Clair Obscur’s Free DLC Challenges Even the Top Players

Fresh off its Game of the Year win, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has rolled out a new, free update that introduces additional levels, upgrades, and boss battles to the RPG. If it’s been a while since you last joined Verso, Maelle, and the rest of the crew, you might want to brush up on your parrying skills before diving into the new content. Even seasoned players who have mastered the game’s toughest challenges are finding these new fights to be quite the test.

Dubbed the “Thank You Update,” this patch brings an Endless Tower that features revamped boss encounters from the base game, ramping up the difficulty. Clair Obscur’s late-game bosses were already formidable, and now players are faced with a slew of new battles that are exhausting just to witness. Check out the relentless combo in the new Duollistes fight:

What the hell is this ….#clairobscur#clairobscurexpedition33#coe33#simon#fyp

♬ original sound – vtenchu

Some challenges in the update stem from an unending onslaught of attacks, while many fights maintain the classic Clair Obscur style, tricking players with deceptive feints that bait dodges and parries before the real strikes come, disrupting your rhythm and leaving you vulnerable.

#expedition33#clairobscure#dlc#parryit

♬ som original – Mandy Rodrigues

And just to keep things interesting, one boss can wipe out your entire team in an instant. Good luck trying to parry that one.

FAHHHHH indeed.#clairobscurexpedition33#goty#expedition33dlc#ps5#bossfight

♬ original sound – Mr. Tim

Fans of Clair Obscur are no strangers to tough boss encounters, but some players feel that the Thank You Update’s boss gauntlet might be a bit excessive. A Reddit user summed it up well:

“I love this game, truly,” they shared. “This update is great, but these bosses are too much. Unless I spend a full 9 to 5 learning the reaction times only a robot can reach, I will never beat them. I already have to spend the day searching for a job and facing disappointment after disappointment; I’m not mentally strong enough to deal with these bosses afterward. It’s making me not like the game… which is something I don’t want to happen.”

Sometimes, stepping back from the toughest challenges a game offers is the best choice. I’ve never tackled some of the secret bosses in Final Fantasy X, despite having art from that game tattooed on my arm. I’d rather enjoy the game I played than bang my head against a wall over its more punishing fights, so I won’t judge anyone who decides to skip Clair Obscur’s Endless Tower. For those who do conquer them, your dedication is commendable. “For those who come after.”