In an interview with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, she claims that there’s a “hidden main character” that might be divisive for some players. While it’s hard to argue against the lead writer and one of the main visionaries behind this masterpiece of an RPG, I don’t think it’s a cut-and-dry issue. The nature of Clair Obscur’s elaborate story is such that we experience things from the perspective of multiple characters, and the plot itself doesn’t revolve exclusively around a single individual. So who exactly is the main character of Clair Obscur after all?
WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR CLAIR OBSCUR: EXPEDITION 33!The various characters in Clair Obscur all have their own unique backstories, which we experience through the lens of a handful of shifting characters, primarily Gustave, Verso, and Maelle. It won’t be immediately clear to anyone playing the game exactly who the “main” character is, largely because the story unfolds very gradually as players advance the central plotline and/or each character’s individual side quests. By the end, however, the choice you face between Verso and Maelle implies that both characters play an equally important role, despite Svedberg-Yen stating in no uncertain terms that Maelle is the “hidden main character.”
Clair Obscur’s Jennifer Svedberg-Yen Claims Maelle Is The “Hidden Main Character”
Svedberg-Yen Argues That Maelle Is The “Hero” Of Clair Obscur
In a recent interview with The Academy of Arts & Sciences (via YouTube), Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen stated that Maelle is the “hidden main character” of the game. She goes on to say that, when viewed from Maelle’s perspective, she does experience a classic “hero’s journey” arc. Maelle’s growth as a character is undeniable, and we don’t really learn key details about her life or her significance in the larger plot until late in the game.
Maelle is technically a “hidden main character,” but she’s hidden in plain sight, and she’s definitely not the only main character. If there ever was a case of a story having multiple main characters, Clair Obscur is a prime example of how to do it effectively. It isn’t until the end of the story that we see just how much the plot revolves around Maelle.
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In Act 1, there’s no doubt you are made to believe the main character is and will be Gustave, and even as early as the prologue we form a deep bond with him. Gustave’s role is to get players acquainted with the world, the setting, and the basic premise of the game, but ultimately, him being portrayed as the main character is a setup for the dramatic climax of the first act.
Verso takes on the role of the “main character,” stepping into Gustave’s shoes and taking us deeper into the actual heart of Clair Obscur’s story.
Once we enter Act 2, Verso takes on the role of the “main character,” stepping into Gustave’s shoes and taking us deeper into the actual heart of Clair Obscur’s story. Maelle is of course present throughout the entire endeavor, and her role becomes more and more significant as we progress through each Act. She starts off as a side character with a deep friendship and strong connection with Gustave, but by Act 2 it’s pretty obvious that there’s much more going on with her character than we were initially led to believe.
Both Maelle & Verso Can Be Considered Main Characters
There Are Multiple Main Characters In Clair Obscur
While Maelle is technically a “hidden main character,” her role is equally significant as Verso’s in the larger story about the Dessendre family. Maelle’s development as a character is reliant on Verso, and vice versa. Maelle’s existence as Alicia outside the Canvas is ultimately what would classify her as the main focus of the meta-narrative, but Verso’s story and character arc inside the Canvas are the key drivers of the plot. The Canvas itself was created out of Alicia’s grief, but was also designed to preserve Verso’s memory.
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Further, I don’t think Maelle’s significance and role as a main character is as hidden or mysterious as suggested. Finding her initially inside the Manor in Act 1 is a major sign that there’s something more going on, and when you experience the story during a NG+ run, things are much more obvious because you know what’s going on in the larger context. By the time we start Act 2, Maelle’s connection with Verso becomes increasingly relevant, until we finally make a hard shift in Act 3 to learn that she’s been the most important piece of the puzzle all along.
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Overall, Svedberg-Yen’s comments about Maelle being the hidden main character shouldn’t be misread as Maelle being the only main protagonist of the game. Maelle’s story is central to the plot, and she is definitely a main character that we don’t necessarily expect to be as important as she ends up being, but Gustave and Verso both serve in essential roles as main characters during their respective acts. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 relies on each of its main characters to tell the larger story effectively, and the shifting lens through which we experience things is what connects players to each character in unique ways.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Systems
9/10
- Released
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April 24, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
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Sandfall Interactive
- Publisher(s)
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Kepler Interactive
