A few minutes into experiencing The Midnight Walk for the first time, I found myself questioning, “Is this still part of the game, or am I just watching an animated film?” To my surprise, the mesmerizing visuals, reminiscent of stop-motion creations, were actually real-time gameplay from MoonHood Studios.
This game shares its aesthetic with the intricate works of Phil Tippett’s Mad God and some classic Tool music videos. The characters, creatures, and settings all start as tangible sculptures before being 3D-scanned and transformed into polygon models. The stop-motion animation style gives them a unique, engaging movement, reinforced by a clever use of shallow depth of field.
Developers Klaus Lyngeled and Olov Redmalm describe The Midnight Walk as a “cozy horror adventure,” complete with quirky characters and amiable monsters. The narrative takes players through various fairy tale-themed chapters, focusing on themes like warmth and the contrast between light and darkness.
Players begin their adventure with a protagonist known as the Burnt One, who starts by digging out of a grave and begins the process of self-repair. During the journey on the Midnight Walk route, a delightful and whimsical creature called Potboy becomes your companion. Equipped with a small brazier on its head, Potboy helps players light torches and fend off adversaries, relying on its flame and an assortment of matches.
Puzzle-solving and stealth elements abound, including a feature where players can close their eyes to focus on sound. MoonHood recommends using headphones for an immersive binaural audio experience. There’s even a unique twist on combat; the Burnt One obtains a quirky weapon that fires lit matches, providing a tactical advantage against enemies and puzzles.
The cozy vibe of The Midnight Walk, largely attributed to the endearing Potboy, doesn’t shy away from unsettling elements. Players will encounter a host of eerie creatures, including scurrying one-eyed mutants, giant spiders, and grotesque slug-like beings.
While watching the game’s demonstration, the inspirations cited by the developers—such as Over the Garden Wall, The Nightmare Before Christmas, David Lynch, and Half-Life 2—were evident, yet the game embodies a unique spirit that sets it apart from its influences. It wasn’t until last week that MoonHood’s project truly captured my attention.
The wait to get hands-on with The Midnight Walk won’t be long, as it’s set to launch on PlayStation 5, complete with PlayStation VR2 support, as well as Windows PC via Steam, on May 8.
