Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 director prefers JPRGs to the likes of Skyrim, Fallout, and Baldur’s Gate because their linear narratives allow for “a stronger story” and “more memorable characters”
Guillaume Broche, director of the acclaimed RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has said he prefers the linear structure of Japanese role-playing games to the open-world design of Western titles such as Skyrim, Fallout and Baldur's Gate. He argues that a more constrained, linear narrative allows developers to craft a stronger story and more memorable characters, since players experience events in a fixed order rather than shaping their own path through a sprawling world.
Broche's comments reflect the design philosophy behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which draws heavily on classic JRPG conventions despite being made by a French studio, Sandfall Interactive. He contrasted this approach with the freedom-focused, systemic storytelling typical of Western RPGs, suggesting that the trade-off in player agency can be worthwhile if it produces a tighter, more emotionally resonant narrative arc.
- Clair Obscur director favours JRPGs' linear stories over Western open-world RPGs
- He says linear narratives create stronger stories and characters
- Comments contrast Skyrim, Fallout and Baldur's Gate with JRPG design