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South of Midnight
Released On: Apr 8, 2025
77
6.7
All Platforms
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 91 Critic Reviews
77
69% Positive
63 Reviews
63 Reviews
31% Mixed
28 Reviews
28 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 91 Critic Reviews
77
69% Positive
63 Reviews
63 Reviews
31% Mixed
28 Reviews
28 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Apr 16, 2025
Despite its few knots, South of Midnight hangs tightly together, tying up its threads deftly while spinning an enthralling yarn. Just don’t mention the S-word.
Apr 3, 2025
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.
User Score
Mixed or Average Based on 754 User Ratings
6.7
56% Positive
426 Ratings
426 Ratings
23% Mixed
171 Ratings
171 Ratings
21% Negative
157 Ratings
157 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average Based on 754 User Ratings
6.7
56% Positive
426 Ratings
426 Ratings
23% Mixed
171 Ratings
171 Ratings
21% Negative
157 Ratings
157 Ratings
May 17, 2025
Possibly the most beautiful game I've every played. Due to it having a strong narrative focus,I assumed the combat would be mediocre, but it wasn't. It was more complex then expected, and so was the platforming. Story and characters are well done as well.
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Xbox Series X May 13, 2025
Ce jeu est juste un BANGER !!!
La bande son est sensationnelle ! Le jeu a une histoire incroyable !!! Foncez dessus tête baissée
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Xbox Series X Apr 7, 2025
South of Midnight isn't going to impress with constant new mechanical gimmicks, and the gameplay loop quickly becomes predictable, but it is almost hypnotizing in its presentation. Hazel and her supporting cast are delightful, and they're wonderfully brought to life by exceptional animation and voice acting. South of Midnight's twisted take on the American Deep South is bold and captivatingly rendered, but gameplay-forward players are likely to find it lacking.
Apr 3, 2025
South of Midnight is a straightforward but well-executed action-adventure game on the surface, with a simple but satisfying mix of combat and platforming. It’s focused, filling out its 12-hour runtime nicely without ever dragging or relying on unnecessary padding. Beyond those basics, however, is a certain heart and artistry that elevates the whole package, inviting you to peer into the deep American South through its folklore, nature, and culture. It might not be the most profound exploration of family life, but it’s delivered in ways that feel authentic. From its striking art style to the evocative tunes that bring big story moments together, Hazel’s journey is a captivating one no matter where you come from.
Apr 3, 2025
South of Midnight stands out for its setting, artistic design, and storyline, but when you pick up the controller, its weaknesses become apparent due to an extremely derivative gameplay experience that feels all too familiar from many other titles. Compulsion Games poured all its creativity into bringing this deep South of the United States to life, but ultimately delivered a repetitive gameplay system with little to say. I found myself playing through the interactive sections without much enthusiasm, viewing them more as a necessary step to get through as quickly as possible to uncover what the story had to offer. The narrative, however, is crafted with great care and delivers glimpses of “real” lives that are both striking and memorable, just like the mythology built around Hazel’s world. From a technical standpoint, the execution is inconsistent: the audio and soundtrack are excellent, but the graphics exhibit some noticeable rough edges, despite the strong artistic vision. The stop-motion effect (which I recommend disabling), while fascinating, makes everything feel too choppy, and the lack of some frames affects the overall fluiditY….South of Midnight is a good game, more for its story and atmosphere than for its gameplay. While the technical limitations may be attributed to a modest budget, the gameplay choices feel overly safe, ultimately holding back the ambitions of a title that had the potential to deliver more—though it remains an enjoyable experience.
Apr 3, 2025
South of Midnight has some incredibly strong storytelling chops, brought together by its stunning visual design and excellent soundtrack. Unfortunately, the experience is bogged down by boring, repetitive combat and lackluster platforming, but it's worth rushing through those parts to experience everything else South of Midnight has to offer.
Apr 8, 2025
An extremely workmanlike throwback to early generations of platform adventure, that completely wastes its interesting setting and gorgeous visual design.
May 9, 2025
. Atmospheric World and Art Direction
The game’s setting, steeped in Southern Gothic folklore, is a standout feature. The fictional town of Prospero, ravaged by a hurricane, is brought to life with breathtaking environments—from swampy bayous to dilapidated towns and misty forests. The use of a stop-motion animation style, crafted with help from Clyde Henry Productions, gives cutscenes a distinct, painterly charm, though players can toggle it off if it feels jarring. Critics praise the vivid landscapes, with IGN noting that the game is “elevated by the artistry and heart of the American Southern culture wrapped around it.” The attention to detail, like the “haint blue” color marking climbable surfaces (a nod to Southern superstition), adds cultural authenticity.2. Compelling Narrative and Characters
The story follows Hazel Flood, a young Black woman and Weaver, who uses magical abilities to mend broken bonds and confront and confront “Haints”—ghostly manifestations of trauma. The narrative explores heavy themes like intergenerational trauma, racism, and family dynamics, woven through Southern folklore. Hazel’s journey to find her mother, Lacey, after a hurricane, is emotionally resonant, with critics like those at Destructoid calling it “a hallmark of excellence” for its impactful character stories. The game’s focus on Black Southern culture, including subtle references to Black art and vernacular, has been lauded for its authenticity, particularly by Black reviewers. The Verge highlighted moments like the inclusion of Annie Lee’s Blue Monday artwork as a “deep cut” that resonates with Black players. The voice acting, led by Adriyan Rae as Hazel, is exceptional, bringing emotional depth to the cast.3. Soundtrack and Music Integration
The soundtrack, composed by Olivier Deriviere, is a critical highlight, blending blues, jazz, and Southern folk music. Each chapter features a song that evolves with the story, adding lyrical depth to the narrative. Eurogamer called it “one of the best sounding games” due to its artful integration, with lyrics narrating the emotional arcs of characters. The ambient sounds, like cicadas or ethereal notes during Hazel’s jumps, enhance the immersive experience.4. Cultural Representation
South of Midnight is celebrated for its rare depiction of Black Southern culture in gaming. It tackles difficult topics like slavery, segregation, and poverty without shying away from their weight, yet it balances these with hope and resilience. The game’s portrayal of Hazel’s mixed-race identity and her strained relationship with her white grandfather adds nuance, though some critics note it doesn’t fully explore racial themes. The inclusion of folklore creatures like the “Boo-Hag” and a talking catfish guide named Catfish grounds the game in regional mythos, making it feel distinctly American.
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Xbox Series X Nov 16, 2025
entretenido, un estilo grafico algo curioso que puede que a algunos les resulte chocante. la historia... la siento algo pretenciosa, pero cumple. en cuanto al combate, me parece que es resultón, se echa en falta algo más de variedad de enemigos. en fin, en mi opinión es un sólido 7 en verde
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Xbox Series X Oct 20, 2025
A visually stunning narrative focused game.i like the overarching story and its various subplots. The world has a lot of planned creature encounters eg bunnies dart away or a bird flies away together with the atmospheric sounds and the foliage moving in the wind these little touches go along way to make the world feel alive. The gameplay is made off 3 parts. Some easy puzzles. Easy platforming, and some fairly basic combat encounters. A quite relaxing experience. I play all games on the default difficulty, i would imagine the higher difficulties might be more challenging but i doubt the core combat experience allows for a real challenge imagine a basic you deal less damage but take more kind of situation. Get it discounted or play on gamepass
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Xbox Series X Aug 25, 2025
This game has a very outdated onboarding and tutorial process that makes it very hard to get into. It barely lets you play or engage with systems for the first hour cause every other step is another cutscene or tutorial message. And the systems/controls are as standard as 3D action games have been for almost 3 decades now.
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Xbox Series X Jun 12, 2025
Very bad gameplay even if it is something very basic.Repetitive arenas and very few abilities. It's of if you play it from gamepass
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Xbox Series X Summary South of Midnight is a new third person action-adventure from Compulsion Games. When a hurricane rips through Prospero, Hazel is pulled into a Southern Gothic world where reality and fantasy are interwoven, and ancient creatures from folklore emerge.
Rated M for Mature
Platforms:
- Xbox Series X
- PC
Initial Release Date: Apr 8, 2025
Developer:
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Genres:
