Developer: MoonHood
Platforms: PC (Reviewed), PC VR, PS5, PS VR2
Genre: Adventure
Publisher: Fast Travel Games
The Midnight Walk is a dark, narrative-driven adventure. This game was developed by MoonHood and published by Fast Travel Games. The Midnight Walk is available on Windows and PlayStation 5 with compatibility for PlayStation VR2 and PC VR. This review was done for the PC version of the game.
In The Midnight Walk, you take on the role of The Burnt One, who has awoken from a grave into a world full of darkness. As you begin to venture, you find that the world has vanished from the sun. Early on, you befriend Potboy, a lantern-like companion whose flame you must protect and bring to Moon Mountain. Potboy lights your path through the dark and treacherous world as you take on The Midnight Walk. The world is filled with terror and wonder, and it is up to you to protect the flame precious Potboy carries to fend off monsters, break curses, and reignite the sun.
The controls for The Midnight Walk are extremely easy to follow. As you begin your journey, you get in-game prompts that highlight keybinds and briefly indicate a mechanic. The Midnight Walk features some interesting gameplay mechanics that strive to immerse the players into a more haunting atmosphere. The game can also be played with a controller, but there seems to be no difference in performance if you use a keyboard/mouse. As the game does not require many controls, the controller is nice for you to sit back and enjoy a masterpiece unfolding. As you continue the game, you will encounter sketches on paper that will explain new creatures or mechanics. Everything is nicely explained, with no detail left out. Besides, the game is easy enough to follow, making it accessible for many players.
The Midnight Walk does not fall short in creating an immersive experience for the player, and one that is beyond their expectation. There is no better way to describe The Midnight Walk than as a Tim Burton, clay hand-crafted visual triumph. I was drawn in and absolutely astonished by the fact that every detail in The Midnight Walk was entirely built from handmade clay and physical miniatures, which goes to show the effort made by the developers to create an unreal experience. It goes without saying that the character designs are beyond extraordinary, with engrossing details, facial expressions, and realistic features that send chills down your body as a Grinner approaches you. Landscapes and environments are filled with details like cardboard cut-out trees to paper stars hanging from a thread. Nothing is perfect, which makes everything just fall right into place. The lighting itself is on par with the visuals; from candlelight flickers to Potboy’s flame glow, these details add to the narrative of a dark world filled with only a flicker of light.
For me, The Midnight Walk does not just tell a story but feels like one that reminds me of the Film ‘9’ with elements mixed from ‘BoxTrolls’ or ‘Coraline’. All my old favourite visuals blended into this one game to create an experience like no other, and one I will hardly forget. The horror itself is not loud but is more quiet and unsettling, which is mastered perfectly through the distributing character designs and mood. Each creature you meet is uniquely strange, from being endearing to grotesque. Some, like the ever-loyal Potboy or the melancholic Soul Fisher you find at each bonfire, have their own odd charms. Others, like the Molgrim or Grinner, are straight out of your nightmares. These creatures aren’t just scary, but they’re deeply expressive, with their features sticking with you for a long time. I still can’t get over the Molgrim’s stare and long nose. The unsettling presence, especially when you need to sneak around them, combined with the game’s impeccable use of spatial sound and lighting, creates moments of sheer death.
The Midnight Walk is a story that is told through the visuals but by narration and flawless voice acting. The beautiful narrative that blends horror and sorrow is crafted to tell a grim story but one with much emotional depth. What makes the story even more compelling are the side stories woven into the world. The different tales you encounter spark your interest in the story and keep you from wanting to leave. You need to play this game in a dark room, with your headphones on, to truly feel one with the game. It will feel as though you are The Burnt One, and the stories you hear as you follow The Midnight Walk are splendid. One of my favourite moments came as I walked the road and discovered abandoned cell phones. Each phone tells a story, a fading echo from a traveller who attempted the same journey. Collecting each of the shell phones unveils more about the mysteries that lie with the Midnight Walk. You come to learn how this path is more like a trial that sets your perseverance.
At its core, The Midnight Walk has a simple premise: a journey down the Midnight Road to reach Moon Mountain. But the game transforms this linear idea into atmospheric detours and haunting encounters. Along the way, you’ll reach locked gates that divert you into surreal death paths, each with its own miniature narrative and gameplay twist. The tales you follow involve searching for lost objects, cleaning curses, or sneaking past grotesque creatures. One standout mechanic is the ability to close your eyes and listen, which helps you tune into ghostly sounds to reveal hidden secrets and help solve puzzles. The mechanic is a small but brilliant touch that enhances immersion and tension. With Potboy by your side, it’s your responsibility to protect his fragile flame as he can keep you away from the darkness. The Midnight Walk has a symbolic story that I wish all players take the chance to experience.
I do love how, in The Midnight Walk, the player is guided through the eerie world without it being too excessive. Throughout the game, you never feel truly lost and finding your path is always achievable, making it accessible for players and not too difficult. When areas become unlocked, a subtle blue flame will lead you in the right direction. This visual guidance works seamlessly with the exceptional audio design. Whether it’s the creak of a door, the distant howl of a monster, or a whispering voice in the dark, every sound serves a purpose, giving you spatial awareness and helping you solve puzzles or time your movements. You also get instances of hide-and-seek mechanics similar to Little Nightmares, where you hide in closets or in burrows to hide from monsters. Puzzles are not overly complicated, with you using the element of fire to create diversions or open locked gates. It’s beautiful the amount of care the developers have put into creating a world that can be admired.
Personally, I found that The Midnight Walk indulges players into a world of nightmares without intense horror sequences but little scares with its effortless narrative build-up that incorporates the idea of fear and longing. Even the chase sequences are added as an element of tension; you’ll get little spooks here and there, but the game creates an eerie atmosphere throughout. Though nothing can compare to how charming and admiring Potboy is in this nightmarish world. You’ll find no better companion than Potboy, and the bond that you grow between you two is quite literally heartwarming. I’ve never grown more attached to a game companion before, but Potboy is inexplicable. His charming actions, cute animations and the overall warmth that comes from him make you feel less scared in this world full of darkness.
As you explore, you will cover collectables such as vinyl records, clay figures, and cell phones that are all housed in Housey. These collectables are a nice way to get players to further explore the world. I absolutely love the soundtrack in The Midnight Walk, especially in cutscenes where you would be reigniting the flame, as the orchestrated instrumentals play on par with your actions and are wonderfully implemented into the game’s design. My tiny complaint with the game is that it took me roughly 6 hours to fully complete the game, so I would wish that maybe, in the future, more content or longer projects could be looked into. Though I can only imagine how much time and effort goes into clay animation because The Midnight Walk narrated a plausible game, the playtime is easily overlooked.
If you’re looking for a game that blends a haunting atmosphere, masterful visual storytelling, and a truly original approach to horror, The Midnight Walk is a journey worth taking. With its handcrafted clay visuals, emotional narrative, clever mechanics and unforgettable companion in Potboy, it delivers a deeply immersive experience that stays with you long after you complete the game. Embark on a journey where you light the flame, face the darkness, and walk the long road to Moon Mountain. So be sure to check out The Midnight Walk!
Overall: 9.5/10
This is S & S. We are world game explorers. We play games. We have played over 10,000+ games! We travel, we write reviews AND we play more games!!!!
