I adore the world of South of Midnight, and I hope others explore this dark folktale from Xbox

The Deep South in the U.S. stands on a complex tapestry woven from pain and rebirth, aesthetic charm and profound emotion, fear and fury, animosity and optimism. It’s a region inhabited by warm-hearted individuals, steeped in valued customs, and marked by both cherished traditions and dark history intertwined.

In my role as an analyst, I’m delving into the intriguing choice made by Compulsion Games for their newest release, South of Midnight. This game transports us into a world rich in Southern folklore, where we encounter enigmatic creatures, haunted locales, and peculiar characters harboring secrets yet to be unraveled.

The game is one that, at several instances, could have appeared hollow or off-target. However, surprisingly, it strikes a profound chord, weaving a contemporary fable without shying away from suffering. Instead, it bravely inquires about the means of alleviating and healing such pain.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed delving into South of Midnight, and as the ending arrives at the twelve-hour mark, it’s an adventure I wholeheartedly suggest others take up.

What is South of Midnight?

South of Midnight is a third-person action-adventure game.
It’s developed by Compulsion Games and published by Xbox Game Studios.
The game is available on Xbox Series X|S and PC, as well as Xbox Game Pass.

Located south of midnight, the game titled South of Midnight was created by Compulsion Games, a Montreal studio known for their previous work on Contrast and We Happy Few.

This marks the debut of a game entirely produced under Xbox Game Studios, following its acquisition by Microsoft in 2018.

Located southward from midnight, this game is an action-adventure title played from a third-person perspective, where you assume the role of protagonist Hazel Flood. A tragic event unfolds as she loses her mother in a sudden flood. The narrative is deeply rooted in Southern Gothic, a unique genre that blends the decay, beauty, and chilling atmosphere of the American Deep South. From the swamps of Louisiana and South Carolina to the mountainous regions of Tennessee and North Carolina, the game showcases this distinctive blend of charm, decay, and terror.

On discovering she possesses an unusual ability known as ‘Weaving’, Hazel sets off on a quest to locate her long-lost mother. As she progresses, she encounters various creatures from Southern folklore, including the fearsome Two-Toed Tom and the enigmatic Huggin’ Molly.

It typically takes a player between 10 to 12 hours to complete South of Midnight, given the time they spend exploring their environment to find collectibles.

The game can be purchased for forty dollars, and since it’s a first-party game from Xbox, it’s additionally accessible through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

South of Midnight review: Story and characters

South of Midnight is a story-driven game, with a heavy emphasis on characters.
Hazel is the main protagonist, though she’s also accompanied by Catfish.
Numerous eclectic characters like Bunny and Roux round out the story.

In the story “South of Midnight,” Hazel takes center stage, portrayed charmingly by Adriyan Rae with some help from Nona Parker Johnson’s motion capture techniques. Hazel is an appealing character who is both intelligent and somewhat reserved, yet she radiates kindness.

The essence of the narrative revolves around kindness, with Hazel assuming the role of a new Weaver. As she skillfully unravels the intricate webs affecting those around her, she embodies empathy despite her occasional mistakes. Simultaneously, she is on a quest to locate her mother, guided by her deep-seated compassion.

In the game, Hazel is assisted by a chatty catfish named Catfish who assists her in accepting the truth that all the ancient tales are real. However, things aren’t always as they seem. The relationship between them adds depth to the storyline and provides an enjoyable experience as it feels authentic, like when Catfish playfully jokes about Hazel getting a new job at Piggly-Wiggly after she changes her clothes.

Additional peculiar figures contribute to the storyline, including Hazel’s long-lost grandmother, Bunny, who holds considerable power in the business world. Additionally, there’s Roux, a smooth-talking con artist from New Orleans, known for his polite demeanor and cunning ways.

Characters in this piece seem like they’ve been taken directly from fairy tales, yet tinged with elements reminiscent of Boris Karloff’s Thriller. The familiarity of the genre allows you to anticipate some plot twists, but it doesn’t feel out of place as events unfold true to the tales that have shaped Southern Gothic literature.

South of Midnight review: Gameplay and features

South of Midnight’s combat involves fighting and unraveling Haints.
There’s also a few boss fights against uniquely dangerous creatures.
Hazel has fun combat abilities, but the limited enemy variety does show.

The core gameplay in South of Midnight involves delving into an environment filled with Haints – beings spawned from suffering and trauma. To combat these Haints, Hazel possesses a range of abilities including swift evasion maneuvers, as well as the capacity to push and pull the creatures before disintegrating them.

Refreshing Hazel’s vitality slightly, yet it simultaneously shortens the recharge period for her abilities. In no time, I settled into a comfortable pace, effortlessly dismantling creatures using this technique.

Hazel becomes even more enjoyable to play as she offers a sense of control, allowing for swift and stylish maneuvers once certain upgrades are unlocked. She can glide through the air, grapple onto objects, dash quickly, and run along walls – these actions often being free-flowing but sometimes used strategically during escape sequences when in danger.

In a more casual context:

Hazel’s a blast to play once you get some upgrades, giving you the speed and flair to zip around. She can glide, grapple, dash, and even run along walls – these skills are usually used freely but can also be useful in escaping dangerous situations!

As you progress through the game, new types of enemy Haints become stronger, but by about two-thirds of the way, you’ve encountered all that the game has to offer. While the variety isn’t poor, it does start to feel repetitive towards the end, with numerous enemies appearing frequently without much break in the action.

To obtain the mentioned enhancements, Hazel needs to locate Floofs – tiny pieces of cotton-like magical material that are concealed in various places such as under metal sheets, inside rock piles, or within animal burrows.

In this instance, Hazel possesses Crouton, a magical plush toy that transforms and shrinks, enabling it to navigate tight spaces where Hazel cannot go. This agile companion helps create a passage or searches for additional Floofs.

In battle scenarios, Crouton proves beneficial by controlling enemies, causing them to fight amongst themselves. This creates a momentary advantage during congested battles where space is at a premium.

The main difficulties you’ll encounter in this game primarily stem from battling gigantic enemies, each with distinct tactics that aren’t found elsewhere. These encounters can be considered climactic moments, and they often pose the greatest challenge. One fight, in particular, was responsible for a significant number of my losses throughout the game.

Beyond battle scenarios, Hazel’s abilities also prove useful for solving puzzles, albeit these are typically not overly complex; only a few kept me guessing for more than a brief moment. The collectibles come in three forms: Floofs (which serve as items of interest), readables such as letters and newspapers that provide narrative context, and health enhancements called filaments, the scarcely found ones being utilized to boost Hazel’s total health capacity.

South of Midnight review: Visuals and audio

South of Midnight features heavily stylized graphics that look wonderful.
The soundtrack plays a key part in the game, telling a story of hurt and hope.
On Xbox Series X, it runs at 4K 60 FPS, with very few performance drops.

Ever since I first saw it, the distinctive design and appearance of South of Midnight have piqued my interest. The characters and monsters are crafted in a unique stop-motion style that sets it apart from most other video games on the market.

Enhanced by striking visual direction, it’s captivating to observe in action, and Roux stands out as one of the most appealing character designs I’ve come across for quite some time.

Although the layout of the game appears simple, it offers an impressive array of environments, including haunting swamps teeming with alligators and towering mountains inhabited by crows.

Additionally, you’ll find some outstanding poster designs here, featuring worn appeals for unionization and somewhat suggestive ads that collectively paint a vivid picture of the town Prospero and its nearby landscapes, their history subtly woven into each piece.

In South of Midnight, sound design is equally crucial, immersing you in a symphony of sounds from creatures all around. Swine squeals and doves’ mournful coos mingle with various insects, creating an intricate sonic landscape. Regardless of the time spent playing, it felt as though there was always a distinct sound in the background.

In this scenario, the ordinary world becomes intertwined with the extraordinary, as if whispering echoes of the supernatural resonate gently whenever Hazel employs her Weaving abilities. This subtle detail was always lingering in my thoughts while I engaged in play.

Olivier Deriviere, recognized from his work on Plague Tales series, has created the music score. The majority of the pieces revolve around specific incidents or beings, narrating the sorrowful past culminating in a given instance.

These melodies gradually intensify across each chapter, starting subtly like a soft echo in Hazel’s ear, intermittently appearing with a few chords or an unexpected lyric. During confrontations, they reach their peak and transform into full-blown songs. It was always something I eagerly anticipated in every chapter, as Deriviere’s compositions skillfully blend various typical Southern music styles without excessive repetition.

South of Midnight review: Accessibility and approachability

South of Midnight has numerous accessibility options.
Players can adjust difficulty, fonts, hints, and much more.
The setting will resonate for Southerners, but is explained for anyone unfamiliar.

South of Midnight offers numerous accessibility features that enable users to customize their gaming experience. These options include maintaining a constant marker, modifying text size, and more. Players with wrist discomfort might prefer adjusting the duration for holding buttons or tweaking the camera’s sensitivity level.

Additionally, there are adjustable audio settings offering extra clues for finding hidden items which may blend with the game environment. For those primarily focused on the narrative, there’s also the convenience of jumping forward to the next save point if a specific battle or chase scene proves challenging.

As I immersed myself in this game, it seemed to delve profoundly into various aspects of life in the South, which might not resonate as strongly with those who haven’t lived or visited these regions. However, despite this, the game effectively communicates its themes, particularly the creatures that often take center stage for numerous chapters.

South of Midnight review: My final thoughts

✅ You should buy this if …

You like third-person adventure games that are 10 to 12 hours long.

The game titled “South of Midnight” doesn’t linger too long and completing the main story should take approximately 10 hours. If you’re keen on gathering all the hidden collectibles, your playtime might extend to about 12 hours, but it won’t consume much more than that.

You’re a fan of creepy stories, folkore, and the Deep South as a setting.

The Southern Gothic genre, though well-known, isn’t often used in games. However, South of Midnight stands out as one of the best adaptations. It combines eerie folklore with unsettling themes and characters who all seem to be concealing something – good or bad. This air of mystery is intriguing for those who understand the complexity and confusion that can define the American South.

❌ You should not buy this if …

You don’t like third-person, story-focused games.

As South of Midnight’s battles unfold gradually, it’s essential to note that this is primarily a game centered around storytelling. If, for whatever reason, the narrative aspect doesn’t interest you – perhaps you prefer longer games or aren’t drawn to stories in general – then many of its appealing features may not resonate with you.

In many aspects, the South of Midnight resonates deeply with my tastes, in a way that likely won’t be identical for others. The cries of diverse birds and the swaying moss are just some examples of the rich details portrayed in Southern life, subtly infused with a mystical atmosphere throughout.

In the Southern region, there’s a deep sense of sorrow due to past atrocities, transgressions, and suffering. Yet, it retains a profound spirit, something breathtakingly beautiful that I encounter daily. This game mirrors and enhances this spirit through its exceptional artwork and sound design, which is vividly reflected in the captivating character designs and exceptional music.

Fundamentally, it tells a tale filled with emotion, a contemporary fable infused with ominous turns and villainous figures, addressing the universal struggle of emotional turmoil, the lingering scars of past traumas, and the courage to acknowledge one’s errors.

The fight is enjoyable, but as the ending approaches, it starts to feel repetitive rather than innovative. Although I wished for greater diversity among the enemies, the game isn’t overly lengthy, so it doesn’t become a significant issue.

In this tale about a determined young Weaver trying to save her mother, I found great pleasure. I eagerly anticipate seeing more of Hazel in the sequels. The novel “South of Midnight” seems like an affectionate tribute to Southern Gothic literature and the South as a whole, and I hope readers find it enriching and thought-provoking.

On April 8, 2025, South of Midnight will be released for both Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC (through Steam and the Xbox PC app). As an exclusive Xbox first-party game, it comes with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscriptions. If you purchase the Premium Edition, you’ll get early access starting from April 3.

2025-04-03 19:11