Weaving in the Deep South
It feels like 2025 might finally be the time Xbox’s plan to launch solid titles every quarter is finally coming to fruition. Compulsion Games have been working on South of Midnight for quite some time, and ever since that first trailer, I have been excited to dig in and see what they have been cooking. I recently got to play through around an hour of their latest game and came away wanting so much more. South of Midnight is a straightforward action/adventure game that has an interesting story and fantastic characters that drags players into its world and doesn’t let go. The biggest compliment I can give is that I beat the entire preview in one sitting and simply cannot wait to play more.
In South of Midnight players take on the role of Hazel in the US Deep South and it is a dark fairytale style adventure. We were given access to Chapter 3 of the game, which has Hazel introduced to Catfish, one of the mythical creatures within the game that helps Hazel learn the ways of the Weaver, and help get accustomed to her new powers.
One of the things I was worried about when this game was announced harkened back to the last Compulsion game, We Happy Few, which appeared to be a BioShock-inspired experience, and ended up being something completely different. South of Midnight is exactly what it looks like. This is a straight single player adventure with an interesting and unique narrative with platforming mixed with some combat. This is my jam, and the wrapping around it is some of the most interesting I have played in some time.
Hazel controls great with a series of combat moves and some powers in the demo we played. Her weaver powers I had access to were fun. She has a web pull that yanks enemies towards her, Scorpion style. There is also a burst move that stuns enemies and a web tie that locks them in place. Combat feels like a slower version of something like Devil May Cry, as the arena is closed off as you fight enemies. Hazel has a dodge move and a lock-on. At first, I was struggling with the combat and getting owned, but after learning its nuances, I was able to take down entire arenas without using the health pool that is present in each one. It was extremely satisfying and a lot of fun as I learned how it worked.
There are also a couple platforming sections in this preview. Wall running is included, and I really enjoyed the fact that I could move up and down with the right stick as I was traversing. The double jump and dash is a little heavy for my taste, I constantly felt like I wasn’t going to make so many jumps, but in practice only missed a few. It is a weighty game that definitely is going to take time to adjust to at first.
One of the most striking things about South of Midnight has been its visuals. Seeing it in action is a different experience altogether. There is a full intro created using puppets that is outstanding. Then once inside the game everything takes on this stop-motion style that is simply awe inspiring. I loved the world, the characters, and the effects. The voice acting is also great, I really connected with the characters within the world and the stories it tells, are powerful. I did have some performance issues, which should hopefully be ironed out before launch. Still even in this state, the game looks good, and nothing hindered me from enjoying the game.
South of Midnight has been one of my most cautiously anticipated games of 2025. I always thought it looked amazing, and the setting is fresh and exciting. After spending an hour with it, I could not wait to play more. It feels like Compulsion has a hit on their hands and I cannot wait to play the final version when it drops in April. Having played it now though, the wait is even more excruciating. Definitely check this one out when it drops later this Spring.
Preview copy of game provided by publisher.
