“A surprise BAFTA result lands” as South of Midnight outperforms expectations and a new winner takes the spotlight

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A surprise result at the BAFTAs sees South of Midnight come out on top, highlighting its unique setting and narrative despite stiff competition from major releases.

South of Midnight reveal screenshots
South of Midnight screenshot (Image credit: Microsoft)

South of Midnight was released back in April 2025 for Xbox and PC, and more recently launched on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2. The game previously picked up a win at The Game Awards for Games for Impact, which highlights thought-provoking titles with pro-social themes.

To give a bit of context before we continue, South of Midnight centers around a female lead in the American Deep South, as you journey through and uncover mythos tied to the region while searching for your mother. Developed by Compulsion Games, who are currently hiring, the game was received well by critics, as well as players on Steam and Xbox.

In-game screenshot of South of Midnight (Image credit: Compulsion Games)

Now, the 22nd annual British Academy Games Awards have taken place, covering releases from November 2024 through November 2025. Xbox’s South of Midnight came out on top in a category filled with heavy hitters, including The Alters, ARC Raiders, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Dispatch, and Split Fiction.

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The game was nominated for, and ultimately won, the award for New Intellectual Property, marking Xbox’s only win at this year’s show.

It should come as little surprise that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took home Best Game at the BAFTAs, and similarly, No Man’s Sky won Best Evolving Game, as Hello Games continues to support the nearly decade-old title with free updates.

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I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t actually played South of Midnight, and that’s simply because my backlog is already way too big as it is. I also can’t stop playing Slay the Spire 2, which has gone on to break records and is just incredibly addictive.

Any chance I do get, which isn’t often, I find myself booting that up because it’s so easy to pick up and put back down.

South of Midnight does look fun, though, and I want to hear from you. Are you surprised, not surprised, or even glad that it got some love at the BAFTAs? Or are you like me and yet to pick the game up for whatever reason?

Let me know in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll!

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Adam Hales
Adam Hales
Contributor

Adam is a Psychology Master’s graduate passionate about gaming, community building, and digital engagement. A lifelong Xbox fan since 2001, he started with Halo: Combat Evolved and remains an avid achievement hunter. Over the years, he has engaged with several Discord communities, helping them get established and grow. Gaming has always been more than a hobby for Adam—it’s where he’s met many friends, taken on new challenges, and connected with communities that share his passion.

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