The recent reveal of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has definitely stirred up quite a buzz among RPG fans. This turn-based RPG, set to launch in 2025, boasts a distinctive art style and a challenging combat system that promises to keep players on their toes. And like with many modern RPGs, the question on everyone’s mind is: what about New Game Plus (NG+)? For those who pour dozens of hours into a playthrough, the idea of extending that experience with fresh challenges and rewards is pretty tempting. But here’s the thing — what exactly will NG+ bring to Clair Obscur, and is it really something every player should dive into?
What is New Game Plus? A Foundation
If you’re not too familiar, New Game Plus is basically a mode that unlocks once you finish the main story. Usually, it lets you restart the game, but with a twist — you carry over things like your character’s levels, equipment, and skills from your first run. Sometimes even your in-game currency comes along for the ride. The whole point is to give you a fresh way to experience the game, often ramping up the difficulty or adding new content and rewards you didn’t get the first time around.
Of course, NG+ varies a lot between games. Some crank up the enemy difficulty, others throw in new story bits or character interactions. What matters most is that it gives you a solid reason to come back to a world you’ve already explored.
The Expedition Continues: What to Expect in Clair Obscur NG+
Details about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s NG+ are still a bit scarce, but looking at common RPG trends and what the developers have hinted at, we can get a pretty good idea of what’s coming. Since the game emphasizes strategic combat and character progression, NG+ will probably build on those pillars.
Increased Difficulty and Strategic Depth
One thing almost guaranteed with any NG+ is an uptick in difficulty. In Clair Obscur, expect things like:
- Tougher Enemies: Enemies might have more health, deal harder hits, and even adopt new attack patterns or skills. Regular mobs could turn elite, and bosses might get extra phases or resistances.
- Resource Scarcity: Healing items, crafting materials, and upgrade components might become harder to come by, pushing you to manage your supplies more carefully.
- Modified Encounters: The usual enemy groups might be reshuffled or beefed up, throwing new combinations or ambushes at you that demand fresh tactics.
This means NG+ won’t be just a stroll through the same old maps. It’ll push players to really master the combat mechanics — maybe even try new party setups and ability combos. If you breezed through your first run, NG+ might just be where the real challenge begins.
Enhanced Character Progression and Gear
A classic NG+ feature is carrying over your progress. In Clair Obscur, this will almost certainly mean:
- Retained Levels and Abilities: Your party will start NG+ at the levels you reached in your first playthrough, complete with all their unlocked skills. That means you can jump straight into tougher challenges.
- Inventory and Equipment Transfer: Weapons, armor, accessories, crafting materials — expect these to come along, giving you a solid base from the get-go.
- New Tier of Gear: NG+ often introduces more powerful gear, or entirely new legendary sets, tailored for the tougher difficulty. You might have to face new bosses or tackle fresh side quests to get them.
- Expanded Skill Trees: Some games use NG+ to open up additional skill upgrades or even new ability branches, letting you customize characters even more deeply beyond the first run’s limits.
This gives you plenty of reason to tinker with builds and strategies — chasing that perfect combo of skills and gear becomes a core part of the replay experience.
The Lure of the Unknown: Exclusive Content and Rewards
Beyond just difficulty and upgrades, the biggest pull of NG+ usually lies in new content. For Clair Obscur, this might include:
- New Side Quests and Lore: Developers sometimes sneak in fresh side stories or expand the world’s lore during NG+. These quests can reveal deeper layers of the narrative or character backgrounds — and they might reward you with unique items.
- Hidden Bosses: NG+ can unlock powerful, optional bosses absent from the first playthrough. Defeating these often nets exclusive gear or bragging rights.
- Cosmetic Rewards: For those who love customization, NG+ might offer new outfits, weapon skins, or other aesthetic goodies to show off your mastery.
- Alternate Endings or Narrative Branches: While rarer, some RPGs use NG+ to unlock different story outcomes or endings, encouraging multiple runs to experience everything the game offers.
- Achievements and Trophies: NG+ usually comes with its own set of challenges — think achievements for finishing the game under tougher conditions or completing all NG+ content.
These extras create strong incentives to embark on a second expedition, exploring hidden corners and unlocking content that wasn’t available before.
The Ultimate Test: Why NG+ Matters
Playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on New Game Plus isn’t just about replaying the same story. It turns the experience into an ultimate test — of your skills, knowledge, and commitment. NG+ usually appeals to players who:
- Crave a greater challenge that pushes their strategic thinking.
- Want to complete every side quest, find every piece of gear, and experience all the content.
- Enjoy experimenting with different builds and party setups to optimize their approach.
- Appreciate deeper dives into lore and world-building offered by exclusive NG+ material.
For these players, NG+ isn’t optional — it’s essential to fully appreciate what Clair Obscur has to offer. It breathes new life into the game with fresh challenges and content that genuinely extend the adventure. So, if you’re the kind who loves mastering a complex RPG and squeezing every bit of story and strategy from it, your second expedition through Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 via New Game Plus will probably feel well worth it.
