Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Thank You Review (Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 & PC)

I won’t lie to you, but I toyed with the idea of talking about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, not to blow smoke up its backside, but to babble about all of the reasons why you should play it before you die. I thought about doing that, but then, as if to make my job redundant, The Game Awards swept in to illustrate it via a two-hour celebration that, quite frankly, took the words right out of my mouth. I figured, if it was able to paint the canvas and rejoice at its universal acclaim with a Game of the Year achievement, then I would have little else to add to the pot. Like countless others, I knew it was the rightful heir to the throne, and the self-titled Thank You update was merely the frosting on what could only be described as the perfect cake.

Of course, we’ve already taken our swing at reviewing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and so, it wouldn’t be appropriate to re-write the same passage and recycle the same materials under a new light. But, the Thank You update isn’t a self-contained review; it’s a nod to the extraordinary work that Sandfall Interactive has been able to accomplish since its inception. It’s a tilt of the hat to formidable RPGs; it’s a farewell from an unbreakable era; it’s a final layer of paint on a striking canvas that, frankly, has engulfed the hearts of an entire generation. And no, that isn’t an exaggeration.

Given the record-breaking clean sweep at The Game Awards, it doesn’t come as too much of a surprise that the folks over at Sandfall Interactive have come full circle with a fresh update to commemorate their vast achievements. Thank You, really, doesn’t just serve as a reminder of its importance in the mainstream, but as a handshake to all of those who helped bridge the gaps between triple-A RPGs and independent passion projects. And honestly, it feels like the perfect ending for a phenomenal tale.

An Ode to Stories Foretold

For the record, Thank You isn’t a full-blown DLC; it’s a parting message to those who embarked on their own quest to dismantle The Paintress and explore the vast corridors of Expedition 33’s infrastructure. It is, if anything, a ceremonial expansion that merely adds an extra coating to a multi-dimension oil painting, with new worlds, features, and not to mention an ocean of quality of life upgrades serving as its pot and primer.

Above all else, Thank You serves as an incentive for frequent excursionists to venture back to the canvas to soak up yet another layer of its world—a coating that comes in the form of Verso’s Drafts, a brand-new biome that offers a vast borough of dream-like terrain and vibrant wonders, whimsical escapades and a fresh lease on the expedition’s fateful late-game journey. Although only available in Act 3—the final passage of the tale—Verso’s Drafts offers a stunning utopia that features swathes of uncharted waters, as well as new Quests, encounters, and all of the complimentary Pictos that you would hope to find in a souped-up end-of-year update.

To add to Verso’s Draft, the post-launch content drop also features a batch of original boss battles, which can be tackled via the Endless Tower, as well as a new symphony of wondrous scores, courtesy of award-winning composer Lorien Testard. And then we have the finer details—the option to create stunning in-game snapshots with a powerful photo tool; the ability to finally flee from trickier battles; better localization faucets; and a plethora of fresh Quests, Outfits, and Pictos, to list just a handful of its standout upgrades.

The Painter & The Peddler

Of course, if you’re unfamiliar with Expedition 33, then these features might not resonate with you as well as they might with those who’ve recently finalized and added the final touches to their own canvas. Still, if you’re fresh out of the water and without the full weight of the paintbrush, then honestly, you’ll have plenty to enjoy during the latter sections of the game here, with a handful of additional hour’s worth of content to shovel through, give or take. And that’s Verso’s Drafts alone, believe it or not.

If you’re still on the fence with it all, then be sure to check out our original review of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for a deeper insight into the ins and outs of its plot, characters, and in-game elements. If you’re already familiar with it, however, then you needn’t dig any deeper for an excuse to return to its roots. Still unsure whether or not to give it a shot? Then let’s go ahead and summarize it.

Verdict

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Thank You marks the final chapter for one of the most memorable RPGs of the past decade, with a beautifully crafted farewell homage to its emotional voyage through the heart of The Paintress’ canvas. With a fantastic biome to dab your paintbrush on and an entire palette of additional Quests, Bosses, Pictos, and QoL improvements, it doesn’t just acknowledge your commitment; it thanks you with a celebratory banquet of upgrades that will keep you skirting around the plinth for hours, perhaps even days.

It feels like a no brainer at this point, truly. However, if you’ve yet to embark on your own expedition across the vast monolithic ocean of Sandfall Interactive’s award-winning debut RPG, then take this as an stern reminder to venture forth and experience it yourself. If, however, you’re a returning pilgrim, and you’re unable to decide whether or not to take the plunge, then take it from us: Thank You is worth donning the armband for, if not for Verso’s Drafts, then for all of the complimentary features that Sandfall has so kindly implemented into the framework of its world. It’s also a free update, so you have nothing to lose.