South of Midnight Review
South of Midnight blends Southern folklore, magic, and heartfelt stories in a visually stunning action-adventure
In South of Midnight, Hazel, the protagonist, is learning to control her new powers. This sets the tone for the entire game, which blends mythical creatures from Southern folklore with a human story. The game is a great example of how a local story can feel universal, with the history and culture of the American South shaping a straightforward action-adventure. While the game doesn’t break new ground, its strong artistic vision makes it a standout Xbox exclusive this generation.
Hazel battles demons and learns about the secret histories of her neighbors in the town of Prospero thanks to her ability to work with magical threads. Despite being fictional, the town draws inspiration from the South’s actual challenges, which include a sordid past and traces of former settlements. As the game examines themes of suffering, shame and family trauma, these specifics offer context.
In South of Midnight, the gameplay is rather simple. Platforming and combat are the main focuses of the linear levels. Along the journey, you’ll explore places, scale cliffs and discover improvements and secret journal entries. The location is quite remarkable; the sounds and images of the American South create a wonderful feel for the game. Each level is kept interesting by Hazel’s magic abilities, which allow you to fly through the air, overcome obstacles or call forth objects to advance.
Hazel battles these beings known as Haints, which are like demons fashioned from suffering and anguish, in arenas that are set up for combat. Battles are entertaining don’t seem overly repetitive, & strike a good mix between exploration & action. Particularly when combined for additional damage, Hazel’s combos & magic skills—such as stunning adversaries or dragging herself around with a grappling strand feel incredibly fulfilling. Even though it feels similar, South of Midnight is a wonderful blend of story, combat and platforming.
What makes South of Midnight stand out is everything built around its solid gameplay.
Haints in South of Midnight come in all shapes and sizes, which keeps the fights feeling fresh. Some are fast and annoying, while others are huge monsters that burrow underground and deal big area damage. The game mixes them up well, and with Hazel’s puppet, Crouton, who can briefly control enemies, there’s an extra layer of strategy when picking which enemy to tackle first. There are also a few boss fights that raise the stakes with some spectacle, but they mostly follow the familiar combat patterns seen throughout the game.
The core of South of Midnight is solid, but it’s everything around the gameplay that really makes it shine. The game grabs you with its hand-painted character designs and its unique stop-motion animation style. This visual style makes the cutscenes stand out, but if it feels too distracting, you can turn it off. Even without the stop-motion effect, the character details, their expressions, and the fantastic voice acting bring the story to life. The local accents and way of speaking feel authentic, and as someone from the region, it felt so natural to me that I didn’t even think twice about it.
What I really like about South of Midnight is how it brings Southern gothic folklore to life. You don’t usually see these kinds of stories in games, and here they feel both familiar and fresh. You’ll meet all kinds of mythical creatures, shaped by the pain and struggles of the people in the game. Bosses like the Two-Toed Tom from Florida, the Rougarou from Cajun stories, and Huggin’ Molly from Alabama all show up with cool twists. Even if you’ve never heard of them before, the game makes these legends exciting and easy to enjoy.
The game also makes a significant reference to actual history. The difficult aspects of the South’s history, such as slavery and the continued hardships in these areas, are not glossed over. Exploring will reveal items like deserted houses with eviction notices, which serve as a subdued yet potent reminder of the struggles of everyday existence. The narrative also explores family, highlighting both the happy and difficult times. Because of her ability to weave, Hazel is able to see into the past and see inspiring moments of people struggling for a better life. You’ll see a mother risking everything for her child, a man living with regret after pushing his brother away and a child calling on a mythical creature to escape a painful home life.
Bringing Southern Folklore to Life Like Never Before
South of Midnight explores the powerful themes of family, love, and pain, showing how family can be something we either embrace or come to terms with. Hazel’s journey is deeply tied to her search for her mother after a devastating flood. While chasing any thread that might lead to her, she also helps spirits who have been trapped in the afterlife. As you learn about her mother’s work as a social worker, you realize that a little empathy can make a big difference.
There’s a lot to love about the stories in South of Midnight. However, I do wish they were told with more polish. At times, the main plot feels disconnected, and it’s easy to lose track of why Hazel’s journey shifts from one thing to another. Some characters and storylines are introduced quickly and resolved just as fast, which makes the narrative feel segmented. There are parts of Hazel’s past that remain unclear, and I wish they’d been tied together before the story ended.
What South of Midnight does well is capturing the essence of the American South. The game takes an honest look at the region, portraying its rich spirituality and folktales, without reducing it to clichés. The South is more than just swamps, New Orleans, or political struggles—it’s a place where people live and face struggles that are both universal and unique to the region. The game also touches on the idea that hurt people often hurt others, particularly within families. While this is a common theme in stories about mental health, South of Midnight gives it a fresh perspective by focusing on how it affects family dynamics.
One of my favorite parts of the game is its amazing soundtrack. It blends bluegrass, blues, jazz, and folk music, creating a soundscape that ties into the game’s themes. The music feels like it tells the characters’ stories, adding emotional depth to key moments. It’s not just background noise—it helps drive the story forward and made me feel connected to the characters’ experiences.
As someone born in Mississippi, I have a complicated relationship with the South. I’ve carried pieces of its culture and language with me as I moved around, and South of Midnight gave me a chance to reconnect with those roots in a way that was both whimsical and emotional. Beyond just being a solid action-adventure game, it offers a unique virtual tour of the South, showcasing aspects of the region you might not see anywhere else.
Pros and Cons of South of Midnight
| 🌟 Pros | ⚠️ Cons |
|---|---|
| 🧩 Cool Southern stories and creatures. | 🔄 Story can feel confusing at times. |
| ✨ Fun magic powers for Hazel. | ⏩ Some parts of the story feel rushed. |
| 🎨 Beautiful art and animation. | 🎮 Gameplay is simple, not super new. |
| 🗣️ Realistic Southern setting and voices. | 🧩 Boss fights feel a bit the same. |
| ⚔️ Good mix of fighting and exploring. | ❓ Hazel’s story leaves some questions. |
| 👾 Lots of different enemies to fight. | 🧭 Story flow could be better. |
| ❤️ Talks about family and history in a meaningful way. | — |
| 🏚️ Shows real-life struggles in the South. | — |
Conclusion
South of Midnight really surprised me. It’s a simple action-adventure game, but it does everything so well. The combat and platforming feel good, and the game keeps you interested the whole way through its 12 hours. What I loved the most, though, is how it brings the deep American South to life. The stories, the environment, the music — it all feels real and meaningful. Even though the family story isn’t super deep, it’s told in an honest way. Hazel’s journey, the art style, and the amazing soundtrack made the game feel special to me, and it’s something I’d recommend to anyone.
