Skip to main content

South of the Circle

South of the Circle is the very definition of a masterpiece with its hyper-relevant story, phenomenal voice acting and Oscar-deserving dialogue.
South of the Circle Game Cover
78%Game Brain Score
story, music
stability, replayability
80% User Score Based on 225 reviews
Critic Score 75%Based on 23 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPlaystation 5Playstation 4XboxSteam DeckiPhoneWindowsPlayStationXbox Series X|SPCAmazon LunaCloudMac OSPhoneXbox OneiPadMobile Platform
Buy Nowfrom $0.99
Buy NowGet on Steam $12.99Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store
South of the Circle Game Cover

About

South of the Circle is a single player action adventure game with romance, drama and warfare themes. It was developed by State of Play and was released on August 3, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"South of the Circle" is a narrative-driven adventure game set in the Cold War era. Players step into the role of a Cambridge academic who finds himself stranded in the Antarctic, where he reflects on his past and makes decisions that impact his future. The game combines stunning hand-drawn graphics with a deep, emotional story to create an immersive and thought-provoking experience.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
South of the Circle screenshot
South of the Circle screenshot
South of the Circle screenshot
South of the Circle screenshot
Skip User Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 225 reviews
story91 positive mentions
stability7 negative mentions
  • The game features a captivating and well-written story that explores deep themes such as love, regret, and the impact of societal pressures during the Cold War era.
  • The voice acting and soundtrack are exceptional, enhancing the emotional depth and immersion of the narrative experience.
  • The unique art style and visual presentation create a beautiful atmosphere that complements the storytelling, making it feel more like an interactive movie.
  • The choices presented in the game often feel meaningless, as they do not significantly impact the story or lead to different outcomes, which can be frustrating for players seeking a more interactive experience.
  • The gameplay is limited, primarily consisting of walking and making minor dialogue choices, which may leave players feeling like they are merely watching a film rather than engaging in a game.
  • The ending is abrupt and leaves many questions unanswered, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction and confusion about the overall narrative resolution.
  • story
    235 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "South of the Circle" is widely praised for its emotional depth and engaging narrative, set against the backdrop of the Cold War. While many players appreciate the well-crafted characters and voice acting, there is a common sentiment that the choices offered are largely illusory, leading to a linear experience that diminishes player agency. Despite some criticisms regarding the pacing and the ending, the game is recognized as a compelling cinematic experience that excels in storytelling, making it a worthwhile journey for fans of narrative-driven games.

    • “The game has great voice acting, characters, and a very interesting story.”
    • “The characters are well thought out and the plot is interesting, using the backdrop of the Cold War to tell a character drama and mystery through the eyes of completely normal people.”
    • “South of the Circle is a journey that pulls you in from the get-go, thanks to its captivating story and breathtaking soundtrack.”
    • “I'm sad because it looks good but is so boring... I wanted some dark, political plot twists and what I got is talking about clouds, main characters with no personality, illusionary choices, and so eye-rolling romance.”
    • “Unfortunately, the weight of story choices doesn't translate into meaningful consequences.”
    • “The game is very story rich and emotional, too bad none of your choices matter; whatever you pick will be made into a set path that was met with a very disappointing end.”
  • music
    53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "South of the Circle" is widely praised as one of its standout features, with many reviewers highlighting its emotional depth and ability to enhance the narrative. The soundtrack is described as captivating, atmospheric, and perfectly aligned with the game's themes, contributing significantly to the overall immersive experience. While some critiques mention limited gameplay, the combination of high-quality music, impressive visuals, and strong voice acting creates a compelling cinematic feel that resonates with players.

    • “The game has a beautiful coherent art style, and a soundtrack of very high quality, hitting the precise notes to enhance the story at any moment.”
    • “The true masterpiece lies within the game's musical score, which is nothing short of a roller coaster of emotions and seamlessly ties scenes together.”
    • “The harmonious blend of the soundtrack is easily the most enthralling element of the narrative.”
    • “Although story, music and visual are okay, it does not count as a game in my opinion.”
    • “Nice little cinematic game with a great story and a phenomenal soundtrack; gameplay is very lacking though.”
    • “I loved the narration, the presentation, the music and the story but those last 2 minutes really left a sour taste, not because it did not give me what I wanted but because it felt so rushed, muddled and overall unfulfilling.”
  • graphics
    50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful, minimalist art style that effectively complements the narrative and emotional depth of the story. While many reviewers appreciate the unique visuals and captivating atmosphere, some note issues such as character clipping and a lack of emotional expression in character faces. Overall, the combination of striking visuals, a compelling soundtrack, and strong voice acting creates an immersive experience, though the gameplay mechanics are often seen as secondary to the narrative.

    • “The graphics are captivating, with their stylized, flat, thirties-style visuals (WPA tourist posters came to mind).”
    • “One of the standout features of South of the Circle is its simplistic yet incredibly unique graphics.”
    • “Its innovative approach to visuals, combined with its emotionally evocative music, creates an ambiance that is both rare and captivating.”
    • “My only shortcomings with the presentation are a large number of instances where characters clip awkwardly through the terrain and objects, and the faces of the characters, while loyal to the art style, are a bit too faint and don't convey emotions very well.”
    • “The flat color low-poly graphics have a charm to them but are far from amusing enough to justify strolling at a snail’s pace to admire the view.”
    • “Con's: graphics aren't adjustable, keyboard settings, controller support only for Xbox.”
  • gameplay
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is largely criticized for being minimal and simplistic, often described as a walking simulator or point-and-click experience with little to no impactful mechanics. While the narrative, art style, and music receive praise, many reviewers feel that the lack of meaningful choices and gameplay depth detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like an interactive story than a traditional game. Overall, players appreciate the storytelling but express disappointment in the gameplay's limitations.

    • “There are no gameplay mechanics; it's a simple point-and-click game, so it's what you need when you just want to enjoy a new experience without getting any frustration.”
    • “The lightly textured art still creates excellent backdrops for the very minimal gameplay - a mixture of walking forward and dialogue sequences, but what really carries 'South of the Circle' are some of the best voice performances I've heard in a game.”
    • “After 'Stray', 'South of the Circle' was my second surprise of the summer: excellent storyline, very gripping from start to finish, superb artistic pace... easy gameplay to learn (given the type of game, it's not very difficult).”
    • “Gameplay-wise, it's a walking simulator in the purest sense; there's no real, impactful gameplay, but I thought it was fun nonetheless.”
    • “This game is amazing at storytelling, but its clear weakness is the gameplay.”
    • “The game boasts a top-tier narrative, though its gameplay—limited to choices that ultimately don't alter the story—may divide opinion, resembling more a cinematic experience than a traditional game.”
  • emotional
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling, captivating visuals, and evocative music, creating a deeply engaging experience. However, some players express disappointment over the lack of meaningful choices, which diminishes the emotional impact during critical moments. Overall, while many find the game to be a beautiful and moving experience, opinions vary on the effectiveness of its emotional engagement due to its narrative structure.

    • “I really liked how the story touched me several times, especially by the end, when the conflict welled up between the main character's past and present.”
    • “Its innovative approach to visuals, combined with its emotionally evocative music, creates an ambiance that is both rare and captivating.”
    • “South of the Circle is a great narrative experience, with a lovely visual style that delivers a heartfelt story in an impactful way.”
  • stability
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game received mixed reviews, with some players reporting significant glitches, such as visual bugs, animation issues, and problems with story progression. However, others noted that while there were minor visual glitches and some wonkiness in character models, these did not significantly impact the overall gameplay experience. Overall, the game appears to have a range of stability issues, from minor to more disruptive.

    • “Lots of visual glitches and poor animations, plus the story ended in an abrupt, open-ended manner.”
    • “I had several glitches where the next story wouldn't load and my character just walked back to where he had begun without me having any control and I was really confused by the plot where the female character just randomly started storming off and yelling... none of my choices mattered in the end.”
    • “- buggy terrain (items floating in the air, clipping through rocks)”
  • atmosphere
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by impressive graphics, excellent voice acting, and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers note that the art style and meticulous set design contribute to a memorable and immersive environment, making it feel more like a visual novel than a traditional game. Despite some limitations in gameplay impact, the overall ambiance remains a standout feature.

    • “The graphics are very impressive and beautiful, the music is fantastic and perfectly adapts to the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The atmosphere was on a constant high and I absolutely love all the voices of the characters.”
    • “A meticulous, understated, and memorable little experience with excellent voice acting, atmospheric set design, and a solid soundtrack as the glue.”
  • optimization
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is highlighted by its striking art style and excellent voice acting, which enhance the overall experience despite a linear story and limited branching choices. While the dialogue choices can sometimes feel disconnected from character moods, the strong writing and performances overshadow these issues, making for a well-paced narrative. Overall, the art direction and vocal performances are the standout features, elevating the game's presentation.

    • “This game has fantastic writing, performances, and music, but it is all totally eclipsed by the game's stellar art direction.”
    • “The lightly textured art still creates excellent backdrops for the very minimal gameplay - a mixture of walking forward and dialogue QTEs, but what really carries 'South of the Circle' are some of the best voice performances I've heard in a game.”
    • “Very well-paced and well-written story with a simplistic yet striking art style that allows for the voice acting to stand out, as it deserves to with a fantastic performance from the entire cast.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is criticized for its short duration of 3-5 hours and minimal interactivity, leading to a consensus that it offers little to no replayability, resembling more of an "interactive movie" than a traditional game experience.

    • “The game takes a maximum of 5 hours to complete, with nearly zero replay value.”
    • “Sadly, I don't think this game has much replayability, so it's kind of a 3-4 hour long 'interactive movie.'”
    • “It's short, with very little interactivity, and zero replay value.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players initially find the grinding aspect slow and potentially tedious, especially in the early stages of the game. However, as they become more engaged with the narrative, this concern diminishes, leading to a more immersive experience by the end.

    • “The grinding feels excessively repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
    • “I found the grinding to be a major drag, as it often interrupts the flow of the narrative.”
    • “The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming and detracts from the overall experience.”
  • humor
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is perceived as less effective than in similar titles, such as Red Alert, with users noting that while it attempts to be evil and comedic, it ultimately falls short of delivering genuine laughs.

Skip Critic Reviews

75%Critics’ scoreBased on 23 critic reviews
Skip Game Offers

Buy South of the Circle

3h Median play time
3h Average play time
3-3h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like South of the Circle

Games Like South of the Circle

Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth Image
86%3kreviews

Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth

2017Casual Action Adventure
Nintendo SwitchPlaystation 4Xbox+11
Beyond: Two Souls Image
79%8.8kreviews

Beyond: Two Souls

2020Action Adventure
Playstation 3PCTablet+5
The Walking Dead Image
94%43kreviews

The Walking Dead

2012Survival Action Adventure
Playstation 3Nintendo SwitchXbox 360+16
To the Moon Image
90%35.8kreviews

To the Moon

2012Casual Role Playing
Nintendo SwitchAndroidPlaystation 5+13
Firewatch Image
84%57.3kreviews

Firewatch

2016Open World Action Adventure
Nintendo SwitchPlaystation 5Playstation 4+18
More games like South of the Circle
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

South of the Circle is a action adventure game with romance, drama and warfare themes.

South of the Circle is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 3 hours playing South of the Circle.

South of the Circle was released on August 3, 2022.

South of the Circle was developed by State of Play.

South of the Circle has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

South of the Circle is a single player game.

Similar games include Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth, Beyond: Two Souls, The Walking Dead, To the Moon, Firewatch and others.