Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Currently The Highest Rated Video Game Of 2025, Metacritic Must Play

While the game has only been out for a couple of days, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is already reaching massive levels of critical success. Not only are fans and industry experts enjoying the game, but it has quickly become a chart-topping hit. Even in a year with massive titles such as Monster Hunter: Wilds, Split Fiction, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, smaller titles have managed to work their way into the conversation. The previously highest-rated game on Metacritic was one such game, Blue Prince. In just two days, though, Clair Obscur has taken over the top spot.

Clair Obscur sits at the top ranking on Metacritic among all games released in 2025 thus far. Not only is this a fantastic score for 2025, but it is among, if not the, highest-rated game of all time among the Metacritic user base. The Sandfall Interactive success story has a 92 rating overall, which is already great, but a 9.6/10 among just users of the site (not industry critics). If the 9.6 holds, it would be better than any of the legendary games that have come before it.

On top of that, Calir Obscur has also earned a “Must-Play” label on the popular rating site. The game has been praised pretty much across the board. Not only has the brilliant turn-based combat and fluid mechanics that still allow for real-time dodge and parry been shouted out by critics and fans alike, but the plot and storytelling are equally as compelling, managing to weave a deep, intimate narrative throughout the storyline. There is no question that the game proves what turn-based RPGs can look like in the modern era, and many future games will likely try to replicate it.

Clair Obscur developers Sandfall Interactive released a post on their official X account regarding the honor and success of their game. “We are currently the top-reviewed game on Metacritic for 2025. Speechless. So many incredible games have been released this year. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.” They have also commented on posts about being the highest user rating of all time and posted a screenshot of all the positive reviews across platforms. What is especially special for the development team is that the entire studio has just 33 individuals working for it. They truly maximized the gaming experience for players.

Final Thoughts

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been a sensational success for the development studio, but it is not the first RPG to be released recently that pushes the ratings charts. Last year, Metaphor: Refantazio won a slew of gaming awards and eventually became the third-highest rated game on Metacritic. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth were also at the top of the ratings. Other studios have been pushing strong RPG entries or remastering old classics as well, indicating perhaps the genre is on the rise.

Whether it is a flash in the pan or something more industry-shifting, the fact is that Clair Obscur is not just a great RPG, but a great game period. Those who have not played it should take the opportunity to do so. For Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, the game is currently available for free, but it is also sold for PlayStation 5 and PC as well. Time will tell how the game compares over the course of the year, but it is exciting to see what a smaller studio was able to pull off.