South of the Circle Reviews
South of the Circle feels akin to frostbite: it's difficult to feel anything for the characters after continued exposure to suffocating game design & mismanaged narrative.
To be fair, the game is visually appealing, with a minimalistic art style that manages to convey the feeling of the time. It's an interesting experience and a unique premise (how many other Cold War disaster games are you going to play this year?), but ultimately that can't save the title from falling a bit flat.
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.
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.
Perhaps, if you’re a bit more easy-going than me and don’t mind the one-note characters and multiple plot points that never really go anywhere, you’ll have a much better time playing this than I did. It’s also worth mentioning that the game itself is rather short, so despite how frustrating it can feel, you aren’t exactly wasting a ton of time making your way through it. All in all, I wouldn’t completely label this game as not worth playing, but I do suggest tempering your expectations so that there is minimal disappointment as you progress through the story. That isn’t to say I regret playing it, but I don’t think I would’ve missed much if I hadn’t.
With a short run time, South of the Circle isn't meant to be for someone looking to stretch their gaming dollar.
Like most of the games with the same style and gimmicks, South of the Circle fails to end its story in a satisfying way and bets all its chips on a twist ending that betrays the 3 to 4 hours of the experience that came before it. Also with the great audio-visual presentation here, one wonders why they didn’t just cut some of the unnecessary scenes and flashbacks and just release this as an animated feature.
Review in Persian | Read full review
South of the Circle is barely a video game and would have probably worked better as a movie. Players who don’t quickly become engaged with the story will have a tough time finding reasons to push on. And even for those who want to see how the narrative ends, some sequences drag on with limited payoff.
It's a narrative game from start to finish with very little interaction required of you. And when they do come, the various choices will not change the result at all. However, the story is intriguing and will keep you hooked until the end and the visual style is sublime. It would be nice to say a lot more about the game but in all honesty, there is not much to add. The game ends rather quickly (about 3 hours) and whether it's your time of game or not, is entirely up to you. As for me, I recommend it for fans of the genre.
Review in French | Read full review
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.
South of the Circle starts well and maintains our intrigue with its narrative and characters, but it doesn't end well with a rushed ending and a lack of replayability.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
South of the Circle offers a cinematic, narrative-driven experience that stands out with its minimalist visuals and captivating storytelling technique.
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.
South of the Circle is a fantastic exploration of a complex and realistic character. The engaging and multi-layered story kept me engaged and definitely helped me forget I wasn't actually doing much playing. Unfortunately, the ending rather takes the shine off the rest of the game's eminent achievements. Just like the drunken pilot crashing his plane in the opening scene, South of the Circle fails to stick the landing.
South of the Circle is a bold title that deals with mature themes. Its approach to storytelling is refreshing as it interweaves flashbacks to assemble a larger narrative. In addition to this, State of Play also respects its audience. They don’t oversimplify elements and allow you to interpret aspects. While the gameplay lacks substance and can cause some passive moments, the lovely design and spectacular score help make this a memorable experience.
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 fascinating and engaging adventure that will succeed in captivating lovers of narrative and emotionally charged experiences, as long as it's seen as "just" an interactive movie whose path cannot be altered, but in which we can alter the emotional nuances and small details. This and the excellent art compartment definitely make it recommendable for those looking for a good story to experience and relax in front of the screen.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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
While it is a walking simulator at its core, South of the Circle contains great performances, beautiful visuals, and strong themes and commentary. It is worth experiencing at least once
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