South of Midnight Reviews
South of Midnight’s plot never felt boring, holding my attention from start to finish. It’s a short experience that only took me eight hours to complete, yet one that I'll remember for much longer. If you have any interest at all in the game, please check it out, especially if you have a Game Pass subscription. It’s a tale unlike most action adventures, and it knows how to tug on your heartstrings.
South of Midnight is an artistically impressive game, but unfortunately, its gameplay fails to keep pace with its ambitions.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
In the end, South of Midnight is a decent game with a rich Southern environment, distinct folklore, and a compelling Hazel tale. Playing with the platforming elements is fun, exploring the world is exciting, and discovering legendary creatures of the world is exciting.
I found South of Midnight to be a very enjoyable game that has a lot of value to it. Hazel is a strong protagonist, and the folklore monsters and their backstories take center stage as truly masterful storytelling. Boss fights and traversal keep things fun outside of cutscenes, but the fights with haints were tiring, at best.
Thanks to the artistic aspects and the good mix of gameplay South of Midnight is the best game Compulsion Games has made so far.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Different, fun to play, with loads of collectibles to find and a deep story that pulls at the heart, South of Midnight is THE video gaming gem of the year so far.
South of Midnight delivers an immersive narrative experience backed by compelling characters and powerful world-building. While its gameplay may be found wanting, it more than makes up for it with its stunning visuals, absorbing atmosphere, and unforgettable story.
South of Midnight is a sight to behold and, hands down, one of the most beautiful games I ever played in my entire life.
South of Midnight faithfully conveys the atmosphere of the American South, through a story about tortured souls that is riveting.
Review in Greek | Read full review
South of Midnight captures the Southern US in a way I’ve never seen in another video game. For the majority of my playthrough, I was amazed by its mystical level design, the accurate voice acting, and especially its soundtrack. If exploration of an unfamiliar setting motivates you to try new games, South of Midnight warrants picking up for that alone.
There is no denying that South of Midnight has some room for refinements when it comes to gameplay, but in this case, it does a good enough job in serving as the vehicle for delivering the impressive narrative at the heart of the experience. Intrigue and mystery permeate throughout Prospero, and every step you can take as Hazel in helping others and yourself is impactful and emotional in all the right ways. Framing events like a storybook is perfectly apt, and despite its gameplay, I have never felt more inclined to turn the pages until the very end.
Beautiful, both visually and musically, the game is solidly rooted in folklore and local traditions. South of Midnight combines parkour sections with confined battles to tell an engaging story full of characters from legends, brought to life. It doesn't overstay it's welcome but isn't very challenging either.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
South of Midnight is a game of two halves. The platforming and story aspects hold up pretty well, being, for the most part, interesting and engaging. Sadly, the combat feels like something the developers felt they had to put in but didn't really want to. I'm not sure how the game would have felt without combat, but it is a shame that this portion of the game feels pretty weak. Steam Deck performance is completely within the realms of being playable. We're stuck at 30 FPS, but the game feels good to play, and you shouldn't worry about buying South of Midnight to play on your Steam Deck.
South of Midnight isn't perfect, nor does it try to be. It’s a game with clear flaws in its combat system and one that could’ve offered more mechanical variety. But it makes up for it with a breathtaking atmosphere, soulful characters, and a story that, while not complex, tackles powerful themes with genuine sensitivity. It’s not going to be game of the year — and it doesn’t need to be. This is an honest work, clearly born from a deep love for a specific culture and story. And despite its technical limitations, it manages to move you. If you're after nonstop action, it might fall short. But if you're drawn to Southern Gothic, magical realism, and human stories wrapped in stunning visuals… then this is your game.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
South of Midnight is a rare kind of game: a haunting, heartfelt Southern folktale with modern soul. It’s weird in all the right ways, ambitious in its themes, and stunning in execution. Hazel’s journey is one I’ll remember not just for the battles she fought, but for the songs she heard, the wounds she healed, and the stories she carried with her. This is Compulsion Games’ best work to date, and one of the most distinctive action-adventure games of the year.
South of Midnight is a game of high highs and soft lows, largely contributing to some weak combat, that while often fun, is a tad too formulaic. While I certainly have my issues across several fronts offered in the game, the story, its rich characters and backstories are the star of the show and shine incredibly bright. Overall, when South of Midnight is firing on all cylinders, it's a truly remarkable story with engaging characters, a wonderful setting, and a music score that constantly shines.
South of Midnight is an action adventure game that struggles because of its largely linear fashion. The combat is fine, but nothing spectacular. The real charm of this game comes from the characters, writing, unique art style, and cinematic nature. While a solid experience regardless, I would’ve preferred this simply as an animated stop motion film.
Overall, South of Midnight doesn't offer gameplay mechanics that met my expectations, but it shines with its world, its story, and its beauty. It's not a bad game, far from it, but you have to understand that it's very repetitive and linear.
Review in French | Read full review
With South of Midnight, Compulsion Games has created a deeply personal, artistic work rooted in a culture rarely explored in video games. Although the gameplay remains fairly classic and sometimes repetitive, it doesn't detract from the overall experience, as the game makes up for it with its rich universe, inspired art direction and touching narrative.
Review in French | Read full review
Without aiming to revolutionize the genre, it brings freshness and originality, establishing itself as one of the most interesting and captivating offerings of its release year.
Review in Spanish | Read full review