Despite being an indie developer’s first-ever game, the breakout success ofClair Obscur: Expedition 33might have turned the tables on future RPGs, as AAA studios have admitted they are looking to follow Sandfall Interactive’s lead. While turn-based gameplay might have appeared to be in decline as AAA developers pushed for faster, more action-oriented games,Clair Obscur: Expedition 33seems to prove otherwise. Yet between the likes of CD Projekt Red and French President Emmanuel Macron praising Sandfall Interactive’s debut game, one key studio’s response toClair Obscurhas been a welcome, albeit unexpected, surprise.
With a makeshift team cobbled together from former Ubisoft developers to unlikely Reddit recruits,Clair Obscurachieved what few other indie games have and established itself as a contender for AAA gaming. But while Sandfall drew its inspiration for storytelling, characterization, and turn-based combat from past JRPGs, such asFinal FantasyandPersona, things have come full circle, as Square Enix citesClair Obscur’s success as inspiration for its future games. Now, as Sandfallrethinks its DLC plans forClair Obscurfollowing its success, so too is Square Enix reconsidering its approach toFinal FantasyandDragon Quest.
This article contains spoilers forClair Obscur: Expedition 33(andFinal Fantasy 7, technically).
The Inspiration Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Took Can Now Be Given Back
While it won’t be the first indie game to give AAA studios a run for their money, like whenPlayerUnknown’s Battlegroundpopularized battle royales, or one-person teams developedUndertaleandStardew Valley,Clair Obscurmay have broken new ground after surpassing the standards set by the games it was inspired by.Clair Obscurwears itsFinal Fantasyinfluenceson its sleeve the most, with its modernized turn-based combat, complex narratives, and fantastical world-building. Even defining moments from the originalFinal Fantasy 7are paralleled inClais Obscur, such as Gustave’s and Aerith’s sudden deaths despite both appearing to be integral characters.
Yet even thoughClair Obscur’s director, Guillaume Broche, confirmed thatFinal Fantasy 15had been just as influential as these older games in discussion with Den Fami Nico Gamer, this hasn’t prevented it from being adopted asFinal Fantasy’s new standard. WithFinal Fantasy 16being review-bombedafter players felt it strayed too far from the series' roots, it is arguably unsurprising that Square Enix responded toClair Obscur’s success and its revival ofFinal Fantasy’s retired mechanics.
While this doesn’t mean that the nextFinal FantasyorDragon Questwill be turn-based specifically, it does indicate thatClair Obscurhas become an inspiration to its own forebears.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Might Beat Final Fantasy At Its Own Game
However, among the series' numerous prequels, spin-offs, online expansions, and more, Square Enix has not confirmed ifFinal Fantasy 17is in development as it focuses on completing itsFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketrilogy. While the parts of the trilogy released so far received near-universal acclaim, this is more likely due to the ties to the original 1997 game and the reimagined story rather than the hybridization of turn-based strategy with real-time combat. Regardless, in light ofSquare Enix’s comments onClair Obscur’s success, the better reception toFF7Remake’s andRebirth’s combat could see the indie game’s approach to turn-based gameplay being borrowed.
For example, whileFF7 Rebirthexpanded its combat to include parrying and dodge mechanics,Clair Obscur’s Perfect Dodge has the key difference of encouraging players to master its combat to earn rewards. Should Square Enix take notes fromClair Obscurfor its next game afterFF7 Rebirth, timed mechanics and rewards exclusive to active combat could incentivize players to get back intoFinal Fantasy’s turn-based gameplay while also appealing to the series' fans. Similarly,Clair Obscuralso uses QTEs to organically enhance its combat through stronger, well-timed attacks, something whichFF 7 Rebirthand futureFinal Fantasygames could learn from.
