Next week on Xbox Game Pass: Top-wishlisted AAA RPG arrives day one

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 transports players to a fantasy world inspired by the Belle Époque – a cultural era spanning the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The setting is dark, melancholic and strikingly beautiful. At its center is the "Paintress," a mysterious figure who brings death through her art. Each year, she awakens to paint a cursed number on a monolith, causing everyone of that age to vanish. As the number drops lower with each passing year, the death toll rises. Players join Expedition 33, a group determined to end the deadly cycle.

The combat in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 blends classic turn-based mechanics with real-time action. Players dodge incoming attacks, parry with precise timing and target enemy weak spots with accuracy. Well-timed inputs allow you to chain moves into powerful combos, adding a rhythmic layer to the fights. Outside of combat, you’ll explore mysterious islands, deserted cities and long-forgotten battlefields. Despite its expansive feel, Clair Obscur isn’t an open-world game, it follows a linear narrative with a strong focus on storytelling and presentation.

Available in the Xbox Game Pass from release day

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launches on April 24 and will be available on Xbox Game Pass the same day. That’s exciting news for many subscribers, especially since the RPG currently ranks 25th on Steam’s list of most-wanted games.