Within just a few minutes of diving into The Midnight Walk, I found myself caught off guard. “Hold on,” I thought, “is this the actual game? Not just a mere cutscene?” The visuals were so strikingly similar to a beautifully crafted stop-motion animated short film, and it dawned on me that what the team at MoonHood Studios was unveiling was actual in-game footage.
The stunning resemblance to stop-motion through The Midnight Walk is quite reminiscent of gems like Phil Tippett’s Mad God or those classic Tool music videos. One of the key reasons for this enchanting appearance is that the characters, eerie creatures, and vivid landscapes are all made from tangible materials. Klaus Lyngeled, in a recent chat, revealed that the studio hand-crafted around 700 objects, each meticulously 3D-scanned and transformed into polygonal models. The animation retains that iconic stop-motion jitter and the camera effect—with its shallow depth of field—completes the illusion perfectly.
Both Lyngeled and the game’s writer, Olov Redmalm, have painted their project as a first-person, narrative-driven puzzle game lovingly dubbed a “cozy horror adventure.” It’s populated with quirky eccentrics and hospitable monsters. The storyline unfolds over several fairy tale-like chapters, tied together by recurring themes of warmth, contrast, and the pursuit to light up a world shrouded in darkness.
The adventure begins when the game’s main character, known as the Burnt One, emerges from the grave, piecing themselves back together. Trekking down the Midnight Walk, they meet a delightful, whimsical companion named Potboy. This little creature, with a brazier atop its head, serves as both guide and friend. Armed with Potboy’s flame and an assortment of matches, players illuminate the path and fend off enemies.
Engaging puzzles and stealthy maneuvers pepper the gameplay, and there’s even a feature where players can shut their eyes to simply… listen. With MoonHood harnessing binaural audio, it’s recommended that players immerse themselves with headphones for the full experience. An intriguing twist on the familiar “gunplay” involves the Burnt One wielding a weapon that fires lit matches, extending the player’s reach in both combat and puzzle-solving aspects.
Though Potboy adds a layer of charm that lives up to the “cozy” moniker, there’s no shortage of nightmarish elements too. The diverse ranks of enemies—from cyclopean critters scuttling about to giant arachnid horrors, and grotesque beings with sewn eyes—are as terrifying as they are creative in design.
Where influences like Over the Garden Wall, The Nightmare Before Christmas, David Lynch, and Half-Life 2 shine through, The Midnight Walk manages to craft its own identity. Its unique blend of inspirations and innovative artistry stands apart from its predecessors. I must admit, I didn’t anticipate this game catching my eye as much as it did, but now I’m eagerly anticipating its release.
For those interested in journeying through The Midnight Walk, the wait won’t be long. It’ll be available on PlayStation 5, complete with PlayStation VR2 support, and Windows PC via Steam starting May 8.
