The protagonist Hazel embarks on a perilous journey through the American South to find her missing mother. Along her travels, she encounters characters and mythical creatures inspired by local folklore.

At launch on Steam, the game peaked at just over 1,000 concurrent players, though this number may grow during weekends.

Despite modest launch numbers, 93% of 249 user reviews are positive. On OpenCritic, the game holds a 78/100 score. Critics praised the visual style, soundtrack and characters while criticizing the combat system.

Particular attention has been drawn to the involvement of Sweet Baby Inc. writers. Previous reports indicated they recommended changing the protagonist's race. However, it's impossible to say this alone caused the low player count. Many players noted from the first announcement exactly what journalists later highlighted in reviews: the visual style and atmosphere delight, but the combat system feels dull.

Additionally, Microsoft's gaming division bears obvious responsibility—South of Midnight suffers from the company's recurring issue of disastrously poor marketing for recent releases.

Main image: wall.alphacoders.com

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