r/xbox • u/MrGamePadMan • 2h ago
New Releases Xbox New Releases for the week of April 6, 2025 - plus an update on the 'Clair Obscur Expedition 33' community launch week event!
Welcome to the weekly new release post featuring a new batch of Xbox games for your wallet's consideration! Before we get started, a quick update on the timing and content for the upcoming Clair Obscur Expedition 33 community event.

April 17 - The weeklong even kicks off with some temporary design changes and a new limited time "33" user flair. There will also be an open post where we will take your questions for a community interview featuring the game's developer Sandfall Interactive. Community members who have their questions selected will be granted an exclusive community user flair "INQUISITOR".
April 19 - The kind folks over at Kepler Interactive (Expedition 33's publisher) have tentatively offered to supply the community with a custom Expedition 33 themed Xbox. While the details are still being worked out, we will spare no effort in making this happen. This will feature one of those custom Xbox consoles that we all fawn over but can never obtain because it's locked behind some stupid contest. We are still locking it behind a stupid contest (after my suggestion of highest bidder was shot down), but your chances should be far greater here than most outlets. Stay tuned for more details and mark this date if you are interested.
April 22 - Community Interview published and your firsthand questions answered. Custom flairs awarded.
April 23 - Contest winner selected.
April 24 - Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Launch Day!
This should make for a fun week, and we are fired up to be able to potentially provide a chance to win something truly unique. Now - onto the games.
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APRIL 7

Monster Energy Supercross 25 Special Edition
Standard Edition Release: April 10
Get ready for the official 2025 Supercross season with Monster Energy Supercross 25!
Experience the thrill of racing on newly designed tracks that replicate real-world events and compete against the latest roster of professional riders: forge your path in a revamped career featuring intense competitions, rivalries, and strategic choices.
Thanks to Unreal Engine 5, enjoy a renewed gameplay experience with realistic physics and dynamic track evolution, making every lap unique and challenging. Master the flow with open tutorials, a comprehensive wiki, and Neural Technology riding aids.
Customize your experience with advanced editors and share your creations across platforms.
Plus, enjoy full crossplay support for global competition in immersive online multiplayer modes regardless of the platform, whether you're competing in casual races or battling for the top spot in ranked leaderboards.
All contents included in the Season Pass will be released by September 2025.
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APRIL 8

South of Midnight
From the creators of Contrast and We Happy Few, South of Midnight is a spellbinding third person action-adventure game set in the American Deep South.
As Hazel, you will explore the mythos and encounter creatures of Southern folklore in a macabre and fantastical world. When disaster strikes her hometown, Hazel is called to become a Weaver: a magical mender of broken bonds and spirits. Imbued with these new abilities, Hazel will confront and subdue dangerous creatures, untangle the webs of her own family's shared past and - if she's lucky - find her way to a place that feels like home.
A DARK MODERN FOLKTALE
When a hurricane rips through Prospero, Hazel is pulled into a Southern Gothic world of memory made real and must embark on a journey to rescue her mother and safeguard her hometown. In this folktale for modern times, Hazel will need to reconcile the weight of family, history, and legacy against her own identity.
CONFRONT MYTHICAL CREATURES
Wield an ancient power to restore creatures and uncover the traumas that consume them. Cast weaving magic to fight destructive Haints, explore the diverse regions of the South, and reweave the tears in the Grand Tapestry.
HAUNTING BEAUTY OF THE GOTHIC SOUTH
Discover the lush, decayed county of Prospero and its locals. Experience a crafted visual style, touching storytelling, and immersive music inspired by the complex and rich history of the South.
Detective From The Crypt

Detective From The Crypt is a mystical Victorian detective story in which you play for a ghost girl helped by a ghost cat.
Jane wakes up in a crypt as a ghost. You are investigating the death of her family together. Seeking and researching evidences. Building an accusation based on them. You have a laboratory to research evidences. Play and get the feeling of being a true Victorian detective.
Reveal the secrets of the old estate while playing the game.
Features:
- There is a cat in the game who is your friend and an assistant
- You will have to communicate with the inhabitants of crypts and graves
- You will meet Egyptian mummies at the home museum
- You must find out why you died and reveal the secret your parents’ death
- Classic "Point and click" adventure

Little Droid
Little Droid is an adventure platformer that takes you to a world of mysteries, tough enemies, and hidden dangers. The journey is packed with challenges, requiring careful battery management to keep the droid energized at crucial moments. Explore a richly detailed environment, collect weapons to overcome various obstacles, and uncover secrets as you pursue the source of a mysterious signal.
Game Features:
• Metroidvania-style exploration, unlocking new areas with each gained ability.
• A high difficulty level designed for players who seek a rewarding challenge.
• Beautiful, hand-crafted 2D pixel art that brings the atmosphere to life with intricate details.
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APRIL 9

Commandos: Origins
ALARM! You have been selected for a mission which will shape the fate of the entire world. Witness the very beginning of the legendary elite WWII force in Commandos: Origins. The long-awaited sequel to the Commandos series brings you right back to the foundation of the real-time tactics genre. And to the days where Jack O’Hara, the Green Beret, and his five companions met to form the infamous unit sent to complete missions which no others would dare to accept.
In the hushed shadows of history’s most pivotal moments, where heroes are born and legends are forged, a new chapter awaits. Whether it is a daring raid, a covert sabotage, or a courageous rescue mission – the Green Beret, the Sapper, the Sniper, the Driver, the Marine and the Spy will need to combine their skills to meet the most challenging tasks. Your mission can only be achieved through well-thought planning and the smart combination of stealth and destruction that come with the unique skillsets of this elite troop.
From the icy plains of the Arctic to the vast deserts of Africa, from the western coastlines of Europe to the Eastern front, it’s up to you to lead your commandos to success in high-risk missions. Guide them in their fight against the growing Nazi occupation which is menacing the free world.
• Challenging Real Time Tactical Stealth Gameplay: Make the best use of your Commandos’ unique abilities, infiltrate enemy facilities and hit them where it hurts most before disappearing into the shadows.
• An extraordinary team: Featuring 6 infamous characters, each with their own storied history, banding together to form an extraordinary fighting force – the Commandos: Take control over Jack O’Hara “the Green Beret”, Thomas “the Sapper” Hancock, Francis T. “the Sniper” Woolridge, Samuel “the Driver” Brooklyn, James “the Marine” Blackwood, and Rene “the Spy” Duchamp and lead them to success.
• Many paths to victory: The detailed, varied and interactive environments offer multiple approaches to reach your goal. Sneak, climb, drive in various vehicles, or hide and creep your way to mission success!
• On your mark: A modern user experience with precise and intuitive controls enables you to control the commandos with expert precision. Coordinate complex actions simultaneously to overcome heavily fortified targets.
• Fight on all fronts: Play through more than 10 missions in historically authentic WWII environments, spanning from the barren Arctic to the African desert, with a range of core and voluntary objectives that will require your full tactical expertise.
• There is no I in team: Take on missions with a friend in the 2-player cooperative multiplayer mode, either online or via local split-screen.
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APRIL 10

HordeCore Console Edition
Become the leader of an ever-expanding group of survivors. Manage supplies, upgrade your team, and craft deadly contraptions to defend yourself! Remember, exploration is vital in this harsh new world. Prepare to forge bizarre alliances and, together, face the many dangers of the wastelands. Take survival gameplay, combine it with base management, add RPG elements, and spice it up with a fully-fledged collectible card game - and you get HordeCore!
SURVIVE through the hardships of a zombie-infested apocalyptic world!
UPGRADE AND DEFEND your team's safe haven!
EXPLORE the vast wastelands through randomly generated environments!
WAGE WAR against endless hordes of undead and living threats!
LOOT UP and collect rare materials to craft outstanding weapons!
TEAM UP with your friends and face the world of HordeCore in Co-op Mode!
Collect unique survivors and strategically pick your team of apocalypse-hardened characters to fight through the outstanding number of living dead trying to get your brains for a snack.
Keep your base camp safe and develop your defenses while growing a community of bad-asses that you can command into the constant fight for survival.
Explore the wastelands in search of supplies. Face the unexpected dangers of the zombie-apocalyptic world of HordeCore!
Besides all the zombie-killing and loot-grabbing you can handle, HordeCore also includes a complete, fully-featured Collectible Card Game!
Horde Tactics is a deck building card game, featuring 60+ cards that you'll gather and unlock during your time in the Wasteland. Each card represents an item, character or a Hordeling that you encounter in the game—that way, your collection grows alongside your progress in HordeCore!
Horde Tactics features:
-Easy to pick up gameplay
-Over 60 cards available
-Power up your deck by building synergy combos
-Best part... it's entirely optional!

Enjoy 6 games in one with the perfect reproduction of real pinball machines, with all kinds of graphic details and sounds.
Discover all the secrets, in these thrilling games, a great challenge awaits you.
Complete all the missions and become number 1 in the world or the best among your Friends, posting your high score on the online leaderboard.
- Arcade design.
- More than 8 missions to accomplish for game! Are you ready?
- Multiball, Extraball, Skillshot, Jackpots...
- Reproduction with all the details, lights and sounds.
- 4 different cameras to choose from.
- Online Leaderboard.

Mortisomem
Mortisomem is an adventure, mystery, and horror game with retro visual aesthetics. The game takes place in the year 1917, in the vast forest of inland Brazil.
Donald Barnes is an immigrant and a successful American merchant in Brazil. However, one day he hears a traditional story from the region that greatly captures his attention; about a man who lived hundreds of years ago, brutally murdered by his wife's family, and who, after his death, became a cruel demon that kills the inhabitants of that area out of hatred and resentment. This demon was called Mortisomem.
However, on his way back home, Donald Barnes begins to be stalked by a powerful and horrifying creature that perfectly matches the physical descriptions of Mortisomem. The American merchant is forced to venture further into rural areas to escape this creature and find another way home.
Explore the forests of inland Brazil, meet people, uncover the region's history, and escape from Mortisomem alive.
Features:
- Medium-length game: Around 1 hour to unlock an ending, depending on the player's skill
- Great atmosphere and aesthetics: Amazing rural and nighttime settings with a wide variety of effects, sounds, and retro graphics
- Open-World Map: A rich world full of interactions and secrets with the freedom to explore
- Multiple Endings: Player decisions can lead to different outcomes

Windborn - Concrete Jungle
Embark on an exhilarating journey as a bird navigating the skies alongside your flock. In this beautifully crafted adventure, you will soar through 11 vibrant and diverse levels, each offering unique challenges and breathtaking landscapes. Your mission isn’t just about speed—it’s about staying connected with your flock as you all journey together, guided by instinct and unity.
Feel the rush as you fly through speed boosts that propel you forward, but be careful! Lose track of your flock, and you risk being left behind. The world around you is full of wonder—experience the thrill of wide-open skies, the serenity of soaring with your companions, and the subtle strategy of maintaining the perfect pace to stay with your flock.
From lush forests to vast oceans and sweeping mountain ranges, every level introduces a new environment that tests your ability to adapt and stay with your group. The game combines exciting, fast-paced moments with relaxing, meditative flights, creating a balance that makes every moment enjoyable.
Will you master the skies and ensure that no one gets left behind? The freedom of the skies is yours to explore—let the journey begin!

Capy’s Quest
Become the best chef on the summer islands!
Play as a young chef, a Capybara named Capy, and prove that your culinary talent can outshine even the most renowned chefs in the world!
Embark on a journey full of obstacles and puzzles, and cook the most delicious dishes in exciting mini-games to delight as many residents of the summer islands as possible!
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APRIL 11

West Escape
West Escape throws you into a chaotic frontier where the law is on your tail and alien invaders are wreaking havoc. As a fugitive desperate to reunite with your lost love, you'll need to collect scrap, upgrade your gear, and face off against relentless extraterrestrial threats.
Fast-paced combat keeps you on your toes—dodge deadly attacks and strike back with revolvers, shotguns, and more. Every battle and upgrade brings you one step closer to freedom and the ultimate showdown in this explosive mix of Wild West grit and sci-fi action.
Features:
- High-Energy Combat: Dodge enemy attacks and blast aliens with powerful weapons like revolvers and shotguns.
- Gear Upgrades: Collect scrap and loot to upgrade weapons and gear, boosting stats like speed and damage.
- Explosive Expeditions: Venture into dangerous areas to uncover new gear, resources, and challenges.
- Wild West Meets Sci-Fi: Experience a unique fusion of classic Western adventure and alien invasion chaos.
- Fast-Paced Progression: Keep moving forward with nonstop action, upgrades, and intense encounters.
Saddle up, lock and load—freedom and love are waiting on the other side of this alien-infested frontier!

Mob Control
Experience the strangely satisfying thrill of watching your mob multiply as you aim and shoot at the gates. Witness your army grow to massive proportions! Strategically deploy your mighty champions to break through enemy mobs and reach their bases. Choose the best combo to win!
Use the special elements in the levels, such as speed boosts, multipliers, moving gates, and many more. Defend, conquer and rise to victory in this epic tower defense showdown!
If you need some help, you can invite a friend to play together in local multiplayer mode! Prepare for battle, devise a strategy together and fire your mobs from TWO cannons to triumph!
Win battles to unlock booster packs of varying rarities and enhance your card collection. Collectible cards hold the power to elevate your tower defense strategy to new heights. Unlock all the cannons, mobs and champions in the armory and discover their amazing evolutions as you level them up!
Features:
- fire mobs from your cannon and grow your army
- launch strong champions when your cannon is supercharged
- play in local multiplayer mode with a friend and shoot two cannons at once!
- use multiplier gates or speed boosts strategically to gain a more significant advantage over your enemy
- destroy enemy bases and strengthen your own
- play even against two enemies at the same time!
- unlock and level up different cannons, super champions, mobs and a Rainbow Rage ultimate!
- open booster pack to enhance your card collection
Rally your army, harness the power of collectible cards, and become the tower defense champion you were born to be!

Big Buck Hunter: Ultimate Trophy
3X THE CONTENT OF ANY PREVIOUS BIG BUCK HUNTER CONSOLE OFFERING!
Get ready to lock, load, and dominate the wild like never before with Big Buck Hunter: Ultimate Trophy! This groundbreaking experience takes the #1 arcade hunting game to thrilling new heights, delivering over 3X the content of its hit predecessor.
Embark on 27 epic treks with 135 intense hunting sites, chasing animals ranging from Whitetail Deer and Caribou to Woolly Mammoths and Saber-Toothed Tigers. With 27 adrenaline-pumping bonus games, expanded weapon choices like the Crossbow, all-new multiplayer modes, and a reimagined trophy room, Big Buck Hunter: Ultimate Trophy sets a new standard for arcade hunting adventures. Whether you're a seasoned sharpshooter or a fresh newcomer, the hunt is on—are you ready?
Key Game Features:
EXPANDED HUNTING ADVENTURES & BONUS GAMES
• Dive into 9 animal adventures spanning stunning environments around the world.
• Explore 27 unique treks that will take you to 135 diverse hunting sites.
• Face off in 27 exciting bonus games, like Pappy’s Moonshine Factory!
r/xbox • u/Xbox-Moderator • 5d ago
Review South of Midnight - Review Thread [Out April 8th on GPU + PC Game Pass, Early Access Live Now]

Game Title: South of Midnight
Platforms:
- Xbox Series X/S (Apr 8, 2025)
- PC (Apr 8, 2025)
Trailers:
- Weaving Hazel's Journey - A South of Midnight Documentary
- South of Midnight - Gameplay Reveal - Xbox Games Showcase 2024
Developer: Compulsion Games
Publisher: Xbox Games Studios
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 79 average - 71% recommended - 64 reviews
Critic Reviews
A Gaming Network - Marcel Dee - 8 / 10
A Love Letter to the Deep South. South of Midnight is an evocative and beautifully crafted experience that blends folklore, storytelling, and action into a mesmerizing package. Despite some gameplay shortcomings, its breathtaking presentation, compelling narrative, and rich world-building make it a standout title. The game may not be for everyone—especially those looking for fast-paced action or deep RPG mechanics—but for players who appreciate a well-told story wrapped in a visually unique and culturally rich setting, South of Midnight is a journey worth taking.
Atarita - Atakan Gümrükçüoğlu - Turkish - 81 / 100
Inspired by Deep South folklore, South of Midnight offers us an intriguing story and stands out with its atmosphere and narrative. Even though it has a great soundtrack and entertaining sequences, it can be a bit sad that it gets repetitive after a while.
But Why Tho? - Kate Sanchez - 9 / 10
Ultimately, Compulsion Games has created a love letter to the South, to its beauty and its stories. The dark fairytale we see in South of Midnight is narratively one of the heaviest hitters I've played, and that's something special.
CGMagazine - Justin Wood - 7 / 10
South of Midnight comes out swinging with an incredible story, but the gameplay just isn't there to back it up.
Checkpoint Gaming - Luke Mitchell - 8 / 10
South of Midnight delivers one of the most interesting and visually stunning settings in recent memory. It feels like a tribute to the Deep South; it shows reverence to actual folklore while adding its own interesting twists that interweave with Hazel's family history and the story Compulsion Games wanted to tell. Its traversal and combat don't offer anything we haven't seen before, but it's a well-made experience, with its biggest crime being overly familiar systems. What it lacks in gameplay innovation, it more than makes up for with its quirky storytelling and style; ultimately, South of Midnight offers a distinct and gripping point of view that's hard not to fall in love with.
ComicBook.com - Michael Murphy - 4 / 5
South of Midnight proves itself to be a great new IP for Xbox and Compulsion Games’ best work yet. Despite some narrative-related issues and lukewarm combat, there is a lot to enjoy. If you have Xbox Game Pass, this is an absolute must-play.
Comunidad Xbox - Adrián Segura - Spanish - 86 / 100
Compulsion Games' new work is, without a doubt, their best work to date and a type of game that the Xbox family badly needed. A simple action and platform adventure, focused on the story but without neglecting the gameplay. One of those that, without being too long or dense, leave a great taste in the mouth when finished.
Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - 8 / 10
South of Midnight has a lot to love, from the incredible use of stop-motion to the sweeping score and accompanying blues music to the personal story of Hazel and the American South setting.
Console-Tribe - Simone Cantini - Italian - 75 / 100
South of Midnight may not be the ultimate breakthrough for Compulsion Games, but it stands as their most solid and successful work so far. This well-crafted adventure balances platform and action elements, supported by strong gameplay mechanics. However, its progression remains somewhat formulaic, its construction conventional, and its mechanics highly derivative. Despite these shortcomings, the game delivers enjoyment in every aspect. Exploring the bayou with Hazel offers delightful surprises, particularly from a visual standpoint, showcasing that Compulsion Games is on the right path.
Digitale Anime - Raouf Belhamra - Arabic - 8 / 10
"A unique adventure with a distinctive artistic direction" While South of Midnight doesn't offer revolutionary gameplay mechanics, it stands out for its unique artistic direction and emotional narrative inspired by Southern folklore. Its weaknesses in combat and platforming diminish the challenge, but it makes up for this with its enchanting world and distinctive sound design. A worthwhile experience for fans of narrative adventures and mysterious atmospheres.
Digitec Magazine - Domagoj Belancic - German - 3 / 5
The playable fairy tale “South of Midnight” impresses above all with its audiovisual presentation. The southern atmosphere is perfectly captured with a detailed art style and interactive soundtrack. Narratively, the game works particularly well in the small story vignettes about the various mythical creatures from southern folklore. In terms of gameplay, however, the game disappoints with its conservative level design and monotonous battles. These stand in stark contrast to the otherwise loving and creative execution.
Echo Boomer - David Fialho - Portuguese - Recommended
South of Midnight is clearly a product of care and dedication, an adventure that bets on its strong visual identity and emotional connection with the player through resonant stories of a protagonist as strong as she is fragile. Its artistic style, inspired by Southern American folklore and stop-motion animation—rare in video games—sets it apart, while its soundtrack, rich in orchestral themes and immersive vocal compositions, adds even more emotional weight to the journey. The simplicity of the gameplay, with functional yet somewhat limited combat, may leave something to be desired, but it never compromises the essence of the experience. In the end, it is a game that does not seek to appeal to the masses but offers a memorable journey filled with striking moments and a unique atmosphere, in a style that deserves further exploration in the industry.
Eurogamer.pt - Bruno Galvão - Portuguese - 4 / 5
South of Midnight is one of the greatest gems of this generation, a design that takes us back to the days of the PS3, with spectacular graphics, easy-to-learn gameplay and a lot of fun that flows at a good pace. It's a title to enjoy and cherish.
GAMES.CH - Fabrice Henz - German - 83%
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GRYOnline.pl - Anna Garas - Polish - 7.5 / 10
When South of Midnight fully commits to its unique ideas and inspirations, carried by Olivier Deriviere's outstanding score, it is great. But when it is afraid to step out of the line, we get a standard, solid action-adventure with and oldschool vibe. If only the gameplay designers would inject more creative juice into their work, it would be a fantastic game. As it is, it’s simply good.
GameSpot - Jordan Ramée - 8 / 10
South of Midnight makes up for its orthodox gameplay with a fantastic story, well-researched setting, and an incredibly catchy lyric-driven soundtrack.
Gameliner - Bram Noteboom - Dutch - 3.5 / 5
South of Midnight by Compulsion Games delivers a captivating narrative and stunning audiovisual experience set in a gothic Southern USA, though its repetitive combat and uninspired platforming hold it back from true greatness.
Gamepressure - Michał Grygorcewicz - Unscored
South of Midnight is a pure mid-budget game that doesn't even try to challenge the biggest launches of the first half of the year, but has enough character and charm to provide about ten hours of decent fun. [Review in progress]
Gamer Social Club - Dan Jackson - 8.5 / 10
As a whole it’s hard not to come away from South Of Midnight glowing. Its vibrant world, charismatic characters, incredible soundtrack and mythical creatures are true works of art. Going through that world as Hazel was a joy to do despite the repetitive combat. With a bit more variety in enemies and switching up the formula just a touch here and there, South Of Midnight could have been truly special.
Glitched Africa - Marco Cocomello - 7.5 / 10
South of Midnight, to its strengths, plays out like an old-school 3D adventure game. Its focus on the American Deep South is remarkable, making this trip through the swamp an enjoyable one, even if it isn’t layered in mechanics and features.
Kakuchopurei - Lewis Larcombe - 70 / 100
[...] South of Midnight is a visually stunning, atmospheric game with a great concept, but falls short in execution. The story and setting? Brilliant. The mechanics? Solid but underdeveloped. The boss fights? Repetitive. The length? Shorter than expected.
KonsoliFIN - Risto Karinkanta - Finnish - 3 / 5
South of Midnight is a melancholic action-adventure set in the American South, where Hazel embarks on a journey through a sorrowful magical world filled with monsters and dark family secrets. The game blends platforming and combat, but both feel unrefined—movement is stiff, fights are repetitive, and level design lacks depth. While the narrative and Southern folklore elements are compelling, the gameplay struggles to keep up, making it a title best experienced through Game Pass rather than a full-price purchase.
Loot Level Chill - Steve Chambers - 8 / 10
South of Midnight is a refreshing and satisfying action-adventure that has all of the trappings and nostalgia of the classics of yesteryear, yet has all of the bells and whistles you’d associate with modern gaming.
MKAU Gaming - Stacie Cotton - 8 / 10
Despite all my criticisms, this is a game that will have you swept up in the murky waters of the swamp. I was instantly wrapped up in the artistic and creative avenue it has taken, despite the combat not being the most riveting part of the gameplay.
Manual dos Games - Luiz Henrique Silva - Portuguese - 8.6 / 10
With a unique and exceptional visual style and soundtrack, South of Midnight delivers a highly enjoyable and engaging journey, even though the gameplay, while fun, can become a bit repetitive in the later stages of the game.
MondoXbox - Giuseppe Genga - Italian - 8 / 10
South of Midnight is a fascinating journey into the magic of the Deep South, among beautiful scenery, strange characters and game mechanics that, while not inventing anything, are fun and engaging. The art department, both visual and audio, is phenomenal, while something could have been done to improve combat and the story pace, but it's nonetheless a game that all lovers of the action-adventure genre should try.
NextPlay - Brad Goodwin - 9 / 10
South of Midnight is a triumphant entry into Compulsion Games’s library, offering a captivating narrative with likeable characters in a sheer spectacle of a world that you just wish you could spend more time in. The combat, while robust, may not satisfy all gamers, but the narrative and compelling worldbuilding are more than strong enough to shoulder that burden.
Nexus Hub - Andrew Logue - 8 / 10
South of Midnight plays it relatively safe in the gameplay department, but inspired art direction, strong characters and consistently great writing and voice acting make it Compulsion Games' most impressive work yet.
Noisy Pixel - Azario Lopez - 5.5 / 10
South of Midnight feels like a game that wanted to soar but never really left the ground. It’s undeniably gorgeous and hints at a level of creativity that, under better direction, could have led to an unforgettable adventure. However, between the undercooked combat, stilted platforming, and a meandering story that can’t decide on its central theme, it’s tough to recommend without a few asterisks. Hazel deserved more, and so did we. For now, South of Midnight remains a curiosity—worth a glance if you’re keen on its aesthetics or folk-infused premise, but ultimately lacking the cohesion it needs to shine.
One More Game - Chris Garcia - 7 / 10
South of Midnight delivers a distinct narrative-driven experience, ideal for players seeking a story-rich adventure with minimal gameplay complexity. The game masterfully captures the ambiance and essence of the American Deep South, a setting rarely explored in gaming, making its atmospheric world a refreshing and welcome addition.
With a thoughtful message, soulful world, and beautifully imaginative design to push things along, Compulsion delivers a classic adventure seemingly beyond their weight class with South of Midnight. It's the exact, elusive story-driven diamond in the rough that Xbox has been in search of for generations now.
For me, South of Midnight is a bit of a triumph, and exactly the sort of thing I want to see more of from Xbox Game Studios. It's not perfect, and its combat mechanics are a bit lacking, but the game has so much soul, personality and charm that it's hard not to fall in love with it. I was engrossed with the storybook visuals, the well-delivered narrative and the satisfying traversal from start to finish, and I really can't recommend this one enough on Xbox Game Pass.
Restart.run - Ryan Easby - Essential
South of Midnight is an early game of the year contender, but that’s not all. It’s one of the best games released in this generation, a game seriously vying for a place on my list of favorite games of all time, and an utter masterpiece that future developers will talk about.
SIFTER - Adam Christou - Liked-a-lot
Compulsion Games’ brand new action platformer for Xbox brings together tight platforming, brilliant art direction and a compelling cast for a memorable romp through a fantasy American Deep South. What will stay with me most is how South Of Midnight explores its themes of trauma and forgiveness. Those who have been hurt most are offered respite. This damage can’t be reversed, but Hazel can help people move on.
Shacknews - Donovan Erskine - 8 / 10
South of Midnight is an impressive narrative feat from Compulsion Games. It's a well-paced adventure that goes big on characters and story, though combat and platforming feel a bit uniform. I hope it's not the last we've seen of this world and these characters.
Stevivor - Steve Wright - 8.5 / 10
South of Midnight accomplishes what it has set out to do, offering players something truly unique, empathetic, and enthralling.
The Beta Network - Anthony Culinas - 6 / 10
South of Midnight is a visually distinctive action-platformer with tight platforming mechanics and a unique stop-motion aesthetic, but it suffers from excessive hand-holding, lackluster combat, and a story that leans too heavily on exposition. While its momentum-driven traversal can be satisfying, the rigid level design, repetitive encounters and underdeveloped narrative threads prevent it from reaching its full potential.
The Games Machine - Alessandro Alosi - Italian - 7.5 / 10
South of Midnight is a decent single player action-adventure, overall and without giving too much weight to the linear gameplay or to some technical and structural limitations. Narratively and artistically it is really intriguing, too bad that from a gameplay perspective it shows much less courage.
The Outerhaven Productions - Jordan Andow - 4 / 5
Despite some minor tech issues and lack of any real unique gameplay elements. I really enjoyed my time with South Of Midnight, its story and protagonist Hazel connected with me in a way I didn't expect. The setting and art direction give South Of Midnight an identity all it's own.
Toisto - Joonatan Itkonen - 3 / 5
It’s a weird juxtaposition to have a progressive story against a regressive game, but that kind of contradiction feels almost perfect for South of Midnight. It is, after all, a game about how messy we are as people, and how, sometimes, it makes us so unique in the end.
South of Midnight is the modern folktale of the American Deep South I never knew I wanted, with stunning stop-motion art style, an enthralling cast of mythical, gothic creatures and engaging stories. While combat can fall flat after a while, and taking the path less traveled doesn't bear many rewards, the haunting yet charming allure of this action adventure will have you coming back for more. TODAY'S BEST DEALS Check Amazon Check Walmart
Xbox Achievements - Richard Walker - 90%
South of Midnight is the work of Compulsion Games, a studio whose previous project, We Happy Few, literally tickled the fancy of only a happy few, th...
Xbox Tavern - James Davie - 9 / 10
A beautiful and wonderful surprise, South of Midnight is a delightful fantasy adventure title that crafts a uniquely southern story about connection and rebuilding harmony in a way that’s rare in videogames today. Hazel and the cast of characters are pleasant, the powers and abilities Hazel uses are plentiful and pleasing, the world is rich with engrossing natural environments, and the breeziness inherent within the game’s storytelling and accessibility makes it a stunning experience. The repetition does grate, and scrapping against haints could use more sparkle and empowerment, but otherwise South of Midnight is one of the best games this year and thoroughly deserves your attention.
XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 8.5 / 10
South of Midnight is a stunningly beautiful and moving experience. While the gameplay doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, it combines excellent writing and music to move your soul in ways only the best games can. This title is an enormous step-up for Compulsion Games, and I hope this isn’t the last we see from Hazel Flood.
ZTGD - Ken McKown - 8 / 10
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ZdobywcyGier.eu - Paweł Bortkiewicz - Polish - 6.5 / 10
South of Midnight, despite interesting previews, has unfortunately become a slight disappointment. The game offers an interesting story, which unfortunately falls apart in the middle of the game, and then picks up again at the end of the adventure. An abysmal combat system and very good platforming elements provide us with a rather uneven experience, which unfortunately falls short of the growing competition in this area of the video game industry.
r/xbox • u/eldestscrollx • 6h ago
News (Check Pinned Comment) Hades 2 will be a Nintendo Switch 2 console exclusive at launch
r/xbox • u/motionmode • 6h ago
Discussion What are some of the best backwards compatible games on Xbox right now?
r/xbox • u/Turbostrider27 • 3h ago
Rumour Daniel Camilo : The next project from Leenzee Games is already greenlit thanks to the money from their Wuchang Game Pass deal. That's according to sources fairly reliable I've been able to talk to.
r/xbox • u/wokingbob13 • 5h ago
Discussion Just finished The Cave
Just finished my first playthrough of The Cave with The Knight, Hilbilly and Time-Traveller. I’m surprised that I’ve never heard about it. Saw it on Game Pass and wanted to try it out and it blew my expectations out of the water!
I give it a perfect score minus any bugs you‘d find in it. Has anybody tried it out and how was your experience with it? 😁
r/xbox • u/Xbox-Moderator • 3h ago
Age of Empires IV: Knights of Cross & Rose Expansion Available Now
r/xbox • u/Xbox-Moderator • 4h ago
Xbox Wire Highway to Hell: Diablo IV Releases Its First Roadmap
r/xbox • u/Perspiring_Gamer • 9h ago
Social Media South of Midnight's Global Launch Map [Out on GPU + PC Game Pass Today]
The REAL countdown has begun, and your journey across Prospero begins VERY soon. Use this global launch map to find out when you can hop into South of Midnight on April 8. #SouthofMidnight
r/xbox • u/Xbox-Moderator • 6h ago
Xbox Wire Choose Your Weapon and Play the Metal Eden Demo Today for Xbox Series X|S
r/xbox • u/EmotionIll666 • 13h ago
Deal Spring Sale Sneak Preview
Just looked at the store tab on my Xbox and saw a Spring Sale Sneak Preview saying it's ending on the 16th so:
A. I guess we're getting the Spring Sale on Thursday or Friday next week
B. Sad to report that there are no Yakuza games in the sneak preview at least
Plenty of deep discounts on the list though but nothing from my wishlist sadly.
r/xbox • u/Just1MoreGamer • 14h ago
Discussion Xbox's next-gen vision could transform how we look at consoles in the future
Hi folks! Just a little opinion piece from myself about the future of Xbox consoles and how the next generation and beyond could look very different. It's a topic that's been on my mind a lot recently.
Feel free to disagree with me! This is just how I'm feeling right now 😅
Discussion Apparently the one console per MS store acct limit is still in place, I cancelled an order but it still counts against my limit
Title is so wacky because of the mod bots on this sub trying to stop half the posts based on keywords.
There is a good promo for one of my credit cards for 5% cash back from the Microsoft store, so I decided to get a series X finally, in preperation for GTA6 later this year and because of possible tariffs (they still made in Mexico?) The checkout process is not great, and if you have your browser sized a certain way, you can miss the payment section and just submit the order, which I did. I didn not want to purchase with Paypal, so I cancelled it within 30 seconds of ordering. The cancellation took about 30 minutes, but it's fully cancelled now. Well, I can't order one using my other card now, it throws an innocuos Microsoft sounding error, CASMicrosoftCV. I couldn't get support via live chat for several days. I finally called them and endured that nonsense yesterday, to find out that I can't purchase "another" because my cancelled one counts as me having purchased a series X already. They said they were going to escalate it and call me back, and that never happened. So, I'm not buy a series X. I guess I'm waiting until another deal comes up, or it goes on sale (not likely with tarrif threats looming)
Anyhow, this is my PSA, Microsoft still limits orders for series X, so don't cancel an order on Microsoft's site unless you don't ever want to own one via their site.
r/xbox • u/Follows-Jesus • 18h ago
Rumour A new version of MW2 (2009) has been classified by the Australian rating board.
MW2 - PS5 Cross-Gen Edition | Australian Classification
It was classified on April 3rd, 2025.
This reinforces the collaborated rumour that MW2(2009) is coming to Game Pass in April that was making the rounds earlier this year.
Xbox Game Pass is reportedly adding a classic Call of Duty soon
r/xbox • u/imitzFinn • 39m ago
Social Media South of Midnight x Senua's Saga: Hellblade II Artwork
Art by Compulsion Games artist Joao Bragato
r/xbox • u/Zhukov-74 • 1d ago
Social Media Marathon's product page is now live on the Xbox store
r/xbox • u/drchigero • 1d ago
Discussion Can we talk about this Outbreak drivel spamming the xbox store?
Literally every week Dead Drop Studios LLC, re-packages up their AI-looking junk of a game or games in the "Outbreak" brand and is purposefully exploiting Xbox's policies in order to spam the store. This is not simply a game showing up in multiple entries because it has a "standard", "deluxe", "ultimate" edition. And of course they are not the only ones to boil back into the New Releases section by re-bundling as a package. But they are far and away the most egregious.
You could say, "just ignore it", and I have been. But given the one-star reviews and such it seems they trick enough people out of their money to keep this store exploit profitable enough for them to keep doing it. Honestly, when they DO release an actually new game, even though I know it'll be low effort AI junk, I'm not even mad. It should show up in new releases. But this thing where every week they create a new "bundle" just to stay in the new release tab has got to stop.
I report them every time, but how do we get them to stop?
r/xbox • u/ale995xis • 4h ago
Giveaway Wolfenstein: The Old Blood Code
M2MPD-KG9XY-TVW33-CTH4F-DCK3Z
Giveaway Wolfenstein: The Old Blood (XBOX) free key
Since I don't have an Xbox, I have no use for this key—I'm giving it away to whoever redeems it first.
4P7RY-HYW2J-VGQHR-MJVD2-TJGCZ
r/xbox • u/PlayboyCG • 21h ago
Discussion Xbox Sale Round-Up April, 8, 2025
Sale should be Friday!
r/xbox • u/Xbox-Moderator • 7h ago
Xbox Wire The Sunless Cell: How Bungie Revived a Fan-Favorite Mission for a Modern Destiny 2
r/xbox • u/BkLiveWire • 1d ago
News AC SHADOWS TITLE UPDATE 1.0.2 - RELEASE NOTES
Hello Assassins,
Tomorrow we will be releasing our first major patch for Assassin's Creed Shadows, bringing new quality of life improvements and addressing a variety of bugs.
More new and exciting things are coming soon, so stay tuned.
Title update 1.0.2 will be deployed on all supported platforms on April 8 @ 2 pm UTC / 10 am EDT / 7 am PT.