With prime ratings, South of Midnight is definitely a Steam hit, garnering a jaw-dropping 94/100 on player rating, after which it is Xbox Game Studios’ highest-rated game. Yes, the southern gothic action-adventure is sitting high atop the charts; with some loving it while others hate it.
Design-wise, it receives universal praise: really people just cannot stop talking about how beautiful this game looks. But the gameplay? That’s where things split. Some players such as James (aka @IEatYouCookie) basically washed their hands of the game around Chapter 6 saying it was “boring,” while @TheGoodIdiot thinks it has imperfect gameplay but deserves near Game of the Year designation based on its visuals and story.
And then there is the debate about just how many players this game really has. @LuisMar94674404 was trolling, “Not difficult when only like 20 people played it,” but @KourtsideKing argues that number of players should not be used to judge a game’s quality: Some of the best games are hidden gems.
And those responses have turned into a battlefield for console wars. @ChochoP0P is holding out for a PlayStation release, whereas @senkidala_ commented in French, “If it was a PS5 exclusive, it’d be a frontrunner for GOTY.” Ouch.
But that aside, South of Midnight creates a lot of buzz-whether it’s the gorgeous visuals, controversial gameplay, or just the fact that Xbox finally has a credible contender for critical acclaim-the title is loud enough to never need a stealth mode.
So is it worthy or not? If atmospheric storytelling is your thing, and the slow pace is fine, then yes. If you want a rush of adrenaline, maybe not the sort of midnight snack anyone wants. In any case, Xbox Game Studios has snagged a some sort of sleeper hit-whether gamers are awake for it or not.
And at least the haters forgot to review-bomb it. Small victories indeed!
