‘Midnight Walk’, a Cozy Horror Game with a Stop-Motion Animation Feel

As I delved into my initial experience with The Midnight Walk, I found myself doing a bit of a double take. Could this really be the gameplay I was seeing? At first glance, it resembled an exquisite stop-motion animated film. But in reality, the developers at MoonHood Studios were flaunting actual in-game footage.

The uniqueness of The Midnight Walk lies in its striking resemblance to classic stop-motion films, akin to Phil Tippett’s Mad God or those vintage Tool music videos. This unique aesthetic is largely due to the game’s use of real-world materials. Klaus Lyngeled from MoonHood revealed that the team painstakingly sculpted around 700 objects, subsequently 3D-scanning them to create digital models. The animations incorporate a characteristic stop-motion jerkiness, while a shallow depth of field beautifully rounds out the whole visual package.

Lyngeled, along with writer Olov Redmalm, describes their intriguing first-person, narrative-driven puzzle game as a “cozy horror adventure.” It’s filled with quirky oddballs and endearing monsters. The narrative unfolds over several fairy-tale-inspired chapters, each holding steadfast to a central theme: illuminating a bleak world with warmth and contrast.

The journey begins with the protagonist, known as the Burnt One, emerging from their own grave and mending their broken body. As they traverse the Midnight Walk, they’re accompanied by an endearing, playful creature named Potboy. This companion, who sports a small brazier atop its head, assists in lighting the path and fighting foes, with players using its flame and matches to ignite torches and dispel darkness.

Throughout the game, players will engage in puzzle-solving and stealth elements, including a unique mechanic that allows them to close their eyes and focus on listening. MoonHood encourages players to use headphones for an immersive binaural audio experience. Additionally, there’s an interesting take on “gunplay” where the Burnt One finds a match-shooting weapon, adding depth to both combat and puzzle-solving mechanics.

While the “cozy” aspect is dominant, thanks to Potboy, the game doesn’t shy away from horror. Its grotesque creatures and bosses add a layer of unsettling chills. Whether it’s the scurrying single-eyed mutants, the spider-like monstrosities, the eerie leather-faced beings with stitched eyes, or the belligerent slug creatures, there’s no shortage of spine-tingling encounters.

The creator’s inspirations — Over the Garden Wall, The Nightmare Before Christmas, David Lynch, and Half-Life 2 — are evident, yet The Midnight Walk stands apart, presenting a distinctive fusion of these influences. It’s fair to say that this game has piqued my interest, especially given that it was off my radar until just recently.

Thankfully, the anticipation won’t last long. The Midnight Walk is set to release on May 8th for PlayStation 5, with support for PlayStation VR2, and will also be available on Windows PC via Steam.