South of Midnight, developed by Compulsion Games and published by Xbox Game Studios, has been rated M17+ by the ESRB. Scheduled for release on April 8, 2025, for PC and Xbox Series X/S, the game invites players into a fictional and eerie version of the American Deep South, blending Southern folklore with a dark, magical narrative.
The ESRB’s Mature rating is due to graphic depictions of violence, strong language, and dark supernatural themes. Players take on the role of Hazel, a newly minted Weaver tasked with restoring order in her disaster-stricken hometown. The gameplay involves using melee weapons, arrows, and magical abilities to confront ghouls, giant monsters, and other mythical creatures.
Take a look at the complete ESRB description below.
This is an action-adventure game in which players assume the role of a woman (Hazel) navigating a macabre, fantastical version of the American Deep South. From a third-person perspective, players explore both realistic and fantastical environments while using special abilities to defeat enemies and mythical creatures (e.g., ghouls, giant monsters). Players use melee weapons and arrows to attack enemies and boss characters; magical abilities allow players to purify spirits or experience visions. Some visions and cutscenes depict further instances of violence: an alligator mauling a man, resulting in spurts of black blood; a woman cutting the heart out of a giant creature; a man using a tree branch to beat a child. The word “f**k” appears in the game.
South of Midnight pulls players into a vivid, moody world inspired by the folklore of the Deep South. You step into the shoes of Hazel, a Weaver who fixes broken bonds and heals troubled spirits. As she digs into her family’s past and the catastrophe haunting her hometown, you’ll come face-to-face with all sorts of mythical creatures and explore diverse landscapes—from thick, mysterious forests to eerie, otherworldly dimensions.
The game comes from Compulsion Games, the team behind *We Happy Few* and *Contrast*. Known for their deep storytelling and imaginative worlds, they’ve crafted another experience full of narrative richness and creative flair. Playing from a third-person perspective, you’ll dive into both lifelike and fantastical settings, blending combat and exploration to unravel the mysteries of Hazel’s journey.
South of Midnight is set to release on April 8, 2025, for PC and Xbox Series S|X.
