Xboxis on track to have one of its best years yet with the likes ofSouth of Midnight,Fable, andGears of War: E-Day, among many others, coming out. Fans are naturally overjoyed to see Xbox finally hit its stride, especially when the competition from both Nintendo and PlayStation has been so fierce. One of the reasons this phenomenal year has been made possible is the vast variety of titles Xbox is releasing.
One ofXbox’s most unique exclusivescoming in 2025 isSouth of Midnight. Developed by Compulsion Games, the folks behindWe Happy Few,South of Midnightis a third-person action game unlike anything else on the market. Its plethora of unique selling points makes it a draw for players both playing it via Xbox Game Pass on day one and paying full price when it launches. However, most importantly,South of Midnightmarks a much-needed change in approach when it comes to the type of games Xbox is publishing.
Xbox Needs More Stylized Games Like South Of Midnight
Their Output Has Been Very Realistic
Xbox has a track record of favoring gritty, photorealistic, and oftentimes exceptionally dark titles over stylized releasesakin to what Nintendo fans often get. That’s not surprising, as much of the AAA space has been dominated by these kinds of games, including by Xbox’s direct competitor, PlayStation, with the likes ofThe Last of UsandGod of War. That’s not to say that neither publisher releases fantastical games, but rather, when it comes to visual style, Xbox in particular places a lot of value on high-fidelity photorealistic graphics.
Xbox does have a handful of other more stylized games releasing in 2025, includingAvowedand33 Immortals. However,33 Immortalsfits more into the indie category, andAvowedis closer to Xbox’s typical visual aesthetic thanSouth of Midnight.
This is further evidenced byXbox’s 2025 lineup, which features the likes ofDOOM: The Dark Ages,Fable, andGears of War: E-Dayalongside the annualCall of Dutyrelease, all of which sport similar realistic art direction that makes it almost look like they’re from the same universe.It’s understandable why Xbox is prioritizing realism over style, as it better illustrates the immense strides in graphical fidelity, as well as the capabilities of its flagship console, the Xbox Series X. Perhaps this is why it is all the more refreshing when it publishes a game likeSouth of Midnight.
South Of Midnight Looks Incredibly Unique
It Utilizes A Unique Art Style And Animation Techniques
South of Midnight, especially in contrast with the likes ofIndiana Jones and the Great Circle, is an incredibly stylized game with a unique art stylethat is brought to life through a low-framerate animation that’s frequently compared to theSpider-Versefilms. The various trailers andXbox Developer Direct deep divehave best illustrated just how gorgeousSouth of Midnightlooks, and how much effort Compulsion Games has put into its overall art direction. Everything, from its monster designs to its environments, is both utterly unique and respectful to the inspirations it is drawing from.
South of Midnight’ssettingis also very unique, being based on real-life history and mythology that is rarely touched on in video games. Its combat and exploration also appear to be substantially different from what Xbox typically offers, especially thanks to its third-person perspective and more spectacle-driven action.Compulsion Games has absolutely delivered Xbox one of its most interesting and diverse games to date, making it a stand-out among an already impressive lineup of returning fan favorites and blockbuster titles.
South Of Midnight Will Help Xbox Compete With PlayStation & Nintendo
It Diversifies Its Offerings To Newcomers
Most importantly,South of Midnightfinally gives Xbox a 3D AAA stylized title that can help it compete with Nintendo and PlayStation, both of which have been offering that for years. PlayStation, for example, publishedConcrete GenieandDreams, and Nintendo has no shortage of stylized games. Of course, Xbox has released a number of excellent indies over the years, including the wonderfulOri and the Blind Forest, butSouth of Midnightrepresents its biggest and most ambitious stylized project to date.
Nintendo & Xbox Are Already Leaving PlayStation In The Dust For 2025
While Xbox and Nintendo are set to have a phenomenal 2025 thanks to new hardware and exciting games, PlayStation may have its worst year yet.
It is great that Xbox is dipping its toe into more experimental waters, and hopefully, it won’t end withSouth of Midnight. Compulsion Games has always endeavored to create unique experiences, so it is a perfect fit for Xbox’s newfound love of stylized games. With the likes ofTowerborneunder its belt, and nowSouth of Midnight, Xbox could finally be entering its indie game era, which will ultimately better position it to better compete with PlayStation and Nintendo.
