character role, eventually becoming the lead writer for Expedition 33.

After leaving Ubisoft, Broche fully committed to his project and founded Sandfall Interactive. With funding from publisher Kepler Interactive, the team expanded to about 30 members, many of whom were discovered through unconventional channels. For instance, composer Lorien Testard joined after connecting via Soundcloud.

Kepler Interactive's support enabled them to collaborate with renowned actors such as Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI), Jennifer English (Baldur’s Gate 3), and Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings), elevating the game's appeal.

Throughout the production, Broche and Svedberg-Yen donned multiple hats, with Svedberg-Yen also handling translations. Broche praised the team's dedication, saying, "We have, I think, an amazing team mostly of junior people but they are so incredibly invested in the project and talented."

The enchanting origins of Expedition 33 reflect the magic woven into the game itself. Driven by boredom and fueled by luck, Sandfall Interactive crafted a game that promises to captivate players for generations to come. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For the latest updates, be sure to check out our related article below!