South of Midnight is a new story-based game set in a strange but beautiful town called Prospero, deep in the American South. You play as Hazel Flood, a brave young girl looking for her missing mother, Lacey, after a hurricane sweeps away their home. This emotional journey is filled with magic, mystery, and adventure but don’t expect an open world. This is a guided path, where every chapter pulls you deeper into Hazel’s story.
A Story-Driven Game, Not an Open World
Even though Prospero feels big and alive, South of Midnight is not an open-world game. Instead, it’s a linear experience, which means the story moves forward step by step. Each area is designed with care to help you focus on Hazel’s mission without too many distractions.
The game is split into chapters, and some are longer than others. For example, Chapter 5, called “Everything That Rises,” is packed with action and platforming, compared to the slower earlier chapters. This change keeps the pace interesting.
Explore, Discover, and Use Magic
Hazel gets a few cool magical tools at some point in her adventure. These powers assist her in gliding, grappling, and jumping throughout elaborate locations. With them, you may attain hidden paths and mystery rooms complete with collectables and lore that let you know more about the town and its past.
You may come across antique houses, overgrown gardens, and forgotten homes which you may explore freely for a piece. Some of these regions cover unique objects like floors and different surprises, but they normally lead back to the principle route.
The Guiding Strand: Your Magical Compass
To help you stay on track, the game gives you a feature called the Guiding Strand. It’s like a magical thread that shows you the right way to go if you get lost or wander off. It also adjusts itself if you go into a secret area, making sure you don’t get too far off track.
This is a great feature for players who want to explore but still enjoy a smooth and guided story.
Light Exploration, But Not a Sandbox Game
While you can look around and explore some areas more deeply, South of Midnight is not meant for full free exploration. There are no big open fields or huge cities to wander. But there are still optional spots, hidden corners, and missable paths that reward curious players.
Some moments even ask you to go back to earlier spots to unlock something new or collect missed items. It adds a bit of replay value and depth for those who like to 100% their games.
Playtime and Completion Tips
The game can be finished in a few hours, depending on how you play. If you just want to enjoy the story and stick to the path, you’ll finish it quickly. But if you want to collect everything, uncover hidden lore, and complete every floof deposit, then you might spend more time exploring every corner.
You can also choose different difficulty levels, which change how tough enemies are and how tricky the platforming sections feel.
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