Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 might just be the RPG we've been waiting for. In this episode, Casey and Dave dive deep into what makes this game actually work — from its no-fat design to its deeply French identity.They unpack how Claire Obscure avoids the usual pitfalls of modern RPGs: no bloated lore dumps, no overloaded UI, and no identity crisis. Just clean pacing, immersive worldbuilding, and storytelling that respects your time.If you're tired of RPGs that try too hard and deliver too little, this one’s for you. Let's talk about cultural authenticity, genre evolution, and how Claire Obscure might be the spiritual successor to Chrono Trigger.Timestamps:0:00 Introduction0:40 First Thoughts on Claire Obscure 2:50 JRPGs: The Genre Shift 5:58 Culture-Driven Game Design 8:55 What Makes the Combat Work 11:55 Smart Storytelling, No Fluff 14:50 Modding: Gaming’s Next Frontier? 17:59 Ubisoft Delays & Strategy 21:06 Marvel Games Delayed Again 24:01 Tekken 8 Broke the Game 30:28 Are Fighting Games Fading? 36:30 SNK’s Future: Unclear? 39:22 Do Game Partnerships Help or Hurt? 41:26 Why AAA Prices Keep Rising 46:32 Sony’s Playing It Safe? 50:37 What’s Next for PlayStation?🔗 Connect With Us🌐 Learn more about the Mighty Diamonds: www.mighty.diamonds🎙️ Subscribe to the Gies Podcast wherever you get your podcasts📰 Join the Gies Newsletter on Substack: giesweekly.substack.com📺 Subscribe to Gies on YouTube: youtube.com/@giesweekly👥 Connect with our hosts on LinkedIn:Casey Al-Kaisy: linkedin.com/in/caseyalkaisyDave Thier: linkedin.com/in/david-thier-10167415#ClaireObscure #ModernRPGs #GamingPodcast