Grab Your Xbox, South of Midnight Is a Delight
I’m not sure how to write poetically about stories, feelings, and culture. That checks out, as I was rejected to study American Culture Studies in 2023 because I was “too technical” for the PhD program. However, what I can tell you, dear reader, is that South of Midnight has a great narrative. Nay, enchanting. As someone who is neither Black nor from the American South, I can tell you that the level of empathy and emotion felt in this story is for everyone.
Developed by Compulsion Games and published by Xbox Game Studios, South of Midnight is a tale about empathy and family dynamics. Set in America’s Deep South, this action-adventure game has players running, jumping, and doing battle with supernatural spirits. The art style and scenery have a Southern Gothic feel, something we don’t see enough of in modern entertainment. Yet, the absolute highlight is its rich narrative, which draws players in till the end.
Folklore and Empathy Collide
The story begins with teenager Hazel Flood and her mother, Lacey, a social worker who comes home after working late to help the city of Prospero prepare for an approaching hurricane. Early on, the game explores the playful dynamic between Hazel and her mother. It’s a pretty average relationship between a mother and her teenage daughter—slightly strained, despite a tight bond.
Once the hurricane hits town, it wipes out Hazel and Lacey’s trailer home and sends it floating down the river with Lacey still inside. Worried and upset, Hazel sets off on the long, eye-opening journey of finding her mother. The story is presented by way of a storybook fairytale, with each chapter interstitial told through bright colors and animated narration.
Along the way, Hazel learns more about her mother, her grandmother, and the town of Prospero through the people and the “monsters” she meets along the way. This is where the game scrutinizes familial relationships, some strong and some fraught or entirely severed. Compulsion Games takes these interactions and examines them through Southern folklore. For instance, someone experiencing grief and heartache turns into a mythical creature, and you are tasked with healing their wounds rather than taking their life if you want to progress.
Throughout her journey, Hazel also learns a lot more about her own family and the special powers she possesses. We get to meet her extended family—and even some friends and foes from the past—and uncover the tragedies that both shaped them and continue to haunt them. In these moments, the animations and dialogue are captivating and heartfelt, making me actually feel these characters’ sadness and loss while playing.
Bringing Depth to Story Through Power
Hazel is incredibly kind and empathetic, and the perfect protagonist for a story of this nature. She is also likable and fashionable. Early on, Hazel learns she has magical powers as a Weaver, which allows her to utilize the power of floating strands to fight haints and traverse ever-challenging terrain.
Along Hazel’s journey, you’ll investigate abandoned homes, whether deserted by eviction or a natural disaster, for more context into the characters and monsters you encounter. Navigating the more bucolic lands also allows you to run around scenic forests, which always felt lifelike with their charming little forest critters and gorgeous foliage. There’s history hidden deeply throughout the landscape, which makes searching through every area both interesting and rewarding.
As the story progresses, the player collects a currency called Floofs, which are used to upgrade abilities through a classic skill tree. You may have already heard that the combat in South of Midnight is lacking, with a poorly developed progression system to boot. While I can’t disagree, it feels that Compulsion Games made a deliberate choice to focus on plot and art style more than anything else. The combat isn’t great, but it’s also not what South of Midnight is really about.
Stop-Motion Animation for the Win
The stop-motion animation in South of Midnight was a fantastic choice by the developers, and an absolute delight to consume. Compulsion Games did the Lord’s work and created what will probably be the most beautiful game I’ll play this year. (For those who also appreciate the style, there is an art book and comic book for South of Midnight coming soon.) With no noticeable bugs, the experience was visually appealing the entire time—a rarity these days, with unfinished titles launching well before they’re ready.
I would imagine the decision to create stop-motion animation was not taken lightly, but it sure did pay off, especially during cutscenes involving mythical creatures and dolls brought to life.
As I said before, I have no connection to the Deep South, but the bustling soundtrack and narration felt wildly authentic to my ears. The music is eerie when it needs to be and fittingly dramatic during boss fights, leaving emotions heightened at all times. A good video game soundtrack is well appreciated here at The Punished Backlog, and South of Midnight delivers.
Bring on an Adventure Through the Deep South
For full transparency, I played South of Midnight on Story Mode, which makes combat easier. I love that the developers offer a range of gameplay options—ranging from story-focused to action-heavy—so players of all skill levels can enjoy the lore.
As previously mentioned, the combat is not the game’s strong spot. While in combat, Hazel uses powerful melee attacks that employ her Weaver abilities. It’s not as easy as button mashing, as you need to properly time your special abilities while dodging enemy attacks as well. While the combat encounters are not always that difficult, waiting for abilities to recharge can make them a bit tedious, which is another reason why I appreciated the plethora of difficulty options.
The platforming, meanwhile, reminds me a lot of the hit co-op game Split Fiction from Hazelight Studios. The running, jumping, and climbing all feel crisp, especially over time as Hazel gains additional Weaver powers. While the navigation feels freeing, I do wish the world in South of Midnight had a little bit more to explore. There are collectibles to find, but if we had something similar to Breath of the Wild’s Korok seed hunting, I’d dive back in after finishing the storyline.
Final Thoughts
South of Midnight’s plot never feels boring, and held 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 South of Midnight, please check it out, especially if you have a Game Pass subscription. If you enjoy highly stylized narrative games, like visual novel NORCO, you may like this different take on Southern folklore. It’s a tale unlike most action adventures, and knows how to tug on your heartstrings.
I am hungry for more games like South of Midnight in the future. So far, this is my game of the year and one I’ll revisit for years to come.
Score: 8.6/10
South of Midnight, developed by Compulsion Games and published by Xbox Game Studios, is available now on PC and Xbox Series X/S. It is also available on Game Pass. MSRP: $39.99. Version reviewed: Xbox Series X/S.
Allison has been playing all sorts of games since the late ‘90s. She particularly enjoys life sims, casual games, tactical RPGs, and anything Mario. Her dream jobs are to be a Stardew Valley speed runner and a Mary Tyler Moore historian. As a recent MBA graduate, Allison hopes to use her extra time tackling her backlog and the never-ending list of 2023 releases.
