I don’t say this lightly, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is without question my Game of the Year so far. I went in curious, left absolutely floored. It's rare for a game to emotionally grip me the way this one did. It’s the kind of experience that reminds you why you fell in love with games in the first place.

Let’s talk story. I haven’t been this invested in an RPG narrative in a long time. The worldbuilding is rich and beautifully melancholic, with a constant thread of existential dread and hope intertwining as you uncover the mysteries behind the Paintress and the doomed Expedition 33. The emotional stakes feel high from the start and stay high. There were multiple moments that hit with the emotional force of Final Fantasy X’s ending, gut-punches that had me sitting in silence, controller in hand, just processing what I’d witnessed. It’s rare to find a story that blends surrealism, philosophical weight, and raw humanity so effectively.

The characters are a huge reason for that impact. Every member of the expedition feels unique and well-written, with their own goals, insecurities, and growth throughout the journey. But for me, Lune stole the show. Best girl, hands down. Her design, voice acting, backstory, everything about her is unforgettable. There’s a quiet strength and vulnerability to her that hits so hard as the story progresses. You want to protect her, you feel for her. She's up there with my all-time favorite RPG characters now.

Combat is where Expedition 33 shines just as much. It’s a turn-based system with real-time elements that immediately reminded me of Super Mario RPG, but much more refined. There’s a satisfying rhythm to every fight, blocking and striking with well-timed inputs, that keeps you engaged every second. But beyond that, the customization depth is wild. The game gives you tools to truly experiment: break the combat system, create absurdly powerful builds, and laugh as you steamroll enemies with clever setups. It gave me Final Fantasy VIII vibes, in the best way, where mastery of the system means total control, and you’re rewarded for thinking outside the box.

The soundtrack deserves its own paragraph. This game’s music is phenomenal, easily among the best I’ve heard in years. From haunting, piano-driven tracks during character moments to sweeping orchestral boss themes that raise your pulse, it’s clear that the OST was crafted with love and care. I found myself lingering in areas just to hear certain themes again. It’s the kind of music I’ll be listening to long after finishing the game.

Performance on PC was rock solid. It performed flawlessly, no crashes, smooth framerate, fast load times, and a good suite of graphical options. Visually, it’s stunning. The art direction is a beautiful fusion of oil-paint surrealism and high fantasy, giving the world a dreamlike quality that’s both eerie and enchanting.

All in all, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a rare gem. It doesn’t just check boxes, it creates a lasting emotional experience. For fans of classic JRPGs, or just gamers who crave something deep, beautiful, and heartfelt, this is a must-play. It respects your time, challenges your heart, and leaves a mark. I laughed, I cried, I cheesed the combat with a ridiculously broken build, and I loved every minute of it.

I really wish Steam allowed for a "Mixed" review option because that’s exactly how I feel about Metaphor: ReFantazio. I wanted to love this game so much, but I ended up with mixed feelings.

Let’s start with the positives, the turn-based combat is fantastic, and the boss designs are genuinely impressive. Battles are engaging and strategic, which is definitely one of the game’s strong points.

However, the pacing of the story dragged me down. Just like with the Persona games, I found this game way too long for its own good. It’s not that I dislike lengthy JRPGs, I’ve put hundreds of hours into others without issue, but there’s something about how this game tells its story that just loses me. I get disinterested, and it makes sticking with it a chore.

The visuals are also a mixed bag. Some of the art is beautiful, but overall, it feels dated, like I’m playing a polished PS3 game. I really wish the developers would modernize their rendering pipeline to incorporate more up-to-date techniques.

The soundtrack? It’s... fine. At first, the battle music is a banger, but after hearing it a hundred times, it loses its charm. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by FFVII Remake/Rebirth’s dynamic approach to music, which keeps things fresh and impactful even after long hours of gameplay.

I’m genuinely torn. There’s a great game here, but it’s bogged down by elements that just don’t click for me. If you’re a fan of Atlus-style storytelling and don’t mind the length, you’ll probably love this. For me, though, it’s an experience I appreciate but didn’t fully enjoy.