There’s something surreal about watching a world melt and reshape itself like soft clay under your fingertips, and in “The Midnight Walk,” that sensation never really leaves. From the first flicker of flame to the final echo of silence, I found myself drawn into an eerie, soulful journey that reminded me why I love games that dare to be different. MoonHood, in their very first outing, has managed to create something truly mesmerizing: a handcrafted, stop-motion world that feels equal parts dream and nightmare, and totally unlike anything else I’ve played this year. You play as The Burnt One, a figure so enigmatic and damaged that their presence feels more symbolic than personal. But it’s not long before you meet Potboy, a jittery little lantern creature who becomes both your flashlight and your friend. I never expected to form such a strong bond with a being made of wax and whimsy, but Potboy brings a sense of warmth to the cold, clay world around him. He chirps and flares up when frightened, his flame becoming both a source of comfort and a magnet for danger.
What struck me almost immediately was how tactile everything feels. Every monster, tree, and ruined chapel seems sculpted with love, flaws and all. It’s rare that I stop moving in a game just to stare at a wall, but I caught myself doing that more than once here. The hand-sculpted environments, painstakingly crafted from real clay and animated through stop motion, aren’t just a visual gimmick; they feel alive in a strange, beautiful, grotesque way. It’s a world that feels like it could crumble under your fingers, and I loved every crumb of it. Gameplay-wise, this isn’t a fast-paced or complex adventure. It’s a quieter, more deliberate experience. The puzzles are clever without being punishing, often tied to light, shadow, and sound in fascinating ways. I especially loved how Potboy’s flame could be used to lure or distract enemies, giving me just enough time to slip away or find a new hiding spot. It doesn’t reinvent stealth mechanics, but it blends them with a sense of narrative weight, every flicker of fire on my short-lasting match felt like a heartbeat, and every footstep through the clay world felt like walking through memory.
One of the most surprising features is how deeply integrated sound is into everything. The audio design is a standout here, from the creaks of bending branches to the low, distorted growls that echo through the fog. When you first boot up the game, it even recommends using headphones. Pair that with the PS5’s DualSense controller, and every vibration and noise adds another layer of immersion. The game is also playable to play on PSVR 2, while I didn’t play it in there, I could absolutely imagine how stunning and intense that version must be. Still, even in flatscreen mode, the game wrapped me in its atmosphere completely. The story unfolds across five distinct chapters, each a tale unto itself, threaded through with motifs of fire, fear, and fragile hope. There’s a fairy tale logic to it all, dark, winding, and a little tragic. It’s never heavy-handed, but it is emotional in unexpected ways. Characters come and go like strange dreams, some unsettling, some oddly comforting. And while I wouldn’t say every narrative beat lands perfectly, the overall effect is one of quiet devastation, like finishing a good book and realizing the last page is still burning in your hands.
There are clear influences here—Tim Burton’s macabre whimsy and David Lynch’s surreal dread—but MoonHood has managed to carve out their own identity. “The Midnight Walk” never feels like a copy of something else. It’s too personal for that. Too strange. Too sincere. I’ve never played a horror game that felt this gentle, nor an emotional narrative this committed to the grotesque. That contrast is what makes it work. That said, I wouldn’t call the gameplay especially deep. The experience is relatively short (roughly five hours), and there’s little mechanical evolution as the story progresses. But for me, that simplicity was part of the charm. It’s a slow walk in a world where everything matters: the texture of a wall, the shape of a monster’s jaw, the quiet bond between a burnt soul and a glowing friend.
“The Midnight Walk” left me thinking long after the credits rolled. It’s a cozy horror adventure, sure, but more than that, it’s a testament to what happens when artists trust in their hands. MoonHood didn’t just build a game; they sculpted something raw and weird and wonderful. And I’m glad I took that walk with them.
8.5/10
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Related: Reviews by Nick Navarro
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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