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It's been a long time coming, but South of Midnight's release date is finally here. January's Xbox Developer Direct confirmed the new game from Compulsion would launch in April 2025, right off the back of treating us to an in-depth look at South of Midnight's magic-based combat and litany of entertainingly titled bosses.
Now that the game is out, you may be wondering though if it's worth your time and hard-earned money. After all, there are plenty of new games coming out this year and a slew of exciting upcoming Xbox Series X games to look forward to as well. Sure, you may be mesmerized by South of Midnight's super slick magic-infused combat, stunning sense of place, and evocative hand-drawn visual design as we follow Hazel into the depths of a surreal Deep South-inspired landscape. But is it worth it?
South of Midnight release date
South of Midnight released on April 8, 2025 @ 5 pm BST and @ 12 pm EDT.
This means that South of Midnight was the first big new release for April 2025. And in terms of Xbox releases, it's sitting comfortably between Avowed and Doom: The Dark Ages.
South of Midnight platforms
South of Midnight is on Xbox Series X and PC, and is also available via the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription service.
There's no word yet on whether a South of Midnight PS5 release is going to happen, even as Microsoft Gaming continues to experiment with bringing more of its Xbox exclusive to other platforms. However, we are hopeful that it'll be added to our list of upcoming PS5 games in the future. Stay tuned for updates!
South of Midnight review
South of Midnight has received generally positive reviews at the time of writing. The game has been praised for its striking art style and story. However, many critics have also cited issues with levels feeling restricted and formulaic. Combat has also been criticised in the game, with its mechanics being a bit finicky and the final boss fight lacking a bit of power as well.
In our South of Midnight review, author Jasmine Gould-Wilson writes: "It won't move mountains for the horror community, nor does it stray far from the Xbox 360-era action adventure rulebook, but whatever South of Midnight lacks in innovation, it makes up for with unmistakable ambition."
We gave the game a solid 3.5 stars. We're also curious to see how public sentiment towards the title unfolds as more folks get their hands on it.
South of Midnight trailer
A South of Midnight trailer was shown during the Xbox Games Showcase in June 2024. You can watch it above for yourself, and it's well worth your time. In the gameplay reveal, you'll meet Hazel and her companion Catfish as they travel through an area inspired by the Mississippi Delta.
Naturally, it isn't long before they encounter trouble – this time in the form of a monster king named Two-Toad Tom. There looks to be a good mixture of platforming and boss fights here.
South of Midnight gameplay
South of Midnight's gameplay experience is centered around third-person action, where you'll control Hazel through a strangely off-kilter Deep South setting.
The game looks absolutely stunning, and quite unlike anything else available today on Xbox Series X. You'll be able to wield a series of magical powers – weaving them together to explore the Unreal Engine 4-rendered environments and to tackle monstrous enemies with the help of Hazel's weaving hooks and spools as she unravels each foe to discover the echoes of their past.
All of this action reinforces the idea that Hazel is pulling at magical threads, drawing her magical abilities from the world she inhabits – and directly impacting it with her every action. The swamplands are inhabited by monster Kings, powerful foes so notorious that they have their own theme songs, as well as Haints.
These creatures were once human, each one based on a real-life folk tale from the Southern United States, and Hazel has the opportunity to learn more about why the creatures were cursed to haunt their respective biomes.
South of Midnight story
South of Midnight's story sees protagonist Hazel searching for her mother, meeting all manner of folklore creatures come to life as she navigates the mysterious American South.
The first trailer introduces us to a figure known as Shakin' Bones strumming away at a guitar. Hazel then asks about a big creature before using magic. Following the trailer reveal, Xbox published an interview with creative director David Sears and narrative producer and creative specialist James Lewis, which shed more light on the story of South of Midnight.
Hazel, who is the heroine of the adventure, is said to be on a quest to repair a broken world by putting a stop to supernatural creatures who are all based on real-life folklore.
South of Midnight protagonist
In South of Midnight, we'll be following the story of Hazel, who's said to have taken on the role of protector. Described as "outwardly confident and wisecracking", Hazel has a complex relationship with her mother and has grown up experiencing multiple failures and societal injustice.
"To tell the story of a Black woman in this setting creates another level of complexity that the team had to meet with curiosity and empathy," Lewis says in the Xbox interview. "The approach to this had to start by having just proper representation on the team, ensuring that we have Black women and women of colour on our narrative team is key for understanding and writing Hazel's voice."
For Sears, Hazel stands out because she has "many of the same issues as real people have", which is "refreshing as she's trying to learn to be a hero". As Sears adds, the story follows her as she finds her footing and heads out into the world to help make it "a better place".
South of Midnight setting
Set in a town called Prospero and based on the American South and all its colorful folklore, South of the Midnight is inspired by different genres of literature including Southern Gothic and Magic realism. With the adventure said to take place in rural areas, the world setting aims to be an honest reflection of the real-life region, with a decent sprinkle of magic to bring its storybook ambience to life.
South of Midnight magic
As we saw in the trailers, South of Midnight is an adventure involving magic and fantastical elements. Hazel, for example, is a Weaver who uses what's known as Weaving magic. Used for both combat and traversal, Weavers are said to be figures who can "see how the universe is constructed".
Her conversations with Catfish in the gameplay trailer clue us in to one narrative thread: Hazel's hunt for her lost mother, affectionately named Ma. We don't want to give too much away here, but an impressive quest unfolds and players can look forward to a mature story featuring themes of loss and trauma.
For more adventures, check out our list of the best RPGs and the best open-world games to play today.
