South of Midnight

Simple but not boring in terms of gameplay, captivating but not overwhelming in terms of story: South of Midnight is an atmospheric game that harks back to the old days and transports you to an intriguing fairytale world that we're now eager to learn more about. The swamp awaits you.

With so much pop culture having succumbed to abject misanthropy, South of Midnight’s building of a verdant, dazzling cathedral in worship to empathy is a blessing.

South of Midnight stands out with its very strong and gripping story. The work starts with saving Hazel's mother and reaches a dark place that branches out much more and is based on real experiences. With its repetitive but enjoyable gameplay dynamics, wonderful music and visual design, it is for everyone who wants to listen to different tales.

South of Midnight is one of those games that are very easy to recommend because it will be available day one on Game Pass. For those considering purchasing it, I’d say it’s worth evaluating whether this action-adventure style—so reminiscent of what we saw about 15 years ago and highly linear—aligns with your preferences. I believe the story, characters, soundtrack, and simpler gameplay can greatly appeal to players looking for something lighter that doesn’t demand dozens of hours of their attention, yet still delivers a fun and deeply moving experience.

Down by the South, folks speak of a tale. Tale of Weavers, who once tethered this world. One, that is dangerous yet beautiful, woven with the utmost original yarns. But as stigma and trauma reeks throughout these gothic lands now, there is almost no hope. But a newfound weaver of Prospero, Hazel, equipped with her trusty hooks attempts to stitch up the torn Grand Tapestry, through her epic combat skills, amazing visual language all the while a banger soundtrack accompanies her on the journey to find her lost mother!

At a time when the biggest companies are shamelessly releasing remasters of titles that are several years old, any fresh IP, especially one set in such a unique universe, is worth its weight in gold. The gameplay and story are compelling, even if it is a production from a bygone era.

South of Midnight's action may not have the strongest hook, but its poignant tale of hope and sorrow tailored to Deep South mythos keeps its head raised high.

With its striking stop-motion-like visuals, rich folklore-inspired world, and atmospheric soundtrack, South of Midnight offers a unique and memorable journey. A slightly repetitive yet distinctive Southern Gothic action-adventure, it delivers a simple, satisfying, and a hauntingly beautiful exploration experience.

South of Midnight offers a singularly unique visual and thematic experience. Its stop-motion artistry and Southern Gothic atmosphere, alongside its magical combat, truly make it stand out. Compulsion Games delivers a captivating and innovative action-adventure reminiscent of American McGee. While some of its gameplay mechanics might feel rooted in a previous era, the adventure itself remains a compelling experience that is well worth visiting.

South of Midnight shines in terms of its narrative and visual style, but it has a very repetitive structure and little depth in its gameplay elements.

I won't pretend that it is a masterpiece; the gameplay is overly simplistic, levels are linear, and the pacing does drag in patches. But for its faults, South of Midnight is an adventure I was truly captivated by, and I'm sure it will captivate plenty of others, too.

South of Midnight tells a interesting, dark story and scores with a unique stop motion style. The soundtrack matches the fun gameplay in some pretty magic worlds as well. Only a few technical issues tarnish the positive picture a little.

As enchanting as it is dark, South of Midnight elevates an otherwise conventional action-adventure game with a tightly woven and empathetic 10-12 hour story that does justice to its Southern Gothic influences and Black characters and striking art direction.

South of Midnight is a visually striking Southern Gothic adventure blending folklore, myth, and magic. Despite its compelling narrative and atmosphere, the game struggles with repetitive combat and unpolished mechanics.

South of Midnight thrives on contrasts and fails to offer the same level of quality across all aspects: while the stories being told are the true driving force and the artistic side is excellent, inspired, and capable of giving the work great uniqueness, the gameplay doesn’t keep up and feels reminiscent of action-adventure/platform games from fifteen years ago, lacking any standout moments or particularly memorable features.

South of Midnight is an experience that unfolds like a fireside fable: intimate, full of symbols, charged with memories. For those seeking something different, something that whispers rather than screams, this is a journey worth experiencing.

South of Midnight’s strong story and presentation make the most of its overlooked mythology and oft-forgotten setting, but don’t embark on this journey looking for top-tier action-adventure game design.

Despite its gameplay shortcomings and optimization issues, South of Midnight is an evocative love letter to the Deep South and Cajun folklore. With a touching and inspiring story revolving around Hazel Flood and her journey to rescue her mother, it tackles the darker aspects of Southern culture with well-deserved nuance and respect. While it is a good game with an enjoyable story and a lovable cast, it stops just short of greatness due to its barebones combat and lack of replayable content. Still, South of Midnight is worth the cost of entry and 12-hour runtime. While some spaces in the world felt empty at times, I had a blast playing through it and loved the creativity and passion behind its interpretation of Cajun folklore. I really would love to see more games that showcase the down-to-earth culture of the American South that is very much misunderstood by many.

South of Midnight is a game that poses a deep question about what wounded people can do for each other. Although the game's unoriginal action system and repetitive structure are unfortunate, the story, which sincerely captures the local culture, adds meaningful value to the experience.

A dark fairy tale featuring one of the most atmospheric soundscapes I've encountered in recent years. Yet, repetitive combat and exploration mechanics, steeped in outdated design, prevent South of Midnight from being remembered as a classic.

South of Midnight proves to be a marvelous auditory spectacle driven by exceptional artistic direction. The captivating world of the Gothic South, enhanced by stop-motion aesthetics and a masterful soundtrack, immerses us in a fantastic and touching story. But the offering is hampered by a cruelly generic gameplay loop that undermines a memorable adventure for its artistic purpose, and one that deserves to be discovered despite its few pitfalls.

South of Midnight is a creative triumph trapped in the wrong medium. Its gorgeous animation, heartfelt voicework, and rich world-building shine—but a dull, vestigial combat system drags it down. It’s not just missed potential; this should’ve been a movie, not a middling action-adventure game.

South of Midnight pares a refreshingly different narrative and setting with artistic visuals that bring to life folklore from the American Deep South. It’s captivating, and there’s almost nothing like it. Unfortunately, South of Midnight is saddled with frustrating, unpolished combat and action sequences that become repetitive long before the game’s midpoint. Even with its glaring faults, South of Midnight is mostly worth playing just for the orc-free story and uniquely American characters.

South of Midnight offers a unique lens into Southern Gothic culture, with strong atmosphere, engaging folklore, and compelling storytelling that successfully highlights the charm of a niche cultural space. However, as a game, even its excellent music and presentation can't fully compensate for the underwhelming gameplay experience.

This is a vision of immense craft and feeling. Should there be more behind the curtain? [Issue#410, p.110]

South of Midnight is a game full of potential, with stunning aesthetics, a memorable soundtrack, and a deeply engaging protagonist. However, its technical issues, flawed localization, limited combat, and disappointing ending prevent it from becoming the memorable experience it promised to be.

It’s got tons of style, but doesn’t really know how to turn that style into something that feels uniquely its own when you play it - still, it’s got heart.

South of Midnight is Compulsion Games' strongest production yet. This enchanting tale through America's Deep South convokes rich popular imagery between wonderful musical sequences and colorful characters. While the writing is sometimes a little too plain and obvious, this adventure offers a deep and nuanced view of historical counter-cultures and remains interesting until credits roll. However, the gameplay remains plain as white bread ; nourishing to a certain degree, but lacking taste and spice. Your enjoyment will hinge on your ability to get paste stale combat mechanics to immerse yourself in a fantastic folklore-based world.

The painted style and animations of South of Midnight are undeniably the most striking aspects of the game. Unfortunately, it suffers from the developers' clear focus on visuals and music. Well-designed boss fights can't save the game from repetitive arena encounters and a lack of a real sense of progression. The vibrant and melodic soundtrack slightly enhances some repetitive elements but doesn't fix them.

South of Midnight is a game with a very strong identity of its own, which prioritizes its artistic and narrative vision above all else. Its moderate length (around 10-12 hours) prevents the repetitive elements of combat from becoming tiresome. Although the narrative doesn't reach the emotional depths that its themes suggest, it makes up for it with a stunning world, a magnificent soundtrack and enjoyable movement mechanics. It's like an illustrated storybook: maybe the story isn't revolutionary, but the pages are visual delights and a window into a fascinating world. For fans of adventure games with a strong narrative and visual component, South of Midnight offers an enchanting experience through a journey full of magic. Its distinct and coherent identity makes it a good addition to any gamer's library.

South of Midnight is a beautiful tale, with truly charming artistic direction and a neat gothic universe. It offers effective gameplay but unfortunately remains stuck in classic and repetitive mechanics, especially during combat, even if the boss encounters stand out. Its story nevertheless manages to keep you on the edge of your seat and we have a very good time, accompanied by the sublime music of Olivier Derivière.

South of Midnight can certainly be called an artistically accomplished project. The beautiful stop-motion stylized animation, combined with the legendarium and music of the southern United States strongly distinguish this title from other action adventure games. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the gameplay itself.

South of Midnight fails to make anything out of its fantastic setting, but its atmosphere alone makes it special.

South of Midnight features a striking setting with excellent music, and explores a world that is rarely visited. But its dull gameplay, uneven writing and repetitive structure don't exactly create a fairy tale ending.

South of Midnight is a melancholic action-adventure set in the American South, where Hazel embarks on a journey through a sorrowful magical world filled with monsters and dark family secrets. The game blends platforming and combat, but both feel unrefined—movement is stiff, fights are repetitive, and level design lacks depth. While the narrative and Southern folklore elements are compelling, the gameplay struggles to keep up, making it a title best experienced through Game Pass rather than a full-price purchase.

South of Midnight is in many ways a small masterpiece—at least visually. The unique art style is truly stunning and could easily win awards for its art direction. Compulsion Games brings to life a world rarely seen in games, full of atmosphere and folklore. Unfortunately, the game falls short in terms of gameplay. The combat is too basic and repetitive, the level structure is predictable, and traversal lacks challenge. It’s never truly bad, but rarely engaging. If you have Game Pass, it’s definitely worth checking out to experience its unique vibe. But if you decide to skip it, you’re not missing all that much either. Hopefully, Compulsion will deliver a sequel in the future that pairs its visual magic with gameplay that matches that same level.

South of Midnight offers you a modern, fun fairy tale characterized by strong audio and fine combat. In that context, a nice adventure, were it not for the fact that the game falls a bit short in level design and predictable arenas, making it a repetition of moves in the long run. Fortunately, the visual presentation makes up for it, but in the end it is a solid game, with the necessary caveats.

I appreciated South of Midnight for its world, characters, and story. It's just a shame that its outdated and formulaic action-adventure ideas can't keep up with its powerful audiovisual and narrative imagination.