Expedition 33 made a huge splash—rave reviews, over a million copies sold, and even some brag-worthy Twitch numbers—but what happens next is still a mystery. The developers aren’t racing to expand or drop DLC, even though fans keep pestering them, and nobody’s announcing an indie RPG empire just yet. Still, with strong community buzz, no big bugs, and critical acclaim stacking up, it’s way too early to count Expedition 33 out. Curious what could be on the horizon?
Despite its meteoric rise—scoring a 92 on Metacritic and peaking at over 120,000 concurrent players on Steam—Expedition 33 now finds itself in a strange spot: everyone’s playing it, critics are nearly swooning, and yet, the future feels oddly up in the air.
Expedition 33 is a smash hit with players and critics alike, but its future remains intriguingly uncertain.
The game’s launch was nothing short of a phenomenon, especially for a turn-based RPG from an independent French team, Sandfall Interactive. With over a million copies sold (even with Xbox Game Pass giving easy access), you’d think the roadmap ahead would be crystal clear.
Instead, it’s more like a foggy forest—full of excitement, but a little hard to see past the next big tree. Many players appreciate the flexibility and portability that cloud gaming services have brought to experiencing Expedition 33 on the go.
Sandfall has been open about being overwhelmed by the response. Their focus right now? Listening to player feedback and making sure the core experience is as polished as possible. That’s admirable, but it means no concrete DLC plans, no “expansion coming this fall” teasers, and certainly no hiring blitz to turn the studio into a AAA juggernaut overnight. Notably, the game’s music has received critical acclaim and is even considered a favorite for the 2025 Best Score and Music award.
The game’s mix of Final Fantasy-style mechanics and Belle Époque France aesthetics has drawn praise across the board. Critics and fans both love its mature storytelling, wild enemy designs, and that surprisingly deep combat system.
Even so, the most concrete post-launch moves have been a branded merch drop via the IGN Store—cool, but not exactly the lore expansion or new boss gauntlet some are craving.
Players, meanwhile, are not shy about asking for more. Social media is buzzing with DLC wishes and modding dreams, though official word from Sandfall remains cagey. Much like other successful indie titles, Expedition 33 proves that creativity and innovation can outshine massive budgets in today’s gaming landscape. No major bugs have cropped up, which is a relief, but patch notes are a rare species so far. The game’s Twitch and YouTube presence is strong, suggesting a long tail if the studio can keep up.
Is this the start of an indie RPG dynasty, or a brilliant one-off? Hard to say. But with high player retention, solid sales, and critical love, betting against Expedition 33 seems premature—even if the roadmap is still being drawn.