Chris InglisSouth of Midnight is an action-adventure from developers Compulsion Games and published by Xbox Game Studios and launched on April 9, 2025. The game is set in America’s Deep South in the fictional world of Prospero with tales of folklore, magic, and a world steeped in decaying settings, like old mansions and swampy bayous. I can’t recall playing a game in this setting before, so I was excited to dive into this world. Compulsion Games has expertly created an immersive atmosphere and rich story, backed up by a soundtrack that is a haunting blend of blues and folk melodies.
Hazel, a young woman with the power to weave magical threads, finds herself entangled in a supernatural mystery that threatens to consume her hometown. With her mother missing in a storm, she sets off to try and rescue her, discovering that she has these magical powers and how to use them along the way. The dialogue, laced with Southern drawl and voices of strange creatures, adds to the game’s mystique.
The technical performance quite early on exhibited some peculiar issues for me. The general gameplay segments were very smooth, however during cutscenes, the frame rate of the game would just tank. Usually, cutscenes are locked at a low FPS and are often the smoothest, but it is the opposite with this game for me which was frustrating. It wasn’t enough to detract from my experience, but worth noting for those looking to play the game on PC.
Hazel’s role as a Weaver in South of Midnight is central to both her character and the game’s mechanics. Hazel’s weaving abilities are integrated into her combat style, allowing her to chain attacks and utilise environmental hazards. The Haints are not simply monsters to be defeated; they are manifestations of the pain and trauma that plague the world. Hazel can use her threads to entangle enemies, pull them towards her, or launch them into environmental hazards. Along the way you will collect floofs that can be used to upgrade her abilities.
The exploration and puzzle elements see Hazel manipulate threads of magical energy to move objects, create solid obstacles, double jump and glide, and solve puzzles. This allows for a dynamic and versatile approach to environmental interaction. The linear world design can feel restrictive at times but there was always a glint in the distance of a ledge to climb, platform to jump to or something else shining in the distance that could be interacted with. You are therefore rewarded for looking beyond the clear path ahead of you.
Combat in the game takes place in set enclosed arenas, signaling that a fight is about to occur, and utilises a balance of melee and magical attacks with an emphasis on dodging attacks rather than parrying. You can push, pull and weave enemies and then hit them with a powered-up attack. Defeating an enemy involves not just reducing their health, but also unraveling them, a finishing move that will reward you with a small health increase. There is also a healing well in each combat arena for a full replenishment. You can also perform a perfect dodge that triggers a damaging counterattack. Once you face each new type of enemy, the remaining fights in the game are permutations of mixes of all of them, and the arena can get crowded at times so dodging often is your friend.
One of the aspects of South of Midnight I really enjoyed the most is its sound design. The haunting soundtrack, infused with blues and folk influences, perfectly complements the game’s atmosphere. The ambient sounds, from the rustling of leaves to the croaking of frogs, create a palpable sense of immersion. The voice acting, particularly Hazel’s and narrator’s performances are excellent.
Overall, South of Midnight is a game that has a well-told story, unique visual style and takes us on a journey through a mystical American deep south. The game has a great mix of environment exploration, light combat mechanics and character progression using floofs, and is accentuated with a fantastic soundtrack.
This review utilised a key provided by Xbox/Microsoft and South of Midnight is out now on Steam and Xbox.
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