Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Won’t Have a Mini-Map to Encourage Exploration

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the most unique RPG titles releasing this year, blending turn-based combat with striking visuals and UI to evolve the turn-based formula. One of the bold design choices that the game will make excludes a mini-map in order to encourage exploration and preserve its sense of discovery.

Francois Meurisse, COO of Sandfall Interactive, spoke to Eurogamer at the Game Developers Conference where they revealed that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won’t have a mini-map. This was a deliberate design decision to let players naturally discover the world themselves, thus encouraging exploration off the beaten path. It will also force players to memorise landmarks and locations to navigate without a mini-map, though there will still be a compass to point you in the right direction.

Meurisse stated:

“There won’t be mini-maps in the levels. When there’s a mini-map, you can end up relying on it. And we want players to discover the world as the expedition does it. They don’t have a map because every previous expedition failed. So yes, sometimes it can be difficult to find their way. What we added on the world map that wasn’t in the preview demo is just a compass, so you can find north easily and get your direction more easily.”

Last November, the game’s creative director Guillaume Broche broke down how combat will work in the turn-based RPG. Unlike other turn-based systems, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will allow players to parry incoming attacks. Broche also stated that later in the game, it will be possible to not only parry but dodge and jump over attacks. This is certainly a break from the traditional turn-based formula where the player and enemies take turns dealing damage or strategically setting up attacks and vice versa, as it now gives them more defensive opportunities.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 releases on 24 April 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Source: Eurogamer