Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a turn-based Japanese RPG from French studio Sandfall Interactive, has taken the gaming world by storm. According to analyst data, the game is outselling other recent comparable games in the genre by more than two-to-one ratio.
In its first week on Steam alone, the game sold over 785,000 copies, with sales exceeding those of Atlus’s acclaimed title Metaphor: ReFantazio by nearly two times. The game has also attracted over 1.5 million wishlists on Steam, setting it up for a strong long-term tail.
Analyst Rhys Elliott credits the game’s success to its quality and value. “The game is fantastic,” he says. “It combines stunning visuals with a rewarding turn-based-combat system that melds classic JRPG elements with modern twists.” The low price point likely also contributed to its popularity, as many players take advantage of discounted games.
Expedition 33’s success also highlights the resurgence of interest in traditional turn-based JRPGs. Square Enix has been criticized for abandoning this genre in recent years, with recent Final Fantasy titles focusing on real-time action gameplay instead.
However, Sandfall Interactive has successfully filled this gap, creating a game that appeals to both old and new fans of the genre. Its release on Xbox Game Pass has also helped boost its sales, as the service’s inclusion can snowball into word-of-mouth recommendations.
The game’s success is a testament to the enduring appeal of turn-based JRPGs, and it seems that the market is finally ready for more titles like Expedition 33. As analyst Elliott notes, “Who said turn-based combat was dead? The realistic-JRPG ideation floodgates probably just opened.”
Source: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/clair-obscur-expedition-33-is-selling-more-than-twice-as-fast-as-other-jrpgs-on-pc-analyst-says-heres-why