The latest creation from those over at Compulsion Games – previously of Contrast and We Happy Few fame – may just be one of the most hotly anticipated games of 2025. South of Midnight is a chaotic action-adventure title with a very unique, stop motion artstyle, and some fancy combat mechanics to boot!
There’s a reason this is front and centre of our Best Games of April article.
A Modern Folktale
South of Midnight is now available on Xbox and PC, for those of you lucky gamers who decided to purchase the Premium Edition of the game, granting five days of early access. The Standard Edition of the game releases on April 8th, onto Game Pass no less!
If you need reminding, South of Midnight is a captivating folktale for the modern age; one that sees our protagonist Hazel thrust into a Southern Gothic world full of dangerous foes and beautiful lands to explore. After her hometown is torn apart by a hurricane, Hazel is bestowed upon her the powers of a Weaver – a figure that restores the connections between spirits.
And so it’s a case of ‘come for the interesting story, stay for the flashy combat’ with this one: Hazel will be able to make use of a ton of magical blasts and melee attacks to take down the many Lovecraftian monsters that she will face.
Those that have played something similar in Bayonetta or Devil May Cry will make themselves at home, yet the additional need to utilise Weaver powers in navigation and puzzle solving opens up even more avenues for gameplay.
Play Now!
Seriously, South of Midnight should not be skipped if you have even a passing interest in action-packed games, stunningly beautiful vistas, or unique, Coraline-esque artstyles.
Whilst the base edition of the game will become available on Xbox Series X|S and PC come April 8th, you can purchase the Premium Edition via the Xbox Store for £49.99 (or on Steam) to start your adventure today. The Premium Edition also comes with some digital behind-the-scenes extras for you to peruse over.
Prefer to wait for the Standard Edition to release? Keep in mind that it’ll be a Day One launch onto Game Pass, and alternatively it’ll cost you £39.99.
We simply can’t wait to get stuck in South of Midnight – look out for our full review, coming soon!
South of Midnight Description
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.
