Clair Obscur Director Says Imperfections Give Games Their Charm
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 creative director Guillaume Broche believes that imperfections can be part of what makes a game memorable.
Speaking in an interview with Konbini on YouTube, Broche discussed the games that influenced him as both a player and developer. While Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has received strong praise from players and critics, Broche pushed back against the idea that perfection should always be the goal in game design.
Imperfections can give games personality
According to Broche, games that try too hard to remove every rough edge can sometimes become less interesting.
He explained that flaws, strange moments, awkward choices, or unusual design decisions can give a game its own personality. Instead of making a game feel worse, those imperfections can make it feel more human, memorable, and distinct.
For Broche, players are not always looking for a perfectly polished experience. Sometimes, the small oddities are exactly what make a game stay in people’s minds.
Devil May Cry used as an example
One example Broche mentioned was a famous emotional scene from Devil May Cry.
The scene has often been remembered by fans for its unusual delivery and dramatic energy. While some players may see it as awkward or dated, Broche sees that kind of moment as part of the game’s charm.
To him, the fact that players still talk about it years later shows how a strange or imperfect scene can become iconic in its own way.
Clair Obscur also embraces rough edges
Broche also connected this idea to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 itself.
He said some parts of the game were intentionally designed to be frustrating or unusual because the team believed those moments added personality. Even if certain mini-games or design choices might annoy players, they were still included because the team felt they contributed to the overall experience.
That attitude helps explain why the game feels distinct instead of overly safe.
Some design choices went against business logic
Broche also admitted that several creative decisions in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 may not have made obvious sense from a marketing or business perspective.
One major example is the game’s combat system, which combines turn-based RPG mechanics with action-style dodging and parrying. Before release, the team reportedly heard concerns that players might not accept that kind of hybrid design.
However, the developers chose to follow their creative vision instead of removing what made the game different.
A reminder that memorable games are not always perfect
The discussion highlights an important point about game development.
Polish matters, but too much focus on removing every unusual detail can sometimes make a game feel predictable. Many beloved games are remembered not only for what they did smoothly, but also for the strange, risky, or imperfect choices that gave them identity.
For Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, that willingness to embrace unusual ideas appears to be part of why the game has stood out among modern RPGs.
Available now
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available now on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
THIS IS our take
Guillaume Broche’s comments make a lot of sense in an industry where many games can feel overly polished but emotionally safe. Imperfections can be risky, but they can also give a game soul. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stands out because it seems willing to be strange, bold, and slightly rough in ways that make it more memorable.
