Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s director was bored, so he created 2025’s highest-rated game. Discover the inspiring story behind the development of this game and the formation of Sandfall Interactive.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Was Made Out of Boredom

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has quickly become an instant classic, earning the title of the highest-rated game of 2025 and selling over 1 million copies in just three days. This game-of-the-year contender emerged from a surprising source: the director's boredom and a desire for something new.

In an interview with BBC News on May 4, the developers from Sandfall Interactive shared the origins of the game. Director Guillaume Broche explained that the project began as a way to combat his boredom. While working at Ubisoft during the peak of the 2020 pandemic, he felt restless and conceived an idea for a game.

Inspired by his childhood love for the JRPG series Final Fantasy, Broche set out to create a similar experience. His journey started on Reddit, where he began to gather a team for his vision.

A Stroke of Luck

To bring his vision to life, Broche reached out to potential team members through Reddit and online forums. His concept of Expedition 33, featuring Belle Époque-inspired classic turn-based gameplay, was not initially popular. Nevertheless, he persisted in seeking collaborators for his passion project.

Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, who was under lockdown in Australia, responded to one of Broche's posts on Reddit calling for voice actors. "I was like: 'I've never done that, it sounds kinda cool', so I sent him an audition," Svedberg-Yen recalled. Initially cast as a major character, she later became the lead writer for Expedition 33.

Broche eventually left Ubisoft to focus entirely on Expedition 33, founding Sandfall Interactive. With funding from publisher Kepler Interactive, the core team grew to approximately 30 members. Many were found through unconventional means, including composer Lorien Testard, who connected with the team via Soundcloud.

Thanks to Kepler Interactive’s support, they were able to collaborate with renowned actors such as Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI), Jennifer English (Baldur’s Gate 3), Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings), and others.

Despite the expanding team, Broche and Svedberg-Yen took on multiple roles during production. Svedberg-Yen, for instance, handled translations into various languages. Broche praised the team, saying, "We have, I think, an amazing team mostly of junior people but they are so incredibly invested in the project and talented."

The story of Expedition 33's development is as enchanting as the game itself. Driven by boredom and a bit of luck, Sandfall Interactive has crafted a game that promises to captivate players for years to come. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay updated with the latest news about the game by clicking on our article below!