You've probably seen the trailers by now. Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 looks like someone took a high-end French oil painting and smashed it into a turn-based RPG. It’s gorgeous. But specifically, everyone is talking about the Monaco theme—that sun-drenched, Belle Époque-inspired coastal vibe that makes the game feel less like a standard fantasy slog and more like a high-stakes vacation in a dying world.
It's weird.
Most RPGs give you "Forest Level" or "Lava Level." This gives you "Luxury Mediterranean Coastline under the threat of total erasure."
The game’s hook is pretty dark: every year, a being called the Paintress wakes up and paints a number on her monolith. Everyone that age turns to smoke. Now, she’s about to paint 33. The expedition team is heading out to stop her, and their journey through areas like the one inspired by Monaco is basically a final, beautiful look at a world that’s being literally unpainted.
The Architecture of the Monaco Theme
When we talk about the Monaco theme in Expedition 33, we aren't just talking about a bit of sand and some blue water. We're talking about specific architectural cues. Think Monte Carlo. You’ve got the cream-colored stone, the ornate balconies, and the massive, sweeping arches that define the French Riviera's most famous principality.
The developers at Sandfall aren't hiding their influences. They're based in Montpellier, France. They live this aesthetic. When you see the way the light hits the white stone in the game's coastal areas, it’s not just a generic "sunny" filter. It’s an attempt to capture the specific luminosity of the Mediterranean.
Usually, turn-based games stay in claustrophobic dungeons. Not here. The Monaco-inspired zones use verticality to show off the scale. You’ll see grand staircases that look like they belong in the Casino de Monte-Carlo, leading up to vistas where you can see the "Paint" starting to decay the edges of the world. It’s a contrast. Luxury meets the apocalypse.
Why the Belle Époque Style Matters for Gameplay
Is it just for show? Probably not.
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In a recent gameplay reveal, we saw how the environment interacts with the "reactive" turn-based system. Most RPGs let you sit there and scroll through menus while the boss waits patiently. Expedition 33 makes you dodge and parry in real-time during the enemy's turn.
The openness of the Monaco theme actually serves this. Because the environments are so bright and clearly defined—unlike a dark cave—you can actually see the telegraphing of the enemy animations better. It’s a functional choice. The clarity of the Mediterranean sun makes the high-speed parry windows feel fairer.
The color palette is also key. You have these deep lapis lazuli blues in the water and bright ochre in the buildings. When an enemy launches a magical attack, the VFX pop. They use a lot of "paint" metaphors in the combat—splashes of ink and watercolor strokes. These stand out way more against the clean, architectural lines of the Monaco-inspired buildings than they would in a muddy, brown-and-gray medieval setting.
The Contrast of the "Paintress"
There is something deeply unsettling about seeing a beautiful, wealthy-looking coastal city being slowly erased.
In the game, the Paintress uses her brush to delete reality. In the Monaco levels, you see these "erasure" zones where the luxury just... stops. The ornate carvings give way to raw, unformed canvas or static. It’s a visual representation of "The Gaze," the mechanic where the world literally watches you.
The sheer opulence of the Monaco theme makes the loss feel heavier. It's one thing to lose a swamp. It's another thing to watch a literal golden age of architecture get wiped out because a lady with a brush decided your time was up.
Breaking Down the "Reactive" Combat in These Settings
Let's get into the weeds of how you actually play through these zones.
You’re controlling Gustave, Maelle, and the rest of the crew. When you’re in these sun-soaked areas, the combat feels faster. Maybe it’s the music—a mix of orchestral swells and more modern, rhythmic beats.
The "reactive" part means if a giant sea-creature-humanoid-thing (the enemy design is very surrealist) swings at you, you hit a button to dodge or parry.
- The Parry: Perfectly timing a block can trigger a counter-attack.
- The Dodge: Getting out of the way of unblockable "red" attacks.
- The Jump: Some attacks are low-sweeping; you have to literally jump over them.
Doing this while standing on a balcony overlooking a crystalline sea is a vibe. Honestly, it’s refreshing. It’s a break from the "grimdark" aesthetic that has dominated gaming for the last decade. It’s "bright-dark." The world is ending, but damn, the architecture is nice.
Realistic Influences: Beyond Just Monaco
While we call it the Monaco theme, it’s really a love letter to the entire Côte d'Azur.
If you look at the town of Menton or the hills of Eze, you see the same tiered housing and narrow, winding streets that show up in the Expedition 33 previews. The developers are using their own backyard as the blueprint for the end of the world.
It’s also heavily influenced by Surrealism. Think Salvador Dalí meets the 1900s Paris Exposition. There are statues that shouldn't be moving, and birds made of glass. The Monaco theme provides the "grounded" reality that makes the surreal elements feel more shocking.
How the Gear Reflects the Aesthetic
The character designs by Sandfall are just as "Haute Couture" as the buildings.
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Gustave isn't wearing clunky plate armor. He’s in a tailored coat that looks like it was stitched in a high-end Parisian atelier. Maelle’s outfit has the fluidity of a dancer. In the Monaco-inspired sections, the gear fits the "expedition of the elite" feel. These aren't peasants fighting for scraps; they are a specialized unit equipped with the best tech and fashion the remaining world has to offer.
It adds a layer of "prestige" to the journey. You feel like you're part of a grand, desperate final effort by a sophisticated civilization, not just another group of adventurers in a tavern.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Visuals
A lot of people are calling this "French Final Fantasy."
That’s a bit of a lazy comparison. While the high-production values are there, Expedition 33 is much more focused on a specific historical aesthetic. Final Fantasy is a kitchen sink of styles. Expedition 33 is disciplined.
The Monaco theme isn't just a skin. It’s the result of a specific art direction called "Enlightened Fantasy." It’s about the tension between human progress (the beautiful cities) and divine whimsy (the Paintress).
Another misconception is that the game is an open-world exploration sim. It’s not. It’s a structured, narrative-driven RPG. The Monaco areas are large, but they are designed to funnel you toward specific encounters and story beats. It’s about "curated beauty" rather than "infinite space."
Actionable Takeaways for Following the Game
If you're hyped for the Monaco theme and the overall vibe of Expedition 33, here is how to keep tabs on it without falling for the hype cycles.
1. Watch the Technical Breakdowns
Don't just watch the cinematic trailers. Look for the "technical" gameplay deep dives Sandfall has released. Specifically, pay attention to the UI. The UI in the Monaco levels is remarkably clean—it uses thin lines and elegant fonts that don't obscure the scenery.
2. Follow the Art Directors
The team at Sandfall is very vocal about their inspirations. Looking into the history of the Belle Époque (1871–1914) will give you a huge head start on understanding the visual metaphors they are using. This was a period of optimism and regional peace in Europe, which makes it the perfect tragic backdrop for a world that is literally counting down to its death.
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3. Prepare for the "Reactive" Learning Curve
This isn't a "press A to win" game. If you like the Monaco theme, realize you'll be spending a lot of time looking at it while trying to time frame-perfect dodges. It’s more Sekiro than Dragon Quest in terms of player input.
4. Check the Platform Specs
The Monaco theme relies heavily on lighting and particle effects (the "paint" dust). If you're playing on PC, you're going to want a decent GPU to see the Mediterranean sun reflecting off the marble properly. It's an Unreal Engine 5 title, so expect it to be demanding.
Basically, the Expedition 33 Monaco theme is a bold move. It’s an attempt to marry high-fashion, classical European architecture, and hardcore RPG mechanics. It looks like it might actually pull it off. Whether the game is as fun as it is pretty remains to be seen, but for now, it’s easily one of the most visually distinct projects in the works.
Keep an eye on the "Eaters" as well—the bizarre, giant creatures that roam these beautiful environments. The contrast between a pristine coastal plaza and a multi-story monster made of twisted wood and canvas is exactly what this game is trying to sell you. It's the beauty of the Mediterranean, right before the lights go out.