Play it if
You want a fresh, beautiful RPG with active combat.
Skip it if
You dislike turn-based battles.
The hype
“The RPG of its year”
The facts
Original and beautiful, with a few rough edges
Fact sheet
- Players
- Single-player
- Online play
- No
- Cross-play
- No
- Solo
- Single-player only
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Typical playtime
- ~35 hours
- Steam Deck
- Playable
1The pitch
Once a year the Paintress wakes and paints a number; everyone of that age turns to smoke. Expedition 33 is the latest group to try to reach her.
2How it plays
Battles are turn-based, but you dodge and parry in real time, which makes every fight tense. Characters have very different systems to master.
3Hype vs facts
The hype says the RPG of its year, and the reviews agree. The facts: some areas are hard to read without a map, and difficulty spikes appear.
4Look & sound
Painterly art and an outstanding orchestral and vocal soundtrack.
5Setup & value
It lists at $49.99 and runs on Windows. Steam lists it as Playable on Steam Deck.
Best bits
- Original combat
- Gorgeous art and music
- Strong story
Watch out
- No map in many areas
- Difficulty spikes
Score sheet
- Craft 25%
- 94
- Fun 25%
- 94
- Easy to love 15%
- 80
- Lasting value 20%
- 82
- Value 15%
- 90
94 × 25% + 94 × 25% + 80 × 15% + 82 × 20% + 90 × 15% = 88.90 → 89
The clear verdict
Verdict
“Clair Obscur is one of the best RPGs of recent years. A clear pick for anyone curious.”
By the Clear Bet Review editorial desk · Updated 20 Oct 2026 · How we score · Report an error
