Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s soundtrack tops Billboard charts with 18 million streams
The breakout RPG’s sweeping score hits No. 1 on Billboard’s Classical and Classical Crossover charts, while the game surpasses 2 million copies sold.
In an increasingly crowded RPG landscape, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has not only made a name for itself: it’s making history. Its evocative original soundtrack has surged to No. 1 on Billboard’s Classical and Classical Crossover charts, with over 18 million streams since its April 24, 2025 release. But that’s not all: the game has already sold more than 2 million copies worldwide across all platforms, making it one of the most successful new IPs of the year.
The soundtrack, composed by Lorien Testard, spans a staggering 154 tracks and over eight hours of music. Discovered on SoundCloud by the game’s creative director Guillaume Broche, Testard’s sweeping compositions have struck a chord far beyond the game’s fanbase, earning high chart placements across Billboard and international streaming platforms. Even the President of France has praised the game.
“Our soundtrack is connecting far beyond what we ever imagined,” the developers shared on social media.
More than just music, it’s a world
Set in a dreamlike, dark fantasy version of Belle Époque France, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 combines emotional storytelling with turn-based action and painterly visuals. The game follows a group of expeditioners as they race to stop the mysterious Paintress from erasing humanity—literally—from existence.
The music, including standout pieces like “Monoco’s Theme,” composed and performed in part by Alice Duport-Percier, has been praised for elevating nearly every scene. From combat to narrative sequences, it adds cinematic weight and immersive texture that helped drive the game’s fast-growing popularity.
Chart-topping proof that video game music matters
While a few select titles (Minecraft, Cuphead, and Final Fantasy, to name a few) have left their mark on the music industry, Expedition 33‘s dual success in both sales and streaming charts is a rare achievement—especially for a debut title. Its presence on Billboard reflects a growing respect for video game soundtracks as legitimate art and mainstream entertainment.
The soundtrack is now available on all major platforms, including:
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
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