Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has two possible endings that players can choose between. While fans will likely argue forever on which ending is the “best ending” for the characters, Maelle actor Jennifer English has her preferred ending.
Alright, spoiler warning from this point on, the two options for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have you choose between Maelle and Verso. If you side with Verso, you destroy the painting and send Maelle back to a true reality. If you side with Maelle, she’s trapped in the painting forever with revived versions of the characters that died throughout the story.
Speaking to GamesRadar on TikTok, Jennifer English explains that she prefers Maelle’s ending to the game, saying that her version of events is still “a reality”, even if many would class this as the bad ending.
“I mean, Maelle’s my girl,” the voice actor said. “I think let her live her delulu fantasy life. It’s a reality, it’s just a different one.” When the interviewer explained that they sided with Verso, English responded: “You little sh*t.”
In a separate video, Verso actor Ben Starr claimed that they also preferred Maelle’s ending in the game, albeit for less spoilery reasons.
“Maelle’s ending because I really like my acting in it,” Starr said. “Please play Maelle’s ending. I’m really proud of some of the stuff I do in there. I’m like, yeah, go for it. So yeah, do Maelle and then do my ending and stuff, and whatever. I do think both endings are Alicia’s ending. It depends—it’s a moment where you think what is best for grief, how we are dealing with it, and I think both are completely valid.”
Starr also explained that he respects players who have played the game once, picked Maelle’s ending and will never see the other endings.
In a previous discussion in an interview with Lits Play, lead writer Jennifer Sverberg-Yen explained that there is no definitive correct ending for the game. (Of course, that won’t stop fans from deciding what they think the real ending is.)
“I tell everyone there is no correct ending, there is no canon ending, there is no official Sandfall ending,” they said. “Both endings are there for a reason, we put them both there for a reason, they were designed in a very particular way. Neither is perfect. Both are heartbreaking in their own ways.”
For more Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 coverage, read English’s recent explanation about why AI performances will never truly replace human art.
