South of Midnight is an ambitious Xbox exclusive that's shaping up to be something special South of Midnight is the next Xbox exclusive after Avowed, and we've played it! Check out our thoughts on the adventure game in our South of Midnight preview.Sean Carey Published 11 Feb 2025 FollowtopicsPC Game PassXbox Game PassXbox Series X|SSean Carey With Avowed now just days away from launch, it's time to peek our heads above the parapet and take a look at the next big Xbox game on the horizon with our South of Midnight preview. I wasn't initially sure what to make of Compulsion Games' upcoming Xbox exclusive when it was first announced, but after playing through a preview build of the game's third chapter and exploring its atmospheric, fantastical world, South of Midnight has me hooked, and I can't wait to see where it takes me next.South of Midnight is unlike any Xbox exclusive I've seen from an Xbox studioBookmark the South of Midnight achievements ready for AprilRelease date: April 8, 2025Platforms: Xbox Series X|S and PCIf you're unfamiliar with South of Midnight, it's a third-person action-adventure game set in the American Deep South. After a hurricane tears through her hometown of Prospero and sweeps away her house downriver, Hazel ventures out in search of her mother, only to find herself pulled into a strange Southern Gothic world where reality and fantasy have merged. It's here in this strange land where she is called upon to become a Weaver and mend broken bonds and spirits using a powerful kind of magic. To find her mother and her way home, Hazel has to confront mythical creatures and use her magical weaving abilities to rescue them from their past traumas.For this preview, I was given access to the third chapter of South of Midnight, which, from what I can tell, is still early on in the game. From the off, I was impressed by the lush environments and overall atmosphere Compulsion has managed to create — the developer has really nailed what a fantasy version of a swamp in the Deep South looks and feels like, at least to me, anyway. Mist hangs in the air, little creatures scurry around through the grass, and birds take flight from trees overhead; it's all very charming.Aside from the wonderful surroundings, what immediately stood out was the stop-motion animation style we've all seen in trailers over the past several months. During gameplay, this applies to Hazel's movements, any creatures or people moving around, and enemies. While I was impressed with this initially, it did end up giving me some wicked motion sickness, and it really threw me off while engaging in combat with all the particle effects and designs of the monsters. I ultimately had to disable stop motion in the settings menu. Thankfully, the stop-motion effect is still in play during cutscenes, so you don't miss out on any of the game's unique visual charm. As I sauntered through the swamp with the ghost of a previous Weaver showing me the way, I encountered my first wave of enemies, known as Haints. Combat is relatively simple at this stage. Hazel has a basic attack, which also can be charged, and the ability to dodge. She also has three magical abilities that have cooldowns: Weave, which stops an enemy from moving, and both a push and pull power. You can upgrade these magical abilities and unlock new attacks by collecting a currency called Floofs that are hidden throughout the world — this gives you a reason to explore the detailed surroundings and take part in some platforming. The little platforming I did get to experience was fun and evolved from double jumping and gliding over gaps to full-on wall running. It's far too early to make any sort of judgment on the combat and platforming, but I'm looking forward to seeing where Compulsion takes both.The real highlight for me playing through this chapter was meeting Catfish, a giant talking fish captured by a towering tree. To free this Mythical Creature, who is superbly voice-acted and wonderfully written, Hazel has to use her powers to untangle Knots — traumas the tree has experienced. I won't go into details about the story here for fear of spoiling the experience, but what Hazel uncovers after battling through enemies to reach each Knot is quite dark and tragic, and something I really wasn't expecting after a fairly cheery opening. I hope Compulsion continues with this darker tone throughout the rest of the game.From its setting, atmosphere, voice acting, dark tone, and stop-motion animation (which, sadly, didn't quite work for me), South of Midnight is unlike anything else I have experienced, and I am itching to play more and unravel the mysteries it has tucked away in its fantasy world. It's hard to say whether or not this charming action-adventure will claim a spot on our list of the best Game Pass games when it launches on April 8, 2025, but it certainly has the potential to do so! What are your thoughts on South of Midnight? Are you looking forward to this one? Let us know down in the comments.More South of Midnight stories: The gorgeous South of Midnight joins Xbox Game Pass in April All confirmed Xbox games coming to Game Pass in 2025 and beyond Every upcoming Xbox exclusive game for 2025 and beyond The Game Awards 2024 — TrueAchievements' 6 big Xbox predictions South of Midnight: Release window, gameplay, & everything we know Game Pass UltimateXbox Game PassXbox Series X|SPC Game PassUpcoming ReleaseWindows Written by Sean CareyA big fan of Xbox achievements, Sean has committed to playing as many of the best RPGs, racing games, and first-person shooters on and off Xbox Game Pass as possible. Before joining TrueAchievements, Sean earned a degree in journalism from Solent University.