There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the turn-based RPG genre as of late. There are both newcomers to the genre heralding the likes of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a return-to-form for the genre, while hardcore fans have rallied to its defense, claiming it never lost its luster. All of this discourse has led to the likes of Ben Starr, the acclaimed actor behind iconic RPG heroes like Final Fantasy 16’s Clive and Clair Obscur’s Verso, to chime in.
Ben Starr’s amazing gaming opinions have often steered us right, so it feels prudent to listen to him once again, especially when it comes down to the genre he is truly an expert. Frankly, his recent comments on turn-based games are undeniably true, and it feels as if they put the whole drama to bed. Whether you’re a fan or a newcomer, you should listen to Ben Starr as he is absolutely right when it comes to the state of turn-based RPGs now and before Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Ben Starr Reminds People That Turn-Based RPGs Didn’t Go Away
It Is A Very Popular Genre
Currently, and certainly around the release of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, there has been a lot of discussion around the popularity of turn-based RPGs. Many who have been fans of the genre since its inception, or even in the last decade or so, believe that turn-based RPGs, while always improving, have never gone out of style. Those whose first experience with a turn-based RPG is Clair Obscur often believe it resurrected a dead genre.
That’s partially because the main player in the turn-based RPG space, Final Fantasy, ditched the format with FF16, and, to a lesser extent, FF7 Remake and its sequels. In fact, this debate about the popularity of the genre reached a boiling point when many began arguing about whether Final Fantasy should be turn-based again, or stick to its newfound love for the action RPG style of combat. Of course, speaking as a fan of turn-based RPGs, it is clear that the genre has been alive and strong for a very long time.
The likes of Persona 5 have helped maintain its relevancy in the modern era by expanding the definition of a turn-based RPG, while Pokémon has continued to cement the genre’s legacy as accessible to all ages. In the AA scene, Octopath Traveler and numerous other Square Enix-developed RPGs have continued to cater to fans, while indies like Sea of Stars have modernized the old-school style of turn-based combat.
However, one shouldn’t just take my word for it. Ben Starr recently spoke to GamesRadar about the boom in passion for turn-based RPGs, stating that while he’s grateful so many people have discovered the genre through Clair Obscur, he doesn’t believe it has resurrected it as so many claim. In fact, Starr goes on to state how there are so many other RPGs fans of Clair Obscur should be checking out, while simultaneously thanking those who’ve enjoyed what is easily one of the greatest turn-based RPGs ever made.
It’s Great To See Clair Obscur Bringing People Into Turn-Based RPGs
It Should Hopefully Spur Them On To Try Other Games In The Genre
Starr told GamesRadar that he feels “so lucky [to be] in a videogame right now that is celebrating a combat system that is alive and well, but that “it hasn’t brought [turn-based battles] back.” It is absolutely important to recognize, as Starr has, the impact Clair Obscur has had on the genre. It certainly, like Persona 5 before it, brought it back into the spotlight by changing fundamental aspects of the formula to cater to a wider audience.
It has the complexity that some find lacking in Pokémon as well as the real-time elements of a soulslike. Those aspects, combined with its nuanced narrative and cinematic storytelling, made it a smash hit that became one of 2025’s best-selling games. However, as Starr explains, it didn’t bring back turn-based combat. That style never went away; it is only ever iterated on and changed to meet ever-shifting expectations.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 shouldn’t be seen as the savior of the turn-based RPG, but rather a strong jumping off point. While its higher-budget and cinematic flair are rarely replicated in other games in the genre, the complexity of its combat and the depth of its mechanics is only a taste of what so many other RPGs have to offer. In fact, Starr had plenty of other RPGs to recommend to those who are discovering the genre for the first time.
Ben Starr Offers Recommendations For People Who Enjoyed Clair Obscur
From Indies To Square Enix Classics
When speaking to GamesRadar, Starr explained that those who are “discovering turn-based combat for the first time, and understanding the intricacies of turn-based combat” should check out the “rich well of games out there.” Specifically, he mentions Octopath Traveler 2 – although its predecessor is also well-worth playing – as well as one of the best indie RPGs, Chained Echoes.
Starr mentions Chained Echoes several times, calling it “brilliant,“ and claiming that “it has an amazing story to tell that’s just as heart-wrenching [as Clair Obscur].” Honestly, he isn’t wrong, as I found it to be just as affecting, despite the limitations of its admittedly extremely beautiful art style. If you need further proof, Chained Echoes’ glowing reviews and score of 90 on Metacritic – which is only three points behind Clair Obscur – also point to Starr’s sentiments being true.
I would throw in Sea of Stars as well as Bloomtown: A Different Story, but Starr’s recommendations are absolutely must-plays. In fact, the whole indie RPG scene is full of phenomenal turn-based games that are worth checking out, bolstered by impressive art styles and the same nuanced storytelling found in Expedition 33.
Source: GamesRadar, Metacritic
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
9/10
- Released
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April 24, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
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Sandfall Interactive
- Publisher(s)
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Kepler Interactive
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 5