Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has already made history as the highest user-scored game on Metacritic, boasting an impressive score of 9.7/10—significantly ahead of any other game, which hovers below 9.3. This remarkable achievement is complemented by its commercial success, as Sandfall recently announced that just 12 days post-launch, Expedition 33 has sold a staggering 2 million copies. This milestone marks a phenomenal success for a brand new intellectual property (IP) developed by a small and emerging studio.
To put this achievement into perspective, Electronic Arts (EA) reported that only 1.5 million players were "engaged with" Dragon Age: The Veilguard during its first fiscal quarter, which fell short of their expectations. This figure included players utilizing EA Play subscriptions, making Expedition 33's sales figures even more impressive. The quality and enjoyment of Expedition 33 have already been acknowledged, with many gamers and critics dubbing it one of the best RPGs in history, often placed alongside the legendary Final Fantasy series.
The overwhelming positive reception of Expedition 33 can be attributed to its word-of-mouth marketing. Personally, I have encouraged at least three friends to purchase the game, and to my delight, they have all thoroughly enjoyed it. This kind of rapid word-of-mouth promotion is crucial in propelling a game toward impressive sales figures, and Expedition 33 has managed to reach 2 million sales within just 14 days—a phenomenal feat.
With Grand Theft Auto 6 being pushed out of the 2025 release window, Expedition 33 stands a better chance of clinching the coveted Game of the Year (GOTY) title this year. While it’s not guaranteed that GTA 6 would have been a contender, the competition landscape has certainly shifted. In the first third of the year alone, we have witnessed other notable releases like Split/Fiction and Blue Prince. However, none have generated the same level of hype or public enthusiasm as Expedition 33, which currently holds an impressive 92 rating on Metacritic, tied with Blue Prince as the best game of 2025 thus far.
As we look ahead, it’s fascinating to contemplate just how high Expedition 33 will soar in terms of long-term sales. Regardless of where it lands in the future, it has already established itself as a remarkable success, with any further sales being merely an added bonus. This game appears to be the inception of a significant new RPG franchise, and for those looking to jump in on the ground floor, I highly recommend purchasing Expedition 33. Even if you’re not typically a fan of RPGs or turn-based games (I personally am not), this title has a unique appeal that makes it a must-play.
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