2025 is shaping up to be a particularly busy year for the game industry, so it's easy to overlook smaller titles like South of Midnight, especially when compared to giants like GTA 6. But South of Midnight really shouldn't be brushed off, as its sparse gameplay footage indicates that it will be a passionate, panache-packed, pulpy action-adventure title, and it's definitely among the most exciting releases Xbox has queued up in its portfolio.
It's coming from Compulsion Games, the developer behind Contrast and, more recently, We Happy Few. We Happy Few is a complicated game to discuss, as it gathered quite a bit of hype during its marketing thanks to its one-of-a-kind setting and unique narrative premise, but also for a more predictable reason: it was reminiscent of another big, well-established franchise. Indeed, We Happy Few's parallels with BioShock were hard to ignore, as the former seemed to be leveraging the same retrofuturist concepts and dystopian plot fundamentals as the latter, with myriad similarities in terms of aesthetic and tone besides. But this didn't work out in We Happy Few's favor, as BioShock is an unbelievably high bar to clear . South of Midnight seems to be skirting around this issue of expectations.
South of Midnight Capitalizes on A Big Hit of the Moment
South of Midnight was revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase and while no gameplay was shown, the art style it bears is strikingly familiar.
South of Midnight's Singular Premise Could Help It Stand Out
We Happy Few May Have Looked Like BioShock, but South of Midnight Looks Like Nothing Else
To call We Happy Few a bad game would be grossly unfair. Its narrative is actually quite spectacular and emotionally riveting, and ultimately has little to do with the likes of BioShock; its strengths are sadly overlooked. At the same time, the early BioShock comparisons didn't do We Happy Few any favors, as its gameplay turned out to be disappointingly shallow—nothing at all like the thoughtful and multifaceted sandboxes of the BioShock franchise. Whether Compulsion Games intended to follow BioShock's lead is irrelevant: the comparisons were drawn early on, and We Happy Few suffered because of them.
But looking at South of Midnight, it's hard to draw the same sorts of connections. The Southern Gothic framework, injected with a healthy dose of magical realism and absurdity, makes it instantly gripping. More importantly, this aesthetic and worldbuilding isn't like anything else on the market, at least not in the mainstream. The best way to describe it, based on the available information, is like a Studio Ghibli film set in the American South, with a dash of cynical humor for good measure. That's an elevator pitch that simply doesn't apply to any other game, and this uniqueness could make South of Midnight in a league of its own.
It's also worth noting South of Midnight's animation style, which utilizes low FPS to create chunky, stylish visuals akin to the Spider-Verse films.
South of Midnight Still Needs to Prove Itself Through Gameplay
Having said all that, it's still worth pointing out that South of Midnight will need to cut its teeth on more than just graphics. One possible criticism that could be leveled against the game at this early stage is that its gameplay, both in terms of combat and traversal, looks rather derivative of other modern action-adventure titles. The game could easily be compared to other mainstream action games like the new God of War entries or the myriad soulslites on the market.
But South of Midnight could still certainly impress with its gameplay—it's just that, upon first glance, it's not looking anywhere near as unique as its visual style. Even if Compulsion Games doesn't reinvent the wheel with its interactive elements, it will always have its astonishing visuals, and that will be worth something, at least.
South of Midnight
- Released
- April 8, 2025
- ESRB
- rp
- Developer(s)
- Compulsion Games
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
WHERE TO PLAY
From the creators of Contrast and We Happy Few, South of Midnight is a spellbinding third person action-adventure game set in the American Deep South.
As Hazel, you will explore the mythos and encounter creatures of Southern folklore in a macabre and fantastical world. When disaster strikes her hometown, Hazel is called to become a Weaver: a magical mender of broken bonds and spirits. Imbued with these new abilities, Hazel will confront and subdue dangerous creatures, untangle the webs of her own family's shared past and -if she's lucky - find her way to a place that feels like home.
A DARK MODERN FOLKTALE: 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. In this coming-of-age adventure, Hazel journeys forth to rescue her mother and delves into a haunting web of folklore and family secrets, untangling her own identity.
CONFRONT MYTHICAL CREATURES: Wield an ancient power to restore creatures and uncover the traumas that consume them. Cast weaving magic to fight destructive Haints, explore the diverse regions of the South, and reweave the tears in the Grand Tapestry.
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
