Winner: Monoco (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
Writeup by Hilary Andreff
Monoco has the most fun character theme in all of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Full stop. And that music only represents one facet of the characterization that makes him such a wonderful supporting cast member. He carries a sort of hope and optimism despite being one of the few characters who has seen Expeditions rise and fall and fully understands the Paintress. That weight could crush him, but he stands firm and is a humorous and stalwart support to the crew and Verso, especially. Once you convince him to join, that is. Let’s also add that he’s a blue mage-type character that is useful and fun to play, and that makes him worthy from a gameplay standpoint, too. Bonus points always for his real-life counterpart, too.
Runner-Up: Lune (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
Writeup by Mark Roddison
It took me a while to grasp the intricacies of Lune’s combat skills, but I bonded with her personality and sense of self immediately: a steadfast companion, offering both moments of laser-like focus and quirky humour from beginning to end. It helped that, on her appearance at Spring Meadows (as the first companion met, so to speak), she set her stall out as a driven, pragmatic character, able to shake Gustave from his shock and keep him focused, moving, and alive, despite their obvious clash in approaches. Her support never wavers, but equally, she never wavers in her own convictions. Even once I did start mastering her Stains, it was her wonderfully written persona that kept me engaged. And like she says best: When One Falls. We. Continue.
