A Folklore-Fueled Adventure
There were a few games in the show season of 2024 that made me sit up and take notice, and I’ve finally been getting some hands-on time with one of them.
Coming from Compulsion Games, makers of Contrast and We Happy Few, amongst others, is a game set in amongst the rich folklore of America’s Deep South. Going by the name of South of Midnight, the game promises to mix rich storytelling with a third person action game, and hopefully the result will be something special.
Now, the story telling part of South of Midnight is absolutely bang on, as the narrative is a blinder. At its heart it is a simple tale.
A Journey of Self-Discovery
As a hurricane strikes Prospero, it carries away Hazel’s trailer with her mother inside it. So what else is a girl to do but set off in pursuit and try to find her mama, huh? Well, as it turns out that is exactly what Hazel starts out doing, but along the way she discovers a whole new power nestling inside herself as a Weaver.
You see, a Weaver is a magical mender of bonds and healer of spirits, tasked with keeping the Grand Tapestry (i.e. the reality we all know) in one piece by stichting and darning as required. No pressure then!
I’m not going to spoil Hazel’s journey except to say that the story yanks you along at a hectic pace, and while there is the odd moment to stop and smell the exploding mushrooms (you’ll see!) the rest of the time you’ll be left gagging to see what happens next. The story is a really good one, trust me.
Stop-Motion Magic: Visuals and Animation Style
Presentation is another area where South of Midnight is pretty bang on. The way the game looks is unique, with a stop motion style of animation that sounds odd, but works really well. You’ll see this most in some of the creatures that you fight, as they will sometimes unleash a big attack and then kind of pull themselves back together, bit by bit, to carry on the fight.
Without a word of a lie, the game looks amazing, with a real Gothic South take on the world, and the creatures and locals that Hazel meets are all wonderfully designed. Unravelling their secrets is a great pastime, mainly as you get to hear more of the narrator’s rich voice (and I’m not going to reveal who or what the narrator is). The voice acting in general is beautifully done.
Sound and Soul
Particular praise has to go to the music, as while in most games it is just background noise, here the music and vocals tell the story of what you are doing; and they are absolutely beautiful pieces of music. The rest of the sound is great as well, with the combat and traversal all having their own unique sounds. Marry this to the world we move around in, which looks stunning, and you have a game that demands to be played.
Weaving Through the World
The gameplay itself is a mixture of exploration and combat; as the best games often are. The exploration is very much guided, as there is no open world here, and the camera seems determined to make sure you stay on the main path.
But there are things to be found by straying, such as the best collectible ever – Floofs! Collecting Floofs will enable you to level Hazel up and make her better able to survive, so hunting about is always a good idea.
Traversal is great as well, and Hazel not only has a handy double jump at her disposal, she can also use her weaving powers to dash through the air and swing from points in the weave, enabling her to cross much wider gaps than usual. She also has a puppet called Crouton who can be controlled to go into smaller areas than Hazel can squeeze into, and he can not only collect Floofs but can also interact with many other things…
Combat Camera and Clunky Controls: Gameplay Weaknesses
Combat is probably the weakest area of South of Midnight, as it has the same problem as a lot of third person action games: the camera is easy to confuse. Having it buried in a wall when you are trying to fight to survive isn’t great, and while this is mainly an issue with the smaller arenas, the boss fights we have to engage in are usually a lot better.
The tricks that Hazel can use to get around can also be used in combat, and when she has battered the enemies enough, she can then unravel them to defeat them. Even doing this is really doing the foes a favour, as she is freeing them from their pain; once all the enemies are down, Hazel can then unravel the main knot in the area, often leading to a cutscene and another fragment of the story. A story that has more twists and turns than a mountain highway, at that!
The negatives found in South of Midnight are pretty minor. Invisible walls keep us on the straight and narrow, and quite often if you try to go somewhere the game thinks you shouldn’t, Hazel will get stuck in her falling animation for prolonged periods. The aforementioned camera issues can cause problems too, but these minor points are far outweighed by the sheer heart the game has.
A Must-Play Journey Through a Magical South
The story is really good, the whole atmosphere of the game is beautiful, and fluid traversal is a joy to use. South of Midnight is a game you need to play – if only so you can experience the rollercoaster it is.
With it launching onto Game Pass, the excuses are zero.
Important South of Midnight Links
2025’s Biggest Release So Far? South of Midnight Launches on Xbox and PC – https://www.thexboxhub.com/2025s-biggest-release-so-far-south-of-midnight-launches-on-xbox-and-pc/
Download South of Midnight on Xbox (and Game Pass) – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/south-of-midnight/9njcvgs6t30k
Or Buy the Premium Edition – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/south-of-midnight-premium-edition/9PNX7LQ1SB8D/0010
