‘Midnight Walk’: A Stop-Motion Inspired ‘Cozy Horror’ Game

As I settled in for my first encounter with The Midnight Walk, I found myself asking, "Wait, is this really the game and not a cutscene?" It was truly mesmerizing; what appeared on screen felt like a beautifully crafted stop-motion animated film. Quickly, it dawned on me that this was actually live, in-game footage, thanks to the brilliant work by the artists at MoonHood Studios.

The brilliance of The Midnight Walk lies in its striking resemblance to classic stop-motion projects, reminiscent of Phil Tippett’s Mad God or those iconic Tool music videos. This isn’t just coincidence; the game’s magic comes from the tangible materials used to craft its characters, monsters, and landscapes. Klaus Lyngeled from MoonHood shared that the team meticulously sculpted around 700 objects, which they then 3D-scanned into digital models. The characters move with that classic stop-motion jitter, and the cinematic camera work—complete with a shallow depth of field—completes this incredible illusion.

Lyngeled, together with writer Olov Redmalm, have painted the canvas for this first-person, story-driven puzzle game, which they aptly describe as a "cozy horror adventure." The game is teeming with quirky characters and amicable monsters, taking players through various chapters of fairy-tale-like stories. These narratives all share a central theme: the interweaving of warmth, contrast, and the quest to bring light into a shadowy world.

The adventure kicks off with our protagonist, the Burnt One, as they claw their way out of a grave to piece their body back together. Along the Midnight Walk, the game’s namesake highway, they’re accompanied by a delightful and somewhat goofy companion named Potboy. Potboy, sporting a small brazier on its head, becomes an integral part of the journey. Players will use its flame, along with matches, to light the way through the desolate highway and fend off foes.

Throughout the game, players are treated to an intriguing blend of puzzle-solving and stealth, with an interesting twist: a button that allows you to simply close your eyes and listen. MoonHood has promised an immersive experience with binaural audio, suggesting that players strap on headphones to fully dive into the game. They’ve even included a unique "gunplay" element where the Burnt One can wield a weapon that shoots lit matches, adding both a combat and puzzle-solving edge to the gameplay.

The Midnight Walk may brand itself as cozy, particularly with Potboy’s presence, but make no mistake—there are genuinely terrifying aspects lurking beneath. The monstrous adversaries and bosses are all unsettling in their own right. Expect encounters with things like scuttling cyclopean mutants, towering spider-like monstrosities, grotesque figures with sewn-shut eyes, and furious slug creatures—all designed to send shivers down your spine.

Reflecting on the influences MoonHood cites, like Over the Garden Wall, The Nightmare Before Christmas, David Lynch, and Half-Life 2, their mark is evident throughout the game’s design, yet The Midnight Walk simultaneously carves out its own identity. It’s this unique fusion of inspirations and craftsmanship that caught my attention—even if it wasn’t necessarily on my radar until just recently.

Luckily, fans won’t have to wait long to explore this intriguing world. The Midnight Walk is set to launch soon, arriving on PlayStation 5 (with support for PlayStation VR2) and Windows PC via Steam on May 8.