After a long and arduous fight against Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s final boss, you are given two possible choices – both of which affect the fate of the world. But which option results in a happy ending? Note that the rest of this article will include heavy spoilers for the endings of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
What are the two final choices in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?
The final boss of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the real Renoir, the father of the real Alicia and real Verso who reside outside the Painted World. The real Verso created the Painted World prior to his untimely death in a fire, making it the only place his family can find solace in his absence.
Maelle – the sort-of reincarnated version of the real Alicia who enters the Painted World – wants to keep her father Renoir from destroying the painting so that she can continue to live in a world where construct Verso (the one in your party) continues to exist. Despite Renoir showing the party that Maelle’s mother Aline is dying due to her prolonged time in the Painted World, Maelle wants to continue living in it.
The Verso everyone is familiar with is a construct created by The Paintress (revealed to be Aline, the wife of Renoir and mother to Clea, the real Verso, and Alicia). Though he initially sides with Maelle and the rest of the party to kick Renoir out of the painting, Renoir’s revelation that Aline is dying brings about a change of heart. Not wanting Maelle to suffer the same fate as her mother, construct Verso attempts to betray Maelle and kick her out of the painting before destroying it.
Maelle and construct Verso’s clashing ideals are what put them at odds. After Renoir is defeated, you will have to side with Maelle or construct Verso and fight the party member you did not choose.
Maelle’s wish is born out of grief
Should Maelle defeat construct Verso, she brings back everyone that was lost and creates a pseudo-utopia where she rules as a Paintress. She even revives construct Verso, despite his dying wish not to be brought back. As the people of Lumiere sit down to enjoy construct Verso’s piano performance in the Lumiere opera house, you see him resist the urge to play. The scene then sharply cuts to Maelle, showing that she is starting to suffer the same effects as her mother did as The Paintress.
Though Maelle technically saves everyone in the Painted World, she is purposely avoiding her real family and refuses to deal with the real Verso’s death (which she blames herself for.) As she is not happy with the way things are in the outside world, she seems content with living in a world that she can control.
Verso’s wish is born of brotherly love
Should construct Verso defeat Maelle, he kicks her out of the painting, quickly prompting the destruction of the Painted World. Sciel and Lune look at him with disappointment while Monoco and Esquie, two of the real Verso’s original creations, come to hug their friend one final time before they all disappear.
Outside of the Painted World, the Dessendre family pays respects to the real Verso at his grave. Now back to her scarred form (which was caused by the fire that claimed Verso’s life), Maelle/Alicia sees a vision of her Painted World comrades waving at her before disappearing.
While construct Verso’s initial motive to destroy the Painted World was so that he could finally die, seeing the real Verso’s mother slowly die is what strengthens his resolve. Not only does he want Maelle to live in the world that she belongs in, but to face the harsh reality of the real Verso’s death. As Maelle’s pseudo-big brother, construct Verso wants what he thinks is best for his younger sister.
So, which is the “good” ending?
This is where things get muddy. If you think of the Painted World as fictional, then construct Verso is in the right. He forces Maelle to come to grips with reality and stop living in a fantasy world created by her dead brother. On top of erasing the Painted World’s inhabitants, construct Verso also inadvertently finds the peace he long desires.
If you think of the Painted World as real, then the Painters (that is, the Dessendre family) can be viewed as gods and Maelle as an intermediary between them and their creations. Considering those in the Painted World have thoughts and lives of their own (they can even bear children), then Maelle’s wish to save them is justified.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s narrative is tightly centered around family and grief, but also weaves in topics regarding reality and fiction. Can Lune, Sciel, construct Verso, and the rest of the Painted World’s inhabitants be counted as real? If they aren’t real, are Maelle’s experiences with them fictional? Can Maelle choose her own reality where Verso lives if she prioritizes the Painted World over her own? These questions aren’t answered by the game and it’s up to you to interpret things and make what you think is the right call.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X|S.
