The Midnight Walk Review (PS5, PSVR2, PC, & PCVR)

Surprisingly enough, it’s not the gameplay of The Midnight Walk that will leave you utterly and completely satisfied. Being a puzzle-horror story-driven game, you might expect to solve intricate puzzles and enjoy a creepy ride with some profound storytelling. But the game only delivers on two of those fronts, leaving the other arguably significant gameplay element half-baked. 

But despite the divided attention the developers give to each of The Midnight Walk’s gameplay fragments, I might argue that this was a conscious decision. Or at least, it seems to work out that way. What works is more than enough to slot your playthrough into possibly one of the most unforgettable experiences of this year, perhaps throughout your gaming journey; never mind the bits that feel low effort. 

So, what makes The Midnight Walk so special? Let’s find out in our  The Midnight Walk review below.

Into the Dark

The peak of hours of the night are usually the best times for me to enjoy brisk walks out in the middle of nowhere. The serenity that comes with it. The carefree nature of the creatures of the night, blissfully whistling away. But The Midnight Walk is far from a peaceful stroll in the dark. Quite the opposite, when you find yourself immersed in a world plagued by darkness. 

Light hasn’t been a constant presence here for a while now that the creatures you meet have become accustomed to the new order of the day. And not just in their sombre mood and devastating ways of life, but in their haunting appearances, too. Not all of the ghastly creations you meet are friendly, either. And what’s worse? You cannot fight them. 

This leaves you no choice but to sneak around in the dark. You hide in wardrobes as soon as you spot a menacing creature up ahead. And sometimes, the wardrobes teleport you to a new location: thank God. It’s all at least until you can use your matches and candles for several ways we’ve come to rely on light for. It lights your way and keeps some fearsome creatures at bay. 

But light plays a much bigger role in The Midnight Walk’s world. It’s the source of warmth that has long been lacking in the lives of the fractured NPCs you meet. Once lit, it changes perspective: it changes lives quite frankly. Or the light can be a source of hope, too, amid the persistent dark, the sorrow that has creeped deeper than you can fathom. 

Beyond the Dark

I’m only roughly illuminating on the setting and scenes The Midnight Walk crafts for you. The alluring juxtaposition between light and dark, and no, not in the numerous familiar ways games have adapted before. The light versus dark concept here seeps deep within, past solving mere fire-based puzzles, into the very lives of the creatures and characters you’ll be learning and bonding with. 

Even in the world itself, a vast coat of darkness, screeching, haunting pitch darkness envelops all that breathes. And only in the moments when you’re able to strike a match or light a candle does a brief sense of hope cut through the sorrow. The ways in which The Midnight Walk plays around with the concept of light and darkness don’t just permeate through every ounce of your playthrough but also influence your own perspective, too. 

Lacking the strength to fight the monsters you run into, every step farther into The Midnight Walk is filled with fear. You never know what will jump around the corner and send you into a fit of panic. Not just panic, but running away to the safest wormhole you can crawl through lest you get caught and die. You’re a walking ball of paranoia, the creepy sounds of the night constantly screaming danger. 

In this way, and walking in the dark, eerie world, every moment in The Midnight Walk feels spine-tingling and dreadful. Sneak around. Hide. Running away is the way to survive. And always, stealth mechanics that leave you feeling powerless. But then, something changes onward into your playthrough. Two things to be precise. 

Embrace the Dark

Split into six main chapters, you’ll often stray off the beaten path to discover what the different biomes of The Midnight Walk hold. It’s highly welcome as a sort of breather from the constant running and pulsating through the lonesome dark. Each chapter has a unique story and characters that at first can seem like a distraction. And then, they dig their tentacles deep into your soul without as much as a warning. 

The creatures here might look like disembodied abominations. But they, too, have lives, a soul brutally destroyed by the hovering darkness. Themes of loss and grief intertwine with the backstories you uncover. Themes so deep that they evolve into deeply emotional “breathers?” Soon, light versus darkness becomes more than a familiar trope. It’s a lifestyle, one that has latched onto some creatures too deep to believe that it could change. 

It becomes more clear that your task, your mission, to brave the treacherous “midnight walk” to the Moon Mountain to bring light back to the world, is beyond you. Countless others are depending on you to accomplish this task, however horrifying, however chilling. You’re on a mission that’s not just going to save people but change their lives, change their perception of everything they’ve known. And that, for several reasons, feels powerful and satisfying to pull off. 

Brave the Dark

And that partially gives you the motivation you need to “man up.” You stand against the dark, no longer afraid. You stand boldly against the menacing crawlers looking to disembody you. And part of that also comes from the companions you gain along the way. The cheery Potboy, a lantern pot of a clay creature that helps you bring light back to the world. And the house, aptly named “housy,” that helps store your collectibles. 

In some ways, Potboy creates a somewhat co-op adventure, even though The Midnight Walk is single-player. By the simple press of a button, he charges off to ignite candles, thereby solving puzzles along the way. But he also plays an integral role in the story, where you meet disembodied Potboys, unable to complete the mission. It’s worrisome whenever you lose track of your Potboy: could the darkness have consumed him?

Housy looks magnificent prancing beside you. But also, enabling you to explore and pick up all of the exciting collectibles The Midnight Walk’s world has to offer. You’ll mainly collect figurines of the creatures you meet, discs, and Shellphones. Shellphones are pretty handy as they often reveal additional lore and provide a deeper understanding of the misery and mysteries of The Midnight Walk’s world. 

In Closing

I mentioned earlier that The Midnight Walk’s gameplay elements haven’t been treated the same way. The storytelling is, by far, the best part about your journey. It’s far more than the surface-level expositions you might be used to, tapping into your soul and tugging at your heartstrings, quite easily, I might add. Worldbuilding and exploration are also nearly as good. 

In a world entirely built from clay and crafting, then scanned into interactive stop-motion animation play, you’d expect nothing short of grand. The attention to detail is impressive, as is the stunning design and immersive ways the world reels you in. Akin to Tim Burton’s films, you’ll enjoy a deep nostalgia for works like Corpse Bride and The Night Before Christmas. But also, The Midnight Walk feels unique and breathtaking. 

It’s largely aided by the melancholic tone and haunting music that swells at opportune moments in the story and gameplay. Without these, The Midnight Walk’s actual gameplay may have suffered brutally. The puzzles, while mildly interesting, are mostly repetitive and mundane. So is “the midnight walk” itself. You’re only just sneaking around, hiding, and running away, which can eventually grow bland after a while. 

And one last thing: The Midnight Walk is most emotive in PSVR2 or PCVR. Though launched with buggy gameplay and low resolution, you simply can’t take away the mournful and instrumental pieces of the game. Plus, physically shutting your eyes to unearth hidden items, destroy the monsters in different ways, or solve puzzles, constantly spices up your experience. And in roughly five hours’ worth of playthrough, The Midnight Walk doesn’t overstay its welcome.

Verdict

The trailer alone was enough to reel gamers into MoonHood’s debut puzzle-horror adventure game. The Midnight Walk promised artistic creativity that they have delivered to stunning effect. Beyond breathtaking worldbuilding, though, the stories you uncover are especially heartwarming. Even with the themes of grief and loss, it leaves a lasting impression. 

And perhaps, ignites excitement to want to jump back in, even if, sometime down the line, if only to relive the mournful, haunting, but ultimately satisfying playthrough. You can play The Midnight Walk on a flat screen with a PSVR2 or PCVR headset. And yes, the themes of light and dark may sound overly used. But I can bet you haven’t experienced it through the eyes of The Midnight Walk just yet.