South of Midnight

South of Midnight is a 2025 action-adventure game developed by Compulsion Games and published by Xbox Game Studios. The game is set in a fictionalized American Deep South. It is scheduled to be released for Windows and Xbox Series X/S on April 8, 2025. Upon release, it received generally positive reviews from critics.

Gameplay

South of Midnight is a third-person action-adventure game. The game features an art style based on stop motion animation which was animated with the help of Clyde Henry Productions. Maquettes of clay stop motion figures were used to create the unique art style. Players take on the role of Hazel, who learns an ancient weaving power to explore the Deep South mythos and confront mysterious creatures. The gameplay is centered around Hazel’s ability to use her weaving powers for combat, traversal, and solving puzzles. The game emulates stop-motion animation for its cutscenes. The game has a dark modern folktale driven by character development, lyrical music inspired by the American South, and a narrative that delves into Southern folklore.

Premise

The game is set in a Gothic fantasy American Deep South setting. South of Midnight follows Hazel’s journey after a hurricane devastates her hometown of Prospero. Pulled into a Southern Gothic reality where folklore creatures emerge, Hazel must become a Weaver—a magical mender of broken bonds and spirits. Along the way, Hazel encounters all kinds of mythical creatures based on Southern American legends. As she confronts enemy creatures known as Haints and untangles her family’s past, Hazel seeks to reweave the tears in the Grand Tapestry and find a place that feels like home.

Development

South of Midnight is being developed by Compulsion Games, the creators of We Happy Few and Contrast. It marks Compulsion's first game developed under Xbox Game Studios, following their acquisition by the company in 2018. The game was originally developed under the codename "Project Midnight". Details of the game first leaked via Windows Central in 2021, where concept art was revealed. The game was officially announced at Xbox Games Showcase on June 11, 2023, during Summer Game Fest. On June 9, 2024, Compulsion Games showcased the first gameplay trailer for the game and announced that it would be released in 2025.