Shroud Changes Tune on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 After Trying It, Admits It’s a Solid Game Over Arc Raiders for GOTY

Michael ‘Shroud’ Grzesiek, a former FPS pro and known skeptic of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, is starting to warm up to the JRPG-inspired title. After investing some time in the fantasy adventure, he’s admitting that it truly deserves the acclaim it has garnered.

This change of heart was revealed during a livestream where he explored Sandfall Entertainment’s award-winning game. “Dare I say, Asmongold was right,” Grzesiek remarked. “He said that if I played this game after it won Game of the Year, I’d enjoy it.”

He was referring to The Game Awards, where Clair Obscur snagged the prestigious Game of the Year award along with eight others, marking a record-breaking achievement. Having previously voiced his criticisms, Grzesiek was challenged to give Expedition 33 a shot if it lived up to expectations. It did, he did, and here we are.

Shroud acknowledges Asmongold’s insight about Expedition 33: “Something I thought I would never say out loud… dare I say, Asmongold was right… he said when I play this game I’ll enjoy it… is it too soon to say that? The game can’t get worse; it can only get better.”

He had previously backed Arc Raiders as a strong contender for accolades, but it seems he’s navigating some cognitive dissonance here. It’s perfectly fine to embrace this new perspective and enjoy the game, my friend.

He’s certainly not alone in diving into Clair Obscur right now. While the RPG was already a hit, its success at the Game Awards has undoubtedly drawn in a wave of new players eager to see what the buzz is about. Welcome aboard, Shroud and everyone else! If you’re enjoying this, you might want to check out titles like Dragon Quest, Tales of, or Phantasy Star.

The lead developer of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 attributes the game’s success to a philosophy of “not caring too much about the players” — suggesting that genuine care for the game ultimately translates to care for the players.