South of Midnight Reviews
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
Despite some faults, the gorgeous world, its inhabitants, and the stories being told, however, were absolutely enough to help the game overcome its few faults and make South of Midnight a journey worth embarking on.
South of Midnight weaves oft overlooked southern folklore into a rich, myth-filled journey that is a bit straightforward all presented with a unique visual flair and outstanding soundtrack.
South of Midnight is an excellent action adventure, absolutely worth trying on Game Pass. It captivated and intrigued us thanks to its incredible artistic style, a visual and narrative-exploratory component deeply rooted in Louisiana folklore and American Southern Gothic, as well as the evocative use of Southern American folk music. The game features a profound narrative, an intriguing gameplay system, and a unique atmosphere. However, it falls short in terms of gameplay, presenting overly simplistic mechanics, a repetitive gameplay routine, and combat sequences that can feel monotonous, along with some limitations in exploration—elements that may not satisfy all players. Nonetheless, it is such an evocative and original game that we hope Compulsion Games will continue on this path, perhaps with a more complex and longer sequel.
Review in Italian | Read full review
South of Midnight might deceive you at first with its enchanting art style and captivating premise, but it doesn’t take long to reveal its true nature. Despite offering an intriguing narrative plot, boredom and monotony gradually creep into the experience due to excessive repetition, limited level design, and a weak gameplay system ultimately making it a fleeting experience that falls short of its promises.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
South of Midnight is a third-person action adventure that is rather restrained but has all the credentials to make its mark among titles in the genre. In fact, the structure built by Compulsion Games is valid and enjoyable to play. Much importance has been given to plot and setting, inspired by South American folklore. To succeed in this intent, the Canadian team has decided to create rather linear and circumscribed maps, setting up a functional but not too complex gameplay. In short, the idea is that Compulsion Games has decided to stay in its comfort zone without daring too much. A choice that, sincerely, we appreciated considering that a wide and structured game is not always synonymous with success. Better little but done well.
Review in Italian | Read full review
South of Midnight falls short in only very few areas of the experience. But what remains between and after feels timeless. A short 10+ hour linear story-driven game with a level of addictive forward momentum that feels like a classic being born. The combat and enemy design work hand-in-hand with the dark and surprise-filled story in a unique way. Compulsion Games gave it their all almost every single step of the way. It is a soulful journey that is worth experiencing for yourself.
South of Midnight is recommended for having a clear and well-defined identity. Its atmosphere, worked in detail, and a protagonist with charisma and emotional weight manage to sustain the whole adventure. It is a unique proposal with personality for those who are looking for something different, with its own soul.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
South of Midnight is exactly what I expected and, in some ways, what I hoped for: a polished, enjoyable, no-frills 'AA' experience, but rich in character. It's not a game that aims to revolutionize the market or compete for the Game of the Year title, but it represents that kind of mid-sized, artistically valuable production focused on a specific story, which I consider essential in the current gaming ecosystem. It's clear that Compulsion Games has learned the lesson from We Happy Few, choosing the path of narrative simplicity (which proved successful) rather than pursuing perhaps excessive ambition. This game is a huge improvement compared to the studio's past work. The gameplay criticisms, however, remain, and I sincerely hope the team will learn from them for future projects. Despite its gameplay flaws, South of Midnight left me with a very good overall impression thanks to its unique atmosphere, its splendid art, its very enjoyable soundtrack, and a story that knows how to strike the right chords. If you are looking for a linear, artistically inspired, and narratively engaging adventure, and you are willing to turn a blind eye to functional but repetitive gameplay, South of Midnight definitely deserves a chance when it arrives on Xbox Series X|S and PC next April 8th
Review in Italian | Read full review
I'm going to be very blunt: I like games with big narratives, and South of Midnight hit the nail on the head for me.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
South of Midnight is a visually striking Southern Gothic adventure blending folklore, myth, and magic. Despite its compelling narrative and atmosphere, the game struggles with repetitive combat and unpolished mechanics.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
The main success of South of Midnight lies in its unique identity. The new work from Compulsion Games showcases a modern stop-motion fable with dark overtones, drawing from the mysterious (and often tragic) charm of the folklore of the Deep South of the United States. The painstaking care taken in the artistic presentation (huge kudos to the marvelous soundtrack), however, does not find a similarly scrupulous realization in the game system. Although the linear structure is reassuring and welcoming, unfortunately the title never decides to explore its full potential, often leaving you with a bitter taste in your mouth. Net of its limitations, South of Midnight is a rich and meaningful experience that deserves to find a small place in the hearts of gamers.
Review in Italian | Read full review
South of Midnight is a product that lives on two souls. The first, the artistic one, is truly extraordinary. From the sound to the overall look, through the settings and narrative fabric, everything works great. The changes of pace and the constant surprises (even of the plot) will help you make up for the potential repetitiveness from which the gameplay suffers. The latter, in fact, is very basic and shallow; an obvious sacrificial victim in development, Compulsion Games clearly decided to focus heavily on something else. A compromise, in short, that in the end does not disqualify the experience itself too much, rather it does not allow it to excel. A pleasant, original game, with sometimes memorable elements (the music!). An excellent addition to the Game Pass catalog and, all in all, a pleasant surprise in this first part of 2025.
Review in Italian | Read full review
South of Midnight delivers a grounded action-adventure with atmospheric visuals and heartfelt storytelling. If you’re into slower-paced, story-first experiences, this one’s worth checking out.
The common thread with South of Midnight isn’t that there is something wrong, it’s more what is missing and what isn’t right, which can be equally as damaging. The combat is great, but it never evolves. Exploring the world is fun, but trust is never given. The traversal is satisfyingly fast and fluid, but it becomes rote. Most detrimental to the experience is that the ending is fine, but absent is the ending that this incredible adventure deserved. If you have the right expectations, you will be delightfully please and if you are on Game Pass, South of Midnight is a must. South of Midnight delivers a powerful story with unmatched atmosphere that easily overshadows the simplicity of the gameplay.
South of Midnight is a game that can surprise with its specific, interesting atmosphere, but at the same time, it lacks a 'wow' factor. All the elements present in the game are executed solidly, but 'solidity' alone isn’t enough to stand out among the premieres of other modern titles. Despite a certain 'blandness,' we get a game with an engaging story, dynamic gameplay, arcade-style platforming elements, and decent combat. If you enjoy linear, story-driven games with slight exploration and character progression, you’ll have a good time with South of Midnight. It’s simply a good game.
Review in Polish | Read full review
South of Midnight is one of the most memorable story-driven experiences of 2025. With a strong cast and a superb art style, anyone will enjoy a short but sweet journey, which will cling to your mind because of its endearing nature.
Despite my many remarks on things that felt a little off, like the repetitive combat, sometimes wooden platforming and disappointing final boss, there is an undeniable charm to South of Midnight that makes it a must-play for all Xbox fans. The music is fantastic and well-worth listening to outside of the game, the stories and legends told hit all the right emotional strings and it looks great too. For telling the story through songs alone, I’d wholly recommend everyone to give this a try and the good vastly outweighs the bad.
All in all, however, it's a title definitely worth a playthrough – if only to experience the music in conjunction with the gameplay!
Review in German | Read full review
South of Midnight is one of the greatest gems of this generation, a design that takes us back to the days of the PS3, with spectacular graphics, easy-to-learn gameplay and a lot of fun that flows at a good pace. It's a title to enjoy and cherish.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review