I enjoyed South of Midnight so much I beat it in 2 sittings — here's why it's one of 2025's most pleasant surprises

South of Midnight is just too hauntingly whimsical to ignore. Part Alice in bayou-land, part Grimm's fairy tales from the gothic Deep South, but all wrapped up in a unique, modern folktale, I was completely immersed as soon as I booted up this narrative-driven action-adventure.

If the stop-motion-like art style is what drew me in, it's the unexpectedly dark tales riddled throughout this well-paced journey that made me stay. I mean, if a game can make me feel somewhat sorry for an island-sized alligator whose sole purpose is to feed on anything that moves, it's sure doing something right.

But that's only the tip of swamp-berg, as its overarching story about disturbing family secrets, cast of surreal mystical creatures and blend of original music urged me to keep playing. I can't say the same about its rudimentary combat or bland exploration, but after beating the game's roughly 12-hour campaign, these elements aren't the main attraction.

Developer Compulsion Games' first title under Xbox after We Happy Few is a welcome step in the right direction, making it one of the best AA games I've played. If you've yet to explore the Deep South through a devilishly dark magical lens, consider South by Midnight your best option.

South of Midnight: The Basics

• What is it? South of Midnight is an action-adventure game set in a fictional version of the American Deep South. You play as Hazel, our coming-of-age protagonist (with a lot of satisfying spunk), who's pulled into a modern, dark folktale steeped in gothic vibes.
• Who is it for? Anyone after a well-paced 10-12 hour adventure with fascinatingly dark stories, a wonderous stop-motion art style, engaging characters and mythical creatures both cute and fearsome.
• What’s the price? The standard edition of South of Midnight costs $35, while the Premium edition costs $49 adding the South of Midnight artbook, original soundtrack, a Boo-Hag comic book, documentary and early access to the game.
• What other games has the developer made? Compulsion Games is most known for We Happy Few, but its other games include puzzle-platformer Contrast. South of Midnight is the developer's first game after being acquired by Xbox in 2018.
• What games is this similar to? South of Midnight is a unique action-adventure, but it isn't too dissimilar from other AA titles like Kena: Bridge of Spirits or Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, and it even packs some elements akin to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

Going down the (mystical) bayou

As far as Southern gothic folklore tales go (and there aren’t many of them in gaming), South of Midnight absolutely nails the atmosphere – and that kept me wanting to push forward.

Hazel, our upbeat protagonist, is first introduced by packing up her mementos during yet another hurricane hitting her hometown, Propero. The vibes, from the setting to the characters, are all very satisfyingly American Deep South. When the oncoming flood sweeps her mobile home away with her mother, Lacey, still inside, she rushes off to try to save her. This is when she first interacts with the ever-growing stranger world around her.

You’re quickly introduced to guide strands. These help you follow the path forward with a whisper of “Hazel” when used. The sound design continues to impress, with each double jump and glide offering subtle hums as you travel across various landscapes, each with unique dings and chimes. It’s atmosphere-building at its finest, and it never gets old.

And the music? Sublime. The swelling trumpets, country-like strings and catchy beats weave into each area, aiding the vibe. It has its own soundtrack of southern-esque tunes (if sometimes a little on the nose) that reflect the personal stories told throughout, which is a nice touch.

I especially enjoyed the lead-up to boss encounters, with songs setting the mood and telling tales of how they came to be or what they have done.

And those grand creatures of folklore deliver, like the island-sized alligator Two-Toed Tom and the child-stealing Huggin’ Molly, both of which you could easily imagine coming right out of a fairy tale. It’s these mythical enemies that elevate the vibes.

In fact, it all reminds me of Kena: Bridge of Spirits, an underrated gem teeming with artistry and world-building. That 2021 game also deals with the corruption of its world and the people inhabiting it. Kena's goal is similar, to purify the environment and free those with hidden traumas. However, in the case of South by Midnight’s tales, they can be far more brutal and horrifying.

A tale of charm and cruelty

Despite how whimsical the story portrays itself, the character interactions, family dynamics and topics discussed are grounded.

South of Midnight explores themes of family drama, abuse, kidnapping, murder and more, which are some big topics to tackle. But these themes are successfully weaved into the story, making it the game's most compelling component.

Using her abilities as a Weaver, those chosen to see the fabric of the universe through Strands (like wispy strings), Hazel is tasked with healing lands that are corrupted by a person's trauma. This physically manifests into what the game calls a Knot, usually surrounded by monsters (a.k.a. Haints). Once untangled, she can see the memories of past events, uncovering dark secrets, and leading to a chance to purify the corruption via a "Wound" on a mythical beast or object.

There are hideous crimes that come to light, and I enjoyed each intriguingly dark tale. Not to spoil anything, but just because a Wound is healed, it doesn’t absolve anyone of their sins. Sometimes, disappointingly so. It would be nice to see some form of closure with certain characters. But Hazel’s main goal is to purify the land on her way to save her mother and it moves forward at a satisfying pace.

Yes, I could see some story elements coming a mile away, but it’s how the story is told that’s key, and I was pleased to go along for the ride. It’s a linear one, with no room for off-the-beaten-track side quests, but it needs to be to hit its stronger elements home.

As a quick aside, there is a hint of that, “Oh, did I just do that?” from Hazel at first, but nowhere near the level of (you already guessed it) Forspoken. She’s snappy, heartfelt and an enjoyable character to center in on, as she can also be just as dumbfounded by what she sees.

It’s a fantastical world with wondrous characters filled with heart, too. I particularly enjoyed the mysterious yet charming Catfish, an extremely large mythical creature that acts as the game’s narrator. He’s a wise (and wise-cracking) fish that goes with the flow, letting us know just enough to get us by.

Despite many characters only getting minimal screen time, each interaction and backstory eventually told is enough to get a grasp of who they are, as they all manage to offer some sort of depth – no two-dimensional characters here.

If you’re in the mood for plenty of grim folklore tales told excellently while threading together an overarching adventure through mussy swamplands, whispering forests and creepy caves, South of Midnight will satisfy.

More “adventure” than “action”

Combat starts out exciting enough, with your basic five-hit attack melee combo and charged Amplified attack for a long-range hit. There are also dodge mechanics with a Perfect Dodge that damages enemies when timed just right, keeping you on your toes. Once an enemy is defeated, you can “unravel” downed foes to gain more health. A simple yet effective system.

Then, you’re introduced to Weave spells, used in the environment and in combat. Nothing is especially unique here. For example, you have a spell that can ensnare enemies, yank objects and foes closer and one that can push them back, disrupting enemy movement.

Combat encounters quickly end up feeling shallow, especially the further you progress. The monsters you fight, known as Haints, are varied by design but often resort to "hit-and-run" tactics. So, it's a matter of dodging, then following up by mashing the attack button, with a few spells thrown in to either weaken foes or stun them.

That's the overall routine, even when new Haint types are introduced. At first, it can be fun to master the flow of combat, as even standard Haint enemies can be tough. But once you've seen that same enemy type pop up multiple times, defeating them becomes routine.

Before long, I felt as if I wanted to get the fights over and done with as fast as possible rather than truly enjoy them.

It doesn’t take long to unlock your full suite of abilities. The first two chapters teach you combat, sorcery, double jumps and even gliding. Are these the typical makings of any action platformer? Sure, and, if I dare say it, it’s almost like Hazel is a Jedi of sorts with the ways she pushes, pulls, and interacts with memories.

Hazel gets stronger through the campaign via skill upgrades that aren’t game-changers in the least. They help power up your moves, but they don’t change the way you go about beating down foes. No combo add-ons or air juggling here, just very repetitive attacking.

There aren’t many collectibles either, just “floofs” for upgrading the limited skill tree, notes from the past and health fulfilments to increase your health. The notes at least expand the backstories of the spirits of the land. You’ll get cute messages along the way, like a girl leaving peach cobbler for ghosts.

However, a lot of the exploration and platforming puzzles felt all too easy, as I often went off the beaten track only to find that’s actually where I needed to go to proceed. It’s a linear path, with only a few obvious side tracks leading to floofs used to gain skills in combat.

Crouton, Hazel’s beloved stuffed toy, also eventually joins the fray as a companion for small-hole exploring and possession in combat. But, the stitched-together sack toy is just another way of getting through obstacles rather than being crucial to progress. It can be used to get more floofs, but not very many, and most of the time, bringing the toy out while exploring sometimes isn’t worth the effort.

While combat and exploration aren't groundbreaking, they both still manage to push the narrative forward just fine, and the handful of big boss fights are mostly good fun (if a little simple).

South of Midnight: Verdict

South of Midnight is a magnificent testament to how story-driven games remain extremely worthwhile. This isn't some epic-scale adventure with ever-evolving game mechanics, but for what it accomplishes, it doesn't need to be. The ebb and flow of its gameplay and rich story are enough to keep almost any gamer engaged.

It's a fairly linear tale, but one that doesn't overstay its welcome — lasting just over 12 hours for me to complete it with minimal collectibles left behind. It's not a game I'd come back to replay for the combat, but I found it to be serviceable enough to keep me engaged. For creepy folklore from the Deep South and endlessly charming gothic vibes in a tight-knit adventure, South of Midnight will impress.