'South of Midnight': A Mystical and Disturbing Adventure in the American South

South of Midnight is the latest project from Compulsion Games, a Montreal-based studio best known for the disturbing We Happy FewSince being acquired by Xbox Game Studios in 2018, the team has focused on defining its creative identity and developing this new title, which represents a major leap forward. The studio has never followed trends, instead preferring to create distinct experiences accompanied by a highly stylized aesthetic, in which atmosphere and narrative take center stage. Now they present a new, highly original adventure that combines an unusual setting in fiction, the Deep South of the United States, with a very classic animation technique, yet one that surprises in its medium.stop-motion.

The title's protagonist, Hazel, is a young woman living in the Deep South, a cultural and geographical region of the United States that encompasses several southeastern states. The adventure begins when a hurricane devastates her town and Hazel is transported to a magical world that becomes real. Despite the situation, she soon discovers she has a strange power: the ability to manipulate the threads of reality and the power to banish supernatural creatures. Through her eyes, players will discover a folklore full of myths rooted in the territory and magical creatures that inhabit these mysterious landscapes.

A magical world with a dark twist

A differential point of South of Midnight It's its atmosphere, which doesn't quite turn it into a scary or horror game, but maintains a constant ghostly filter that doesn't leave the player indifferent. The disturbing settings the player explores, which match the tone of the title, are wild swamps, decaying plantation areas, moss-covered forests, and abandoned towns, places where Hazel will discover family secrets that advance the plot. Her objective won't always be to destroy; often, she'll simply have to understand and empathize. In fact, the game's main theme is healing—personal, cultural, spiritual, and generational—and the studio manages to construct a story that remains grounded despite the fantastical elements.

The game also stands out for its visual section, with the use of animation stop-motion and hand-crafted textures. The art direction is visually very appealing and eschews realism to fully embrace its more handcrafted aesthetic. The character designs are also elaborate and varied, with both eccentric and terrifying characters inspired by true stories, ranging from a friendly, banjo-playing giant catfish to shape-shifting spirits, forgotten gods, and immense reptiles. Creative director David Sears says the game is "a storybook come to life, but passed down through whispered legends and ancient songs."

Soulful gameplay and music

The game's core gameplay blends action-adventure elements with some exploration and puzzles. Although it's not an open world, it's a linear game with interconnected spaces that seek to spark the player's curiosity to explore. Hazel's power is key and transversal to all elements of the game, both in exploration and movement, as well as in combat. Her magic allows you to interact with the environment in unexpected ways, and makes combat reward creativity and precision over brute force. Furthermore, in South of MidnightIn this game, music plays a very important role, as it is part of the story itself. Some characters chant their spells, while others hum ancient songs with warnings, clues, and secrets. The blues influence in the soundtrack gives the game a soul that reinforces the unique atmosphere rooted in the Deep South.

The video game offers between twelve and fifteen hours of content, a length justified by the strong narrative component, which condenses the intense adventure Hazel experiences over the course of a single day. The Mature rating reflects the treatment of themes such as grief and family trauma, as well as the murky setting and use of offensive language. Compulsion Games' new title transforms local legends into vivid, playable stories, shaping a moving and genuinely original title. South of Midnight It is released this Tuesday, April 8th on Xbox Series and PC, in addition to being available on the Xbox Game Pass platform from day 1.