South of Midnight, the latest action-adventure gem from Compulsion Games, throws you into a beautifully eerie world steeped in Southern Gothic vibes, supernatural creatures, and some seriously cool magic weaving. But before Hazel (our badass protagonist) starts pulling threads from reality itself, there's a big question you might be asking:
How hard is South of Midnight, really? And which difficulty setting should you pick?
Whether you're here for the story or the challenge, this guide breaks down all the difficulty modes and what they mean for your playthrough. Let’s get into it!
🔍 Quick Overview of South of Midnight
In case you're new to the game — or just want a refresher — South of Midnight is all about Hazel, a young woman who gains the power to "weave" the world back together. Think platforming, spell-slinging combat, and a healthy dose of mystery set in a world that feels like a stop-motion dream.
It’s a narrative-heavy game, but don’t let the artsy visuals fool you — there’s still plenty of action. That’s where difficulty modes come into play.
🎮 All South of Midnight Difficulty Modes Explained
The game offers five main difficulty modes, ranging from chill vibes to full-on chaos. Here’s how each one works:
1. Scryer (Easy Mode)
This is your “I just want to vibe and enjoy the story” setting. Enemies hit like wet noodles, and combat is super forgiving. Perfect for first-timers or folks who just want a relaxing ride through the bayou.
2. Healer
A step up from Scryer, but still pretty laid-back. You'll feel a bit more resistance in combat, but nothing overwhelming. Ideal if you want some challenge without too much stress.
3. Weaver
This is the default setting — a nice balance of story and combat. Enemies hit harder, are more aggressive, and force you to think a bit during fights. If you've played action-adventure games before, this is a solid place to start.
4. Grand Weaver (Hard Mode)
Ready for a challenge? Grand Weaver is where the game really tests your reflexes. Enemies have more health, hit harder, and demand better spell usage. It's not Elden Ring-level tough, but you'll definitely feel the heat in combat.
5. Grand Tapestry (Custom Mode)
This one’s a total wildcard — and a fan favorite. You can fully customize the difficulty. Want high enemy aggression but low health? Done. Want to make Hazel invincible so you can just explore and enjoy the story? You can do that too. It’s all up to you.
✅ Pro tip: You can change your difficulty at any time (except mid-fight), so don’t stress too much when picking at the start!
⚔️ How Difficulty Impacts Gameplay
Let’s be real — South of Midnight isn’t the hardest game out there. In fact, most players find it pretty manageable. Here’s how difficulty affects your experience:
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Combat: The only real thing difficulty changes is combat. Higher settings increase enemy damage, health, and aggression. Some enemies will even attack from off-screen, so spatial awareness helps.
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Boss fights: Bosses are broken into health segments — and here’s the cool part: the game auto-saves between each segment. Even if you mess up, you won’t be punished with a restart from the beginning.
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Chase scenes: These are fast-paced but packed with generous checkpoints. You're never more than a few seconds away from your last save.
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Platforming: Doesn’t change at all based on difficulty. It’s pretty standard stuff — jump, swing, pull a ledge here and there. Easy to get the hang of.
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Spells: Hazel’s got a cool arsenal of magical weaving powers (like “Strand Pull” and “Weave”), which are on cooldown timers. In tougher fights, you’ll need to time these carefully.
💬 What the Community Is Saying
You don’t have to take our word for it — here’s what players are saying:
🔗 Steam Community Discussion
“I love how customizable the difficulty is. Being able to tweak damage and aggression makes it feel just right for how I want to play.”
🔗 Reddit Thread
“South of Midnight isn’t super hard, but the monster arenas on higher settings make you really think about your spell usage and positioning. It’s fun!”
🧠 So, Which Difficulty Should You Choose?
Here’s a quick cheat sheet:
| Player Type | Recommended Difficulty |
|---|---|
| New to games / Just want story | Scryer |
| Casual player / Light challenge | Healer |
| Experienced gamer | Weaver |
| Love a good challenge | Grand Weaver |
| Want full control / Accessibility | Grand Tapestry |
And remember — you can adjust at any time. No shame in tweaking things until it feels right for you.
📺 Want to See It In Action?
Check out this awesome in-depth review that covers gameplay, combat, and the full experience:
👉 South Of Midnight - Review After 100% (YouTube)
✅ Final Thoughts
South of Midnight nails the balance between storytelling and action, and the flexible difficulty settings make it super approachable for just about anyone. Whether you’re here for the deep Southern lore or just want to beat up some spirit monsters with cool spells, there’s a mode that’ll fit your vibe.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your controller, pick your difficulty, and start weaving!
Liked this guide? Drop a comment below and let us know what difficulty you’re playing on!
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Looking to optimize your South of Midnight experience on PC? We've got you covered! Our PC Performance Tips & Community Feedback for the Best Experience will help you fine-tune your settings for smooth gameplay.
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