South of the Circle Reviews
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.
Although South of the Circle failed to touch me emotionally at anything other than a surface level, it is nonetheless a nicely paced and structured linear narrative adventure, merging the frozen wastes of Antarctica with the golden afternoon sunshine of Cambridge. If you enjoyed Virginia, this game is an unquestionable recommendation given its stylistic overlap, but if you’re put off by linear narrative adventures of this type, South of the Circle probably isn’t going to win you around.
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.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
South of the Circle tempts gamers with pretty, stylized graphics, a promise of a movie-like experience, and an emotional storyline. And it delivers!
Review in Polish | Read full review
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.
Review in Italian | Read full review
How much you enjoy South of the Circle will be determined by how much you like to engage with games on an intellectual and emotional level. It's a tricky balance to strike, but once it's beyond the first scene, South of the Circle has a lot more substance than its first impression lets on. It might be light on traditional gameplay, but it knows what it wants to say, and stays focused on that throughout.
In the end, decision-making in the couple is based more on the anticipations we make in our mind than on the reality we live with that person, and for all this, South of the Circle tries to identify the variables that influence decision making and the problems that may arise when it is time to take a path, take a risk, make a big change, or miss an opportunity.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
South of the Circle offers a cinematic, narrative-driven experience that stands out with its minimalist visuals and captivating storytelling technique.
If it interests you, South of the Circle is a game worth playing at least once. But while I can tell that some heart was put into it, it does feel like one of those artsy games trying to seem deep. Other than a few instances, South of the Circle made me feel empty, thinking of how it could have been meatier. It's also priced a bit high for what essentially is a movie with little gameplay.
Telling a tale that spans multiple times and places, it makes for a different sort of romantic journey
South of the Circle is the ideal game for anyone who wishes to enjoy a sophisticated and engaging narrative without exerting excessive effort. As long as it's viewed as nothing more than an interactive narrative in which we may adjust the emotional nuances and little aspects, it creates an exciting and intriguing adventure that will appeal to fans of this genre.
South of the Circle is a minimalistic game that tells an initially engaging, but ultimately underwhelming story. And beyond the narrative, there's not much here to recommend.
South of the Circle presents an evocative narrative that will have you thinking about it long after you finish it. A unique minimalist art style paired with an excellent voice cast and soundtrack are the cherry on top of a heartfelt story. Unfortunately, the lack of impact from any of your decisions in addition to a relatively short run time hinder what otherwise is a flawless experience.
A heartfelt adventure that balances the poetic nature of academia with the harsh reality of a world on the brink of war.
South of the Circle is the very definition of a masterpiece with its hyper-relevant story, phenomenal voice acting and Oscar-deserving dialogue.
South of the Circle definitely looks and feels like it was made by a BAFTA-winning team, which means that players should know they’re walking into an artistic endeavor instead of an action-packed adventure. Sure, there’s action, and there’s adventure, but it’s more of a passive movie than an active experience. As long as you set your expectations accordingly, South of the Circle will thrill (and chill!) anyone looking for a unique setting and exciting story.
As Peter steps into the Antarctic snowstorm, he is suddenly an active participant in his own survival. South of the Circle triumphs by interweaving hopefulness and impending doom without feeling emotionally manipulative. It suggests that life is a culmination of sad and spectacular moments, promises, people, and conversations, all inevitably misremembered. It’s the kind of game that could have made me cry, but instead, it led me to a place of sombre tranquillity. Through Peter, we are advised not to judge stories by their destination, but by their precious in-betweens: a sugar cube plopped into a cup of tea, a train ride, a shared summer sunset, and a cumulonimbus cloud stupendously blooming.
South of the Circle runs for about three or four hours, and that is the completionist time. This means that you can do pretty much anything there is to be done in this game in only four hours. So it is an experience you can get through in one sitting, which is something that we all need sometimes. If you want to experience something short and sweet at the same time, South of the Circle is the game you must check out.
South of the Circle might be a bit shorter than you'd expect, but its extremely story driven and engaging, and if you are into that type of game you'll definitely have a good time playing it.
Review in Persian | Read full review
South of the Circle beguiles with its polished presentation and top-notch performances but often forgets to make itself a compelling game in the process.