Expedition 33 stunned the gaming world by selling a wild 3.3 million copies in just 33 days—hardly what most folks expected from a turn-based RPG in 2025. Released across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (with a Game Pass debut, no less), it outpaced even the genre’s boldest dreams, all at a friendly $50 price. Who said old-school games can’t move digital mountains? There’s plenty more behind this sudden RPG phenomenon, too.
Success stories in gaming rarely come as fast and furious as “Expedition 33,” a turn-based RPG that seemed to speedrun its own sales chart. In just 33 days, the game moved an astonishing 3.3 million copies—yes, that’s one hundred thousand for every day of its initial run. For a genre often pigeonholed as “niche,” these numbers are almost suspiciously impressive.
Released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via both Steam and Epic Games Store), “Expedition 33” made itself hard to miss. It even waltzed into Xbox Game Pass from day one, a move that probably made some Game Pass subscribers feel like they’d gotten away with something. Digital distribution clearly did the heavy lifting, letting fans on various platforms jump in immediately, no waiting for dusty discs. The game’s numerology-driven marketing was also a distinctive factor, with the number 33 recurring throughout the campaign and resonating with fans.
The developer, Sandfall Interactive, and publisher, Kepler Interactive, seemed as shocked as anyone. Their statements read like someone who just found out they’ve won a raffle they didn’t enter—full of gratitude, surprise, and a bit of disbelief. The $50 price point was crucial in making the game more accessible to a broad audience, setting it apart from higher-priced AAA titles. They credited the game’s “unusual speed and scale” of sales to a passionate community, as well as strong word-of-mouth and social media buzz. The game perfectly balanced nostalgia and innovation, a key factor that industry analysts cite as essential for successful releases. Apparently, this was one of those rare occasions where hype actually paid off.
Sales numbers doubled at a pace that would make most RPGs jealous: 500,000 units sold by April 25, 2025, then over a million just two days later. By early May, sales climbed past two million, before finally landing at 3.3 million by May 27. The genre’s “niche” status? Apparently, someone forgot to notify the fans.
With such brisk sales, “Expedition 33” didn’t just break records, it set a new launch benchmark for RPGs in 2025. Industry watchers are now wondering—are turn-based RPGs about to make a comeback, or is this just a one-time fluke? Either way, Sandfall Interactive has certainly leveled up, and for once, nobody’s arguing over the XP.