South of Midnight

The Punished BacklogAllison McDaniel

8.6/10

In our South of Midnight review, learn why this Southern-folklore-inspired action-adventure title is one of 2025's best video game stories.

Playstation UniverseGarri Bagdasarov

8.5/10

A fantastic setting and an exceptional soundtrack provide a fantastic experience for South of Midnight. Compulsion Games has capitalized on an untapped Southern Gothic Folklore setting. The stories of tormented citizens of the past and present are well presented and can strike a nerve for the weak-willed. For those looking for something unique wrapped in a familiar gameplay package, South of Midnight shouldn't be missed.

Press StartBrodie Gibbons

8.5/10

With a thoughtful message, soulful world, and beautifully imaginative design to push things along, Compulsion delivers a classic adventure seemingly beyond their weight class with South of Midnight. It’s the exact, elusive story-driven diamond in the rough that Xbox has been in search of for generations now.

WellPlayedZach Jackson

8.5/10

Although its gameplay is merely servicable, South of Midnight's dark yet compelling narrative is the shining light, elevated by excellent sound design, enchanting characters and a spectacular art style. It's proof that the industry still has the creative juice when allowed to be squeezed.

Playstation LifestyleTyler Treese

8/10

The latest PlayStation 5 title from Xbox Game Studios is Compulsion Games' South of Midnight, a winner at The Game Awards 2025.

Worth PlayingCody Medellin

8/10

South Of Midnight is a fantastical and macabre third-person action-adventure set in the American Deep South.

Final WeaponSaras Rajpal

South of Midnight is a fantastic representation of the deep south and its folklore. It has great visuals, engaging characters, a charming story, and music that will leave your jaw on the floor. While there are certainly flaws with the repetition of the combat, the frustrating platforming, and the lack of development of certain characters, these issues pale in the face of just how well Compulsion Games managed to execute this great work of art.

Nintendo World ReportJohn Rairdin

7.5/10

South of Midnight is a fantastic game in isolation that merely struggles with some poorly implemented combat. On Switch 2, that misstep is exacerbated by the addition of performance problems in handheld mode. If you’re playing docked I can largely recommend this version without apprehension, but it is hard to suggest to handheld focused players. What persists regardless is an incredible story that just gets better and weirder the longer you play. The whole thing is accompanied by one of my favorite video game soundtracks in years. If it weren’t for performance issues there would be very li…

Push SquareLiam Croft

7/10

Into the Deep South

VGChartzLee Mehr

7/10

The Haint U Give.Reviewer's Note: While limited, certain story praises/critiques mean I'll have to touch on SOME SPOILERS.  Read on at your [...]

MonsterVineJoe Bariso

South of Midnight is a Southern Gothic platforming game about the legends and myths of the Deep South, and it’s okay!

Rock Paper ShotgunBrendan Caldwell

Unscored

Not only are animals woven into the hurt of humanity as symbolic spiders, mistreated gators, and tortured birds, but the closing shots of many chapters will see ordinary and silent forest creatures watching in quiet contemplation as Hazel drifts away on the back of her catfish friend. Towards the end of the game, these animals - the smallest unit of animated environmental storytelling - gather around Hazel in a way that signals support from a kingdom beyond her ken. It is one of the game's qu...