As of writing, I’ve already spent about 10 hours playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and it’s easily one of my favorite games of the year. I’ve really enjoyed its cast of mature characters, the fascinating story, and its fantastic turn-based combat that has everyone talking.
But one thing that continues to bug me is the lack of a minimap.
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Sandfall Interactive has already addressed why in an interview with Eurogamer, explaining that the absence of a minimap is intentional—to enhance immersion and maintain the mysterious, otherworldly feel of the setting. But after a few levels, I found myself really wishing I had a functioning minimap—just to help me figure out where I’m going.
The Clear Case of Being Lost
I admit, there’s something special about that sense of discovery; the excitement when you stumble upon something new that shifts your perspective on the level design. Games like Elden Ring and Dark Souls have mastered that feeling.
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+ 3But in Clair Obscur’s case, the levels tend to be small and linear, and many of them start to look the same. I often bump into invisible walls or end up in corners I’m clearly not meant to reach. And while I do appreciate how most levels don’t overstay their welcome, I’m the kind of gamer who loves to explore every nook and cranny. I don’t want to miss an important upgrade or a hidden Picto.
READ: How Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Search for Immersion Could Be Its Downfall
A Small Suggestion
Clair Obscur is a great game, no denying that. But it could really use this simple quality-of-life feature to make things a bit more bearable. Even just the option to toggle a minimap on or off, or a quick button press to bring up a basic directional guide, would help a lot.
click to enlarge+ 3Having to re-explore an entire level just to return to that one specific Mime I struggled with, or to find the one Picto I missed while rushing through, can get pretty frustrating.
Overworld Appreciation
While the explorable levels lack a minimap, the game’s massive Overworld does provide a map for navigation. It’s genuinely helpful for keeping track of places I’ve skipped or figuring out where my party should go next. Exploration here feels much better without intrusive markers cluttering the screen.
I've already accepted that the lack of a minimap is a deliberate choice in Clair Obscur. It’s starting to wear on me in the later levels, but I’ve learned to live with it. It’s not ideal, getting turned around and walking in circles isn’t exactly fun. Thankfully though, some parts of the level have distinctive markers, like a statue or a towering monster in the distance, that help orient me.
click to enlarge+ 3Still, I’d really appreciate it if Sandfall Interactive added a small guiding hand for navigating these spaces. But given their stated design philosophy, they probably won’t.
Well you know what they say, we continue on, I guess.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Features and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 page.