South of Midnight Reviews
While South of Midnight pioneers in its narrative, art design, and the seamless incorporation of social challenges into its world, its gameplay, though not flawed, treads familiar ground without introducing anything new.
Review in Persian | Read full review
South of Midnight is a game that shows growth in Compulsion Games' titles. Even though the combat is predictable, it still feels good thanks to the usefulness of the powers at your disposal, and you won't shy away from a fight. The platforming is also well done, which makes it a shame that you can't explore more of the world. While the gameplay is better, the studio still knows how to tell a captivating story using a backdrop of Southern Gothic that isn't used too often in games. This is a solid adventure game and a trip well worth taking if you're a fan of the genre and narratives.
One of the main reasons a video game becomes so engaging is its story, but the emotions it evokes through the controls are also important. After playing South of Midnight, I can say that its strength lies in conveying emotions through the story of its protagonist, Hazel Flood. […]
Review in Spanish | Read full review
As fantastic as the game looks, as outdated is the gameplay. But for the sake of the story one would agree to tolerate monotonous battles and simplistic combat system.
Review in Russian | Read full review
For me, South of Midnight is a bit of a triumph, and exactly the sort of thing I want to see more of from Xbox Game Studios. It's not perfect, and its combat mechanics are a bit lacking, but the game has so much soul, personality and charm that it's hard not to fall in love with it. I was engrossed with the storybook visuals, the well-delivered narrative and the satisfying traversal from start to finish, and I really can't recommend this one enough on Xbox Game Pass. Those of you that are more combat-first may not take a shining to this game quite as much as I have, but if you're looking for an engaging adventure that delivers soulful stories in spades, South of Midnight shouldn't be missed.
South of Midnight features a striking setting with excellent music, and explores a world that is rarely visited. But its dull gameplay, uneven writing and repetitive structure don't exactly give this folk tale a happy ending.
It’s got tons of style, but doesn’t really know how to turn that style into something that feels uniquely its own when you play it - still, it’s got heart.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
A unique and charming experience that is technically and mechanically ok at best.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Down by the South, folks speak of a tale. Tale of Weavers, who once tethered this world. One, that is dangerous yet beautiful, woven with the utmost original yarns. But as stigma and trauma reeks throughout these gothic lands now, there is almost no hope. But a newfound weaver of Prospero, Hazel, equipped with her trusty hooks attempts to stitch up the torn Grand Tapestry, through her epic combat skills, amazing visual language all the while a banger soundtrack accompanies her on the journey to find her lost mother!
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Compulsion Games signs what is undoubtedly its magna opus with South of Midnight. A tremendous adventure in a fictional corner of the deep south of the United States that takes a multitude of influences to create a world as peculiar as it is attractive. Shocking visually, outstanding musically and with characters and interpretations more than up to par, the new Microsoft Studios manages to catch with an addictive and fluid gameplay that ends up shaping a rounded product and 100% recommendable
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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 is an experience that stands out much more for its identity than for its gameplay. With a sensitive narrative, striking art direction, an exceptional soundtrack, and a perfect port for Nintendo’s hybrid console, the game builds a unique world full of personality. Although the combat and structure rely on safe and sometimes repetitive ideas, Hazel’s journey manages to sustain itself through the strength of its atmosphere and the care with which its story is told. It may not impress in terms of mechanics, but it delivers something increasingly rare: an experience with soul.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The release of South of Midnight for PS5 can only be a good thing.
Review in Greek | Read full review
South of Midnight is a game full of interesting concepts and ideas, but it falls short in its execution. The visuals are beautiful, but the animations make the experience feel choppy. The soundtrack and voice acting are great, but the game suffers from audio desynchronization issues. The stories and combat are interesting, but extremely repetitive. I can imagine this being an experience that clicks very well for some players, but for me, even though it was fun, it could have been much better.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Just like its protagonist, South of Midnight has no desire to save the world. It simply tells a twist-filled, atmospheric, and at times heart-wrenching story, presented in the form of a slightly old-fashioned yet entertaining game. It has a peculiar charm that pulls you in so deeply that I was constantly counting the moments until I could continue. And I’m not alone in this: based on online reviews, many people have been “complaining” about the same thing after sitting down with it—some even managed to play through the entire game over a long weekend, which is no small feat for a roughly ten-hour experience. And really, what more should we expect from a video game than to enchant us as completely as if we were ten-year-old kids again?
Review in Unknown | Read full review
I had an excellent time playing South of Midnight. A lot of the gameplay reminds me of Alice Madness Returns, which was also excellent. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a unique experience.
South of Midnight is a unique journey through a beautifully crafted world, filled with rich folklore, striking visuals, and a surprisingly deep story. It delivers engaging melee combat, a memorable cast, and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that blends blues, country, and soul music seamlessly into the experience.
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.