South of Midnight

After Avowed in February, the next first-party exclusive game for PC and Xbox One will be released by Xbox Game Studios. It is South of Midnight, from Compulsion Games, an action-adventure game with an offbeat setting, a dramatic story and audiovisual power.

South of Midnight is a third-person, single-player action-adventure game set in a fantastical version of the American Deep South. Players control Hazel as she explores myth and encounters creatures from Southern folklore. After a devastating hurricane washes away her mother and home, mystical creatures begin to appear in the world, blending reality and fiction. At the same time, Hazel discovers her magical power, known as Weaving, which can be used to repair "broken things and living creatures". The story consists of 14 chapters, some of which touch on sensitive and empathetic themes such as exploitation, loss and sacrifice - as well as the tragic backstories of the mythical creatures.

This is also one of the game's great strengths: the story drives the player forward, motivating them and allowing them to overlook other elements (more on that later), even if some side characters sometimes get short shrift. Speaking of length, a playthrough takes between 10 and 12 hours. But the fresh setting in the American Deep South, with all its unusual and unique creatures, picturesque landscapes and Southern-inspired lyrical music, is also strong - especially the soundtrack (songs, score and jams), composed by Oliver Derivière, is a proof of what he is capable of.

Aside from the stunning landscapes and impressive bosses, the game features an unconventional stop-motion style, probably chosen to strengthen the folklore aspect, but this is very unusual, as smooth animations are actually expected in such a visually stunning environment.  It takes some getting used to, but the stop-motion can be turned off during gameplay, though not during cutscenes.

"South of Midnight draws inspiration from real Southern folklore, including tales like Two-Toed Tom, Huggin' Molly, Rougarou, Altamaha-ha, Honey Island Swamp Monster, etc. These stories have been passed down through generations, evolving over time and shaping the cultural fabric of the American South. In the game, we've reimagined these myths, adapting them to fit our own fantastical world and presenting our own version. Alongside these legendary creatures, you'll also encounter original beings we've created, like Benjy the Tree, adding our unique twist to the folklore." - Nicolas Lefebvre, Brand / Communication Strategy and Communication at Compulsion Games

Hidden within this dark and somewhat unusual scenario is a fairly conventional action-adventure game - not a walking simulator. Players control Hazel through a series of mostly linear levels, completing small platforming challenges based on her traversal skills, all of which are clearly communicated to the player visually. In between, there are always small puzzles and battles, most of which take place in arenas on a wave-based system - and sooner or later they follow the same pattern, even if you can use Hazel's supernatural abilities to control the enemy crowd well. Often it's a case of dodging out of clearly visible areas of effect, then attacking with the same sequence of attacks. Hazel can then restore health from defeated foes, and once all foes in an arena have been defeated, the thorny corruption can be purged. This pattern of platforming and combat continues throughout the levels.

Boss fights, however, make things more interesting, as the battles become more multi-phased, spectacular and require more interaction with the environment. The combat system is certainly solid, but it could do with more depth and variety to carry the game as well as the story and setting. The game is too tame in this respect, even with the upgradeable abilities (through 'floofs' found in the environment). However, the game does score points for its many accessibility options, a helpful waymarker and five difficulty levels, including a 'custom' difficulty option.

Compulsion Games, a Canadian studio founded in 2009, is the developer behind South of Midnight. The studio had previously attracted attention with Contrast (2013) and We Happy Few (2018). In 2018, Microsoft acquired the studio, which employed around 40 people at the time. By 2022, the headcount had grown to over 80 developers. South of Midnight was announced for 2023.

South of Midnight launches on 8 April 2025 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, or Steam. Early Access began on 3 April 2025 for players who purchase the Premium Edition, or for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers who purchase the Premium Upgrade add-on. The game will also be available on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on Day One, and will support Xbox Cloud Gaming, as well as streaming on Nvidia GeForce Now and Boosteroid.

Conclusion

South of Midnight thrives on a fresh scenario, unusual aesthetics and strong audio-visual presentation that carry a rather conventional action-adventure.

Features

• Unique, fantastic scenario set in the American Deep South
• Gripping, motivating and sometimes tragic story -
• Gorgeous scenery