BERLIN: The action-adventure South Of Midnight from the developer studio Compulsion Games takes you to the Deep South of the US.

The game focuses on the myths and fairy tales of the regions. From the Honey Island Swamp Monster in Louisiana to the giant Two-Toed Tom alligator in Florida, there are all sorts of creatures to discover.

The main story is that, after a hurricane, the protagonist Hazel ends up in a world where fantasy and reality merge. In her search for her mother, she must not only fight sinister creatures but also confront the secrets of her family history.

The often swampy, colourful game world is just as detailed as the story. Fog and occasional moonlight enhance the mystical atmosphere and a unique soundtrack with Southern music, from banjo to jazz, enriches the game.

The unique art style has another twist: Everything moves in stop motion. If you're not a fan of this jerky film technique, you can turn it off in the settings and return to the familiar fluid movements.

The game experience can be customised even further. Those who prefer to focus on the story can significantly reduce the difficulty of the battles while those seeking a challenge can increase it. There's also an option that allows you to individually adjust the difficulty for all aspects of the combat.

South Of Midnight costs around €40/$40 for PCs and around €45/$45 for the Xbox Series X/S. The game is also included in Xbox Game Pass subscriptions. – dpa