Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Difficulty Differences Explained

Image Credits: Sandfall Interactive

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 checks how brave (or reckless) you are when choosing your difficulty. Whether you're here to enjoy the story or prove you're a parry master, there’s a setting for you. Here’s a simple breakdown of what each difficulty does—and which one makes the most sense for your adventure.

All Difficulty Modes & Differences in Expedition 33

Story Mode

• Enemies hit like they’re made of paper mâché

• Dodging and parrying are much easier

• Perfect for players who came for the story and not the stress

Expedition Mode

• Standard enemy damage

• Parrying and dodging are encouraged but forgiving

• The "intended" experience for most players

Expert Mode

• Enemies hit hard—really hard

• If you don’t parry or dodge, you’ll be staring at a game over screen

• For those who think "challenge" is the fun part

Can You Change Difficulty Mid-Game?

Yes, and you probably will. You can adjust the difficulty anytime outside of battle. Just pause, head to Settings > Gameplay, and pick whatever feels right. No judgment if Expert Mode suddenly feels like a bad life choice.

Which Difficulty Should You Play?

Start with Story Mode if...

• You’re new to turn-based RPGs or games with real-time mechanics.

• You want to focus on the world, characters, and lore without worrying about getting wrecked by a random Nevron.

• Parrying feels like trying to catch a fly with chopsticks—blindfolded.

Go for Expedition Mode if...

• You’re comfortable with learning enemy patterns and enjoy a balanced challenge.

• You don’t mind missing a few parries but still want room for error.

• You like a bit of tension but prefer not to break your controller.

Pick Expert Mode if...

• You laugh in the face of danger.

• You plan to master perfect parries and dodges because anything less feels like cheating.

• You enjoy yelling “this is fine” as enemies two-shot your party.

Final Blurb

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 gives you the freedom to choose how much pain—or relaxation—you want. If you’re here to soak in the story, Story Mode is your best friend. If you want a fair fight, Expedition Mode hits the sweet spot. And if you enjoy suffering in style, well, Expert Mode is waiting.

Just remember—you can always turn the difficulty down. No one has to know.

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