Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Receives High Praise from Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann

Naughty Dog's head of creative, Neil Druckmann, has joined the long list of people praising Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, stating, “I’m in awe” of the RPG. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of 2025’s biggest surprises and already a strong contender for Best Game of the Year at the next Game Awards, with the game not only receiving praise from players but also from key industry figures.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 takes players to a fantasy RPG world marked by a tragic story, in which they assume the role of an expedition trying to stop a mysterious threat that causes people to vanish every year. The game is packed with emotive scenes, where players witness the transformation of the characters throughout the adventure, delivering a richly atmospheric and deeply immersive story. But Clair Obscur’s story isn’t the only positive aspect of the title. The game has also been praised for its engaging blend of turn-based combat and real-time action, which forces players to learn enemies’ movements (like in a Souls game) to be able to dodge or parry their attacks. In addition to the huge amount of positive reviews the game has received, another major industry figure has now commented on it.

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Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Receives Praise from CD Projekt Red

One CD Projekt Red dev now joins the long list of people praising the elements that have made Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 a breakout hit.

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Naughty Dog's head of creative, Neil Druckmann, took to Instagram to share his feelings after playing the successful Clair Obscur, stating, “Rolled credits on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.” The popular director also wrote, “I’m in awe,” saying that the game was one of the most moving and creative stories he has played in a long time.

Neil Druckmann Is “In Awe” After Playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

This is no small comment, especially coming from one of the main people responsible for creating The Last of Us’ deeply captivating story. Throughout its two main entries, The Last of Us has delivered such a powerful narrative—filled with complex dilemmas that are still discussed by fans—that it has become one of the most iconic stories in the industry, giving Druckmann considerable authority when it comes to commenting on game narratives.

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But Druckmann hasn’t been the only key figure in the industry praising the RPG. Recently, CD Projekt Red’s global community director—the studio behind narratively powerful games like The Witcher 3—stated that “we need more games like this.” Moreover, Baldur's Gate 3's publishing director also praised Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and asked players to support it. The game’s impressive success has led many fans to ask Sandfall Interactive for DLC, and the developer has recently teased new content and features, among other things.