Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the breakout indie RPG from French studio Sandfall Interactive, has officially sold over two million copies in just 12 days since its release on April 24 — a staggering milestone that cements its place as one of 2025’s most surprising and successful game launches.
The game, a dark fantasy turn-based RPG, puts players in the shoes of a group of volunteers determined to stop The Paintress, a supernatural force that erases humans of a certain age every year. Drawing inspiration from iconic JRPGs like Persona and Final Fantasy, Expedition 33 combines deeply strategic gameplay with stunning painterly visuals that have captivated both players and critics.
In a recent post on Twitter, Sandfall Interactive shared the incredible news, highlighting the role of Xbox Game Pass, a competitive $49.99 price point, and word-of-mouth buzz in helping the game reach such heights so quickly. Notably, the title also hit one million copies sold within just three days of launch.
With an impressive 92 average score on OpenCritic, the game’s critical reception has been equally enthusiastic. Even French President Emmanuel Macron publicly praised the launch, a rare moment of national recognition for an indie game studio.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is being hailed as an early frontrunner for Game of the Year, with fans praising its emotional depth, unique aesthetic, and refined mechanics. The rapid sales trajectory suggests we’re only seeing the beginning of its success story.