10 Incredible Recent RPGs That Surprised EVERYONE

In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a party of warriors set out to destroy The Paintress, a mysterious entity who paints an ever-decreasing number annually, which results in the death of anyone in the area of that age.

Due to its fascinating premise, exquisite canvases-themed visuals, and top-tier voice acting, Clair Obscur feels less like a game and more like a work of art in motion. While you navigate through this vibrant world, experiment with the diverse combat, or learn about the world' rich lore, it's obvious the development team spared no expense.

Although some great games exceed expectations, Clair Obscur's success is more impressive since it didn't have any. After all, the dark RPG is the first game created by Sandfall Interactive, which only had 33 developers (hence the title). It's a staggering feat how the creator, Guilliaume Broche, quit Ubisoft, set up his own gaming company, and developed his first game within five years.

However, the fact Broche's tightly-knit team accomplished this and created arguably 2025's best game so far is unbelievable. Even though the lack of hype could've torpedoed Clair Obscur's chances for success, Sandfall's launch title knocked it out of the park, selling over three million in a month.