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While we’ve been bombarded with 40-hour games lately, we often forget that some of the most memorable gaming experiences are short and to the point. That is precisely what South of Midnight is. This 10-hour adventure is the perfect example of how something short can have superb storytelling, excellent character development, and stunning visuals in a compact yet stunning package. Even if there are a few hiccups here and there, South of Midnight is gorgeous and memorable from start to finish.
A Weaver’s Path
As the name implies, South of Midnight takes place in the American Deep South. It follows the story of Hazel Flood, who embarks on a journey full of magic and Southern folklore after seemingly losing her mother in a storm. Since the game is short, I don’t want to spoil the story. However, the message it conveys is quite endearing.
Hazel is a Weaver tasked with mending bonds and soothing spirits. To do this, she has to glimpse at some people’s past lives to see their emotional baggage and how it has become traumatic. Every character she meets carries a cross that usually leads to the manifestation of a magical harmful creature or other mystical hazards that Hazel has to fix.
Right off the bat, the story has two top-notch things: presentation and the narrative part itself. For the first, South of Midnight presents the beginning and ending of each chapter as a storybook. Once you start playing, the game throws you into a somewhat repetitive loop. You head to a new area, unravel mystical knots that give you a look at that area’s character’s past, and then either face a boss or cleanse the place. While the loop is similar in almost every level, the way it presents each character is superb. Most revelations are shocking, and I often drop my jaw at the end of most chapters. Pair that with terrific music and stunning visuals, and this adventure is pure art.
The storytelling is equally great and enhanced further, thanks to its solid cast. Initially, Hazel gave me the vibes of being a typical teenager. She seemed as if she only wanted her mom’s attention and was jealous since her mother spent more time helping others around town than her daughter. However, as the story progresses, you see why Hazel’s mother is doing that. Furthermore, you can see Hazel’s growth as a Weaver, where she has to place her needs aside to help others. Yet, those secondary characters you support throughout the journey are equally memorable. Some even have a more substantial emotional impact once you discover how oversized their emotional baggage is.
Overall, South of Midnight excels in its narrative and does fantastic work bringing Southern folklore into a modern setting. The presentation is eerie yet beautiful and as shocking as it is endearing. Furthermore, even if the story feels short, it is the perfect length. It shows how a game doesn’t need to pack a narrative into a 40-hour experience to make it great. Ten hours were perfect to deliver a strong and unforgettable tale.
Spiritual Beating
If South of Midnight shines with its storytelling, it doesn’t shine as much with its actual gameplay. That’s not to say it is bad, though. Out of the recent adventure games we’ve seen or new IPs, South of Midnight features the most enjoyable gameplay. However, it doesn’t feel too meaningful at times.
Like other action-adventure games, South of Midnight has many familiar staples. You have your light attack combos, abilities on cooldown you can unlock, and a variety of enemies with different mechanics. In truth, the combat isn’t bad at all, but it lacks a bit of variety. Hazel begins with a 5-hit combo and a few spells. You can upgrade and unlock new abilities by spending “Floof,” the game’s currency.
Certain spells let you weave enemies to do more damage. One enables you to pull them toward you to hit them, and you can even send your partner, Crouton, to possess them. My biggest gripe is the lack of enemy variety or an actual challenge. The combat is excellent, but if you don’t have something that encourages you to use your whole arsenal, then what’s the point? Even in the hardest difficulty, it never felt like a real challenge.
Boss fights suffer from this, too. Visually speaking, they are stunning. The camera work, music, and actual mechanics are excellent. Yet, they don’t provide anything meaningful aside from the over-the-top spectacle. However, despite my complaints about the combat, it makes sense why it is the way it is. The story is the main dish, and it is of the highest quality, so focusing on that is great. Still, I would’ve loved to experience an actual challenge. South of Midnight has excellent responsive gameplay ideas that look fantastic, but their execution isn’t ideal.
Combat aside, there is also some “side content,” so to speak. You can go off the beaten path to find Floof, collectibles, and items that raise your HP permanently. I liked this as it broke the linearity of the levels, which, once again, are perfectly crafted. There are also a few traversal mechanics like wall-running, riding air currents, and the occasional platformer-like segment at some levels, which adds a bit of variety.
Mystical Beauty
Another superb aspect of South of Midnight, if not the most outstanding, is its art style. The game uses a stop-motion-like style in all cutscenes and the actual hands-on gameplay. You can turn it off if you feel it looks “choppy.” But no, it isn’t a bug or a performance issue. It is akin to how the Miles Morales animated movies look. Their animation has a different frame rate to give it that stop-motion look, and I loved it. It is one of the most unique game styles and one that I wish more studios used.
Furthermore, Compulsion Games uses it perfectly. Character animations, expressions, and movements are on point. Everyone looks fantastic, whether it is Hazel, a secondary character, or the lovable Crouton.
The color palette is another thing that deserves a chef’s kiss. You begin in areas packed with orange and yellow tones and slowly move to somber places where colder colors flood your screen. Every level is a visual delight.
However, I saw that, despite my PC exceeding the recommended specs, it had a hard time running the game on ultra settings. Once I lowered the settings to high, it all ran smoother. Still, it was strange to see my PC struggle to go above 40 FPS in the highest settings, which, according to the specs, I should be able to run. Yet, it was something minor for me. The game at high settings looked equally stunning, and the visual style wasn’t affected much when I played around with a few graphical options.
Pleasantly Brief
South of Midnight isn’t the longest game, but it is one of the most memorable. The storytelling takes center stage and shines throughout this unforgettable 10-hour journey. Furthermore, every character is fantastic, and their backgrounds are as shocking as they are endearing. Lastly, the visual style is one of the most unique we’ve seen in recent years and one I wish other developers would use.
Often, we turn our heads to games that last for hundreds of hours despite being mindless grinds or bloated experiences. South of Midnight proves that it can deliver an extremely high-quality experience in a short time, and as a gamer who’s busy with other things, I appreciate this. It is definitely one of the best narratives I’ve experienced this year and one that I will remember fondly.
South of Midnight (PC Reviewed)
South of Midnight is one of the most memorable story-driven experiences of 2025. With a strong cast and a superb art style, anyone will enjoy this 10-hour journey that will cling to your mind due to how endearing it is.
Pros
- Outstanding storytelling
- Superb art style
- Excellent character development
Cons
- Minor optimization issues
- Lack of variety during combat
