South of Midnight

Classic gameplay with lots of variety. Captivating stories to think about. An insider tip that we luckily didn't miss.

With a thoughtful message, soulful world, and beautifully imaginative design to push things along, Compulsion delivers a classic adventure seemingly beyond their weight class with South of Midnight. It’s the exact, elusive story-driven diamond in the rough that Xbox has been in search of for generations now.

South of Midnight is a straightforward but well-executed action-adventure game on the surface, with a simple but satisfying mix of combat and platforming. It’s focused, filling out its 12-hour runtime nicely without ever dragging or relying on unnecessary padding. Beyond those basics, however, is a certain heart and artistry that elevates the whole package, inviting you to peer into the deep American South through its folklore, nature, and culture. It might not be the most profound exploration of family life, but it’s delivered in ways that feel authentic. From its striking art style to the evocative tunes that bring big story moments together, Hazel’s journey is a captivating one no matter where you come from.

South of Midnight, all things considered, presents itself to the players as the most conventional of action/adventure games, based on a pleasant, if somewhat repetitive, gameplay structure and supported by refined writing and first-rate artistic direction. It's a shame that the presence of some naivety on the design front does not allow it to reach peaks of excellence, especially if you consider the care instilled in setting up an audiovisual framework of this caliber. More form than substance, therefore, but if you are looking for a good title in which to invest a dozen hours of lightheartedness, perhaps letting yourself be transported by a story capable of touching the strings of the soul, then the new work of Compulsion Games could be for you.

South of Midnight is a tremendous display of artistry, even if its gameplay doesn't hit the same heights.