Right out of the gate, South of Midnight is a fairly accessible game. Players can call upon an objective marker at any time, boss attack patterns are well-telegraphed, and its Soulslike combat can be challenging, but dodge timings are very forgiving. South of Midnight even offers a suite of custom difficulty options for those who need or want a little more assistance with combat or exploration.
That said, there's nothing wrong with having access to even more guidance in case players need it. There are a handful of unwritten rules that could help new players make the most of their South of Midnight experience.
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South of Midnight's Unwritten Rules Explained
Search Every Level Thoroughly
Arguably the most important unwritten rule of South of Midnight is that players should be thoroughly exploring every environment they find themselves in. While South of Midnight isn't an open-world game, the vast majority of its levels feature an array of optional pathways that take players off the beaten path. Exploring these optional routes is essential for South of Midnight's progression.
Exploring for just a few seconds will see players stumbling upon tin sheets that they can flip, green orbs that increase max health, and the all-important Floof sources, which give players the currency they need to upgrade player-character Hazel's magical Weaving abilities. Along with rewarding the player with useful upgrade materials, South of Midnight's optional pathways also offer some fun platforming challenges that go a long way in breaking up the otherwise combat-heavy gameplay experience.
Prioritize Unlocking Abilities You Want to Use
South of Midnight's skill tree is pretty limited, with each of Hazel's abilities having just three upgrades each, and only a handful of upgrades being available for her general abilities. That said, players should still prioritize upgrading the abilities they find the most useful in combat, or simply the ones that they find the most fun to use.
For instance, if players enjoy the feeling of pulling an enemy Haint in close and dishing out a ton of damage while it's dazed, they should prioritize upgrading Hazel's Pull ability. These upgrades won't change the general flow of South of Midnight's combat too much, but they should help to make it feel a little more enjoyable than it might otherwise be without the upgrades.
Don't Forget About Crouton
The breakout star of South of Midnight, Crouton is a little patchwork doll that Hazel's magic has brought to life. Along with being an adorable little mascot for South of Midnight's fantasy world, Crouton has a range of useful gameplay abilities that players shouldn't forget about.
In combat, Crouton can be used to temporarily possess foes. Once possessed, these Haints will act as allies, turning on their otherworldly brethren and attacking them with all the usual offensive abilities they have access to.
During exploration, Crouton can be used to enter small holes in the ground. Once inside, Crouton makes his way through the Burrowers' homes, until players stumble upon a hidden cache of upgrade materials. Crouton can also be thrown across large gaps, allowing players to access distant hidden areas.
South of Midnight
- Released
- April 8, 2025
- ESRB
- rp
- Developer(s)
- Compulsion Games
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
