The Last of Us Dev Praises Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as One of the Most Moving Stories He’s Played

Neil Druckmann and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Credit: Sandfall Interactive/Instagram)

Neil Druckmann, the creative head at Naughty Dog and one of the key minds behind The Last of Us, recently wrapped up his playthrough of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — and let’s just say, he’s seriously impressed.

Despite being knee-deep in major projects and stepping back from The Last of Us Season 3 to focus on Naughty Dog’s next big games, Druckmann still makes time to play. On July 6, he shared a post on Instagram with a screenshot of the game’s credits, simply captioned: “Rolled credits on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I’m in awe. One of the most moving, creative stories I played in a long time.”

Insta post by Neil Druckmann (credit: Instagram)

Now, coming from someone whose storytelling work helped define modern gaming narratives, that’s a big deal. Druckmann isn’t exactly the type to throw around praise lightly, so when he says he’s “in awe,” people take notice.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has already been making waves in 2025, becoming one of the most talked-about games of the year. Developed by Sandfall Interactive, the game blends fantasy, emotion, and strategy in a way that’s really struck a chord with players. You step into the shoes of an expedition team trying to stop a strange force that causes people to disappear every year — and from there, it turns into a powerful and often heartbreaking journey.

Druckmann isn’t the only high-profile developer giving the game a thumbs up. CD Projekt Red’s global community director, Marcin Momot, recently said, “we need more games like this,” while Baldur’s Gate 3’s publishing director, Michael Douse, also voiced support and encouraged players to check it out in its early days. That kind of backing from respected voices only adds to the momentum.

Sandfall Interactive has already teased that new DLC and features are on the way. So if you thought the journey ended with the credits, think again.

The RPG, released on April 24, 2025, has sold 3.3 million copies in its first 33 days and is considered a top candidate for 2025’s Game of the Year.