Behind The Voice Expedition 33 Game Director Reveals The Secret of The Game's Storytelling
Jul 18, 2025
Guillaume Broche, the Game Director of Claire Obscur / Expedition 33, shares his insights into the intricate storytelling of the game. He dives into the emotional impact of the opening prologue and the iterative changes that shaped the gameplay flow. Guillaume discusses the innovative use of lighting and music to enhance cutscenes, along with the unique casting and direction of mocap actors. He also highlights the significance of character deaths, the ambiguity of the endings, and how trials add emotional depth to the experience. A must-listen for gaming enthusiasts!
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Use Aspect Ratio To Signal Vision Shifts
- Use aspect-ratio changes to signal shifts in perception; Guillaume used 4:3 for Maelle's visions to make them feel uncanny.
- Changing framing and pacing creates subconscious cues that something is different for the player.
Let Imagery Carry The Ending
- Try scenes with minimal or no dialogue and rely on acting, music, and cinematography to convey emotion.
- Guillaume chose silent endings to let players project meaning and feel the emotional weight visually.
Main Character's Death As Thematic Tool
- Killing the playable lead was conceived early as a device to force the player to feel real loss and change perspective.
- The shock was deliberate to make players experience the emotional consequences of grief in the game's themes.