South of Midnight Reviews
A dark fairy tale featuring one of the most atmospheric soundscapes I've encountered in recent years. Yet, repetitive combat and exploration mechanics, steeped in outdated design, prevent South of Midnight from being remembered as a classic.
Review in Italian | Read full review
South of Midnight, the adventure title from Compulsion Games, offers a fluid experience that uses gameplay as a vehicle to tell an emotional and visceral story like few others. It is an enjoyable, relatively short, and thoroughly enjoyable experience that is highly recommended for any type of player. Compulsion Games' work is a breath of fresh air among so many similar releases, and I eagerly await the studio's next project.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
South of Midnight is a short experience, which, despite its narrative strengths and immersive, spectacular setting, suffers from certain weaknesses in the execution of its story and the development of its main and secondary characters. Additionally, its gameplay isn't bad, but the level and combat design quickly become repetitive—given the game's short length.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
I don’t want to be too negative, because South of Midnight plays fine. I never found myself hating its mechanics. It’s easy to keep playing once you get into a groove, and I always found the story and characters worth the time investment to reach them. There are a few excellent moments scattered across its approximately eight hours, particularly its boss fights. It all comes back to your investment, though. If you can play this game on Game Pass, it feels like an easy decision. There’s plenty here for me to recommend you do just that. If you’re dropping money specifically on this experience, though, it feels like you deserve to expect a little bit more. That some part of actually playing this game feels truly interesting instead of just fine. I very rarely got that during my time with South of Midnight. Still, with a solid enough foundation, I’d love to see the team at Compulsion Games try for a sequel that builds on its strengths and does more to provide a great overall experience.
A folktale come to life, South of Midnight enchants with its visual and auditory sorcery even as its gameplay stumbles between simplicity and depth. More than the sum of its parts, this is Compulsion Games' most evocative work yet, a southern gothic melody that lingers despite its imperfect notes.
Review in Persian | Read full review
This is an amazing action-adventure experience that you can't miss, especially if you're an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, as the game is available from day one, giving you the opportunity to enjoy it immediately. This game deserves to be part of your 2025 experiences.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
South of Midnight is an experience that unfolds like a fireside fable: intimate, full of symbols, charged with memories. For those seeking something different, something that whispers rather than screams, this is a journey worth experiencing.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
South of Midnight left a mark. Not because it plays great—but because it tries to say something. About grief, about legacy, about rhythm and soul. It doesn’t always hit the mark, but it tries. It’s a shame the gameplay couldn’t keep up with the vibe. It just needed a bit more time put into the gameplay and a bit less into everything else. But then again, if Compulsion did that, South of Midnight wouldn’t be anywhere near as interesting as it is. But if Compulsion Games ever make an animated film? I’m first in line. Preferably with a proper bowl of gumbo.
Developers from Compulsion Games managed to create a fantastic fairy tale with a dark twist. Every single chapter is a feast for your eyes and ears. However, the experience is diminished by copy-pasted enemies, unnecessary swear words, and non-existent puzzles.
Review in Czech | Read full review
South of Midnight succeeds at shedding light on stories not often told and does it by offering unique perspectives, but this is also a situation where the game itself isn’t as interesting as its imposed experience.
South of Midnight is a solid action-adventure title elevated by its style, storytelling and cast of memorable characters.
South of Midnight has a very good story that strongly represents the effects of trauma and how some people handle them. However, the combat is pretty much the sole reason why this game didn’t reach its full potential.
South of Midnight is a beautifully crafted, delicately designed, story filled with heart, soul and positive energy. The world is stunning, the characters and the story they drive are memorable, and there’s a lovely mix of puzzles to keep you invested. While combat is the weaker point of the game, the boss battles coupled with the player progression do help bring this back up to a level of a game that deserves your time and attention.
The difference between a good game and a bad one is that a good game knows exactly how to highlight and showcase its strengths, and South of Midnight is a perfect example of that. Despite all the gameplay and design issues, the artistic and narrative aspects were so impressive and well-executed that they elevated the overall experience, making it a generally good game.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
While the combat system in South of Midnight may not immediately stand out due to its lack of originality, and certain platforming sections could benefit from further refinement, the game more than makes up for it with its remarkable emotional depth and captivating artistic direction. Every detail—from the hand-drawn animation to the masterfully crafted sound design—is executed with such precision and care that it creates an atmosphere that is both immersive and unforgettable. The game’s ability to draw the player into its world, even with a few rough edges, speaks to its remarkable depth and emotional resonance. This is a project with a soul that will undoubtedly find a place in players’ hearts, lingering long after they have completed the journey.
South of Midnight is not a game for everyone - and that is its biggest advantage. Those looking for fast-paced combat, open level design and complex gameplay will not find what they are looking for here. However, those who want to embark on an emotional adventure that combines cultural depth, creative imagery and a touching story will be offered a special experience here. And the visual style is worth at least taking a look at.
Review in German | Read full review
South of Midnight impresses with its unique Southern Gothic setting and stunning visuals, but falls short due to repetitive gameplay, shallow storytelling, and lackluster combat.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
South of Midnight is a soulful action-adventure that immerses players in the eerie charm of the American South, brought to life through a stunning world, heartfelt character stories, and a haunting soundtrack. While the main narrative stumbles at times and some technical issues persist, its artistic style, stop-motion feel, and emotional depth make it a memorable experience. Compulsion Games has crafted something truly unique—flawed, but unforgettable.
Review in German | Read full review
If you’re seeking a game with a strong identity and plenty of heart, South of Midnight is worth exploring.
Nothing it does truly elevates itself to the greatness of the Southern Gothic look it’s going for, and in a lot of ways, gets in the way of truly enjoying the beautiful locales that are shown. There are only so many times you can enter a circular combat chamber and fight the same enemies over and over with subpar abilities before it gets droll. It doesn’t matter how beautiful the area outside of that arena is.