South of the Circle

South of the Circle is a weird and fascinating experience, that mixes poor gameplay with a great script. It's essentially an interactive film, where all we're asked to do is look at the screen.

There was a lot of meticulousness shown in the creation of a story-based game like South of the Circle. Though it’s not perfect, and the gameplay may not be to your liking, the level of interactivity and immersion that emanates from Peter’s life is impressive. Just like a cinematic film, it left me thinking about the experience. the characters, and what I had just witnessed. I felt like I had left a movie theater with a satisfied grin on my face.

South of the Circle uses a unique narrative style and a very artistic way to tell a story about the Cold War that is good for us to savor.

South of the Circle has beautiful story moments complimented by a striking art style that is clean, minimal and stylish. There are some amazing set pieces, terrific highs and lows, and plenty to sink your teeth into if walking-simulators are your thing. The pace is slow, but appropriately so, giving you time to soak in the visuals and stew in the more meaningful moments. It leaves something to be desired with its ending and interactivity, but still packs a punch and won't be soon forgotten. This game moves forward with the proud traditions of narrative-driven games in small steps.

I really enjoyed the Lost-esque flashbacks that Peter has throughout the game, and how beautifully the game transitions between them. I also loved how natural the romance between Peter and Clara felt in developing slowly, over time, and how well the two work together. If you’re looking for a stellar story experience, South of the Circle has it in spades.

South of the Circle is the equivalent of a good book. It's fun to sit down, experience, relax, and have the story drift over you. It isn't particularly interactive, and the ending feels a little unsatisfying, but beyond that, it's well told and well executed. You shouldn't pick it up if you're looking to decide who lives or who dies. You get to experience the story as it is told, with a few button prompts for flavor. If that sounds good to you, then you'll enjoy South of the Circle.

South of the Circle is as good a game today as it was years ago. The PC version improves the graphics slightly and is perfectly playable even without the use of the touch screen or "the mobile approach." It can be played in small bites or as a movie to be completed in one or two evenings. If you do not have access to Apple Arcade and have yet to try State of Play's narrative adventure, you now have no excuse. Avoid it only if you can't stand limited gameplay or if you want every single choice to have a huge impact on the scenes and plot.

With wonderful acting. writing, and striking visuals, South of the Circle is an experience worth seeking out, even if the dialogue options and movement are lacking.

South of the Circle is a must play for people who love story-driven games.

The ending sequence of South of the Circle is still packed with emotional catharsis and an ambiguous ending the leaves the player wanting more, and that alone makes this game a must-play for narrative-driven players.

South of the Circle is an emotional narrative experience that manages to engage the player with a series of exciting events.

South of the Circle, an artistically vibrant narrative-based game, deals with the maladies of the academic milieu amidst the 60's Cold War paranoia. It features a wonderful pastel palette and minimalist style but be forewarned that player input is also kept on the minimal side.