Behind The Voice Expedition 33 Writer REVEALS How They Came Up With The Story
Oct 24, 2025
Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, the lead writer of Clair Obscur's Expedition 33, shares her creative journey from voice acting to writing. She reveals that a dream inspired the game's unique story about painters rescuing loved ones. Jennifer discusses the significance of character backstories, explaining why there are four generations of Gustave's family. The conversation also touches on crafting authentic dialogue, balancing player choices, and how humor is woven into a dark narrative, providing an engaging perspective on narrative design and storytelling in gaming.
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Hook First, Heart Next
- They started from the hook (countdown with a paintress) and then asked "why?" to build emotional stakes.
- Jennifer says knowing the story's emotional heart guides tone, character choices, and iteration.
Dream Sparked The Paintress Idea
- Jennifer explains a dream that inspired the paintress concept and rescuing parents trapped in paintings.
- Guillaume's mother's comment about losing children became the emotional catalyst for the story.
Ground Characters In Family History
- Write deep backstories to explain why characters behave and react the way they do.
- Use familial and societal history to justify trauma, motivations, and believable dialogue.