One of the more promising games that was shown off during Sony’s recent State of Play wasThe Midnight Walk. Originally announced in 2024,The Midnight Walkis the next project from the people behind the 2021 deck-building action game,Lost in Random. It is being developed by MoonHood, a newly established independent studio located in Sweden, and published by Fast Travel Games. In this game, players befriend a lost lantern-shaped creature named Potboy, who guides them through a dark land overrun by monsters and other foul enemies.The Midnight Walkis played from a first-person perspective, but it’s not a first-person shooter. Instead, it’s an adventure game with horror elements.
Aside from its interesting premise, what makesThe Midnight Walkespecially distinct is its unusual, gothic art style.Similar to animated films likeCoralineandCorpse Bride, the game uses a stop-motion animation technique. Each ofThe Midnight Walk’s characters and enemies were painstakingly handcrafted using real-life clay models, which were 3D-scanned into the game. As impressive as this is, though, this stop-motion art style could causeThe Midnight Walkto face the same issues that one other upcoming game is about to face.
The Midnight Walk’s Stop-Motion Animation Could Be Problematic for Some
South of Midnight’s Stop-Motion Art Style Has Been the Subject of Criticism
The Midnight Walkis scheduled to come out in spring 2025, but strangely enough, it isn’t the only game launching in this time frame that has the word “midnight” in its name. Compulsion Games’South of Midnightis also set to make its debut early this year, as well. LikeThe Midnight Walk,this upcoming Xbox exclusivehas a stop-motion art style. It, however, is in a completely different genre.South of Midnightis a third-person action-adventure game that takes place in a fictionalized version of the American Deep South. The game is heavily inspired by the folktales of that region, and it has a more colorful, vibrant aesthetic compared toThe Midnight Walk.
So far, thegeneral impressions ofSouth of Midnightseem quite positive, both from media outlets and gamers. If there’s one aspect of the game that’s been a sticking point for many fans, though, it’s its art style. SinceSouth of Midnightuses a stop-motion animation technique, the foliage, animals, and NPCs in the game are animated at a halved frame rate, sort of likeSpider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. To the untrained eye, it may seem like the game’s animations are lagging, but in reality, the “stuttery” effect is actually intentional.
Like South of Midnight, The Midnight Walk Should Give Players the Option to Toggle Stop-Motion Off
The developers at Compulsion Games have said thatSouth of Midnightis going to run at 60 FPS on Xbox consoles, but even though that is the case,the stop-motion art stylecan still be unappealing for a lot of people. For some, this animation technique may cause eye strain or be nauseating to look at. Others, on the other hand, may not like playing a game that has animations with intentionally reduced frame rates, and they may prefer buttery smooth animations instead. Luckily, Compulsion Games has said that players will be able to toggle the stop-motion animation off (except during cutscenes) in the settings for the game.
Unlike Compulsion Games, MoonHood has not revealed whether the stop-motion animation inThe Midnight Walkcan be turned off. It’s unfortunate that there is a lack of clarity on this matter, especially considering thatThe Midnight Walkarguably needs this option more thanSouth of Midnightdoes. Since it’s playable in virtual reality, the inability to disable this feature can be a deal-breaker for some people. Gamers, especiallythose new to VR, may already have a hard time playing the game as it is without getting motion sick, but the stop-motion animation could make things even worse. WhileThe Midnight Walkwill still be playable on flatscreen devices, MoonHood should give gamers the ability to toggle stop-motion off, just like Compulsion has done withSouth of Midnight.
The Midnight Walk
WHERE TO PLAY
Embark upon The Midnight Walk in this reverent dark fantasy adventure built in clay, from the minds behind Lost in Random and Fe.Become The Burnt One, befriend a lost lantern creature named Potboy, and use his flame to light your way through a conflicting world of wonder and horror. Survive and outsmart the many monsters eager to devour your little friend’s flame as you experience five tales of fire and darkness, featuring an incredible cast of odd characters.Marvel at every disturbing detail in a landscape painstakingly handcrafted with real life clay and animated in a stop motion style. Fully playable in both flatscreen and with a VR headset.AN UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY OF LIGHT AND DARKJourney with Potboy along the twisted trail of The Midnight Walk. Work with your companion to outsmart monsters, using his flame to distract while you hide from and evade the many threats of The Dark Itself. Encounter new friends and experience awe-inspiring sights as you navigate a path fraught with both peril and affirmation.A GRIM AND BEAUTIFUL HANDCRAFTED WORLDEverything you see in The Midnight Walk, from the drooling snarl of monsters to the bristling tree tops that line the journey was first sculpted in clay and then 3D scanned to a meticulous level of detail. The result is a uniquely layered fantasy world with an artistic imprint, all realized in breathtaking stop motion. Grab a gamepad and jump into the unknown, or step into the endless night in VR.
