South of Midnight Reviews
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
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