Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has never been subtle about its influences. The turn-based RPG from developer Sandall Interactive, which took home Game of the Year and a number of other prizes at the 2025 Game Awards, is a clear love letter to the many amazing RPGs that have come before it. That inspiration and love for the genre's classics are only more evident in Clair Obscur's recently released free Thank You Update. The update, announced on stage at The Game Awards during one of the many acceptance speeches the Clair Obscur team gave, adds a brand-new level called "Verso's Drafts". It's a sprawling, whimsical level full of more color and life than maybe any environment in the base game. While there is a loose story here, this is mostly just a playground in which to collect new weapons and take down challenging bosses. The Clair Obscur update seemingly contains references to Persona 5, FFXIV and Xenoblade.Cinéma absolu.#Expedition33 pic.twitter.com/ISp1RdeMIdDecember 12, 2025 The Clair Obscur update seemingly contains references to Persona 5, FFXIV and Xenoblade.Cinéma absolu.#Expedition33 pic.twitter.com/ISp1RdeMIdDecember 12, 2025 The Clair Obscur update seemingly contains references to Persona 5, FFXIV and Xenoblade.Cinéma absolu.#Expedition33 pic.twitter.com/ISp1RdeMIdDecember 12, 2025 It's in those fights, however, that fans have noticed a few cheeky nods to the games that inspired Clair Obscur. Little bits of text pop up on screen when certain enemies attack that feel very familiar to RPG fans. Persona 5's earworm of "You'll never see it coming", Final Fantasy 14's "A test of your reflexes," from villain Zenos, and Shulk's meme-worthy "I'm really feeling it" from Xenoblade Chronicles all appear. This is very clearly Sandfall Interactive having some fun. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 devs say "being recognized in Japan" is "very personal to us" after making a game "inspired by so many incredible JRPGs we grew up with" Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 gets free update to ring in record-breaking The Game Awards GOTY win: "New weapons, new quest, new boss" Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is getting a whole new location, extra late-game bosses, and more to celebrate the French JRPG hitting 5 million copies sold: "We hope the update we're working on will act as a 'thank you'" This isn't the first time this has happened, though, as Clair Obscur's base game was also packed full of similar send-ups of RPG games past. That included skills and enemy attacks named "Shadow Bringer" and "Stormblood", both names of Final Fantasy 14 expansions. The homages to the games that came before it are part of what makes Clair Obscur great. Sandfall wanted to make a love letter to the titans of the genre, and in doing so made something that can stand alongside them. Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi shouts out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 after its director said the JRPG icon "inspired me to become a game dev."