PlayStation’s recent State of Play event showcased an impressive roster, and The Midnight Walk was one of the most unique games in attendance. The stop-motion adventure teased a charming blend of horror and first-person mechanics set in a whimsical, yet dark, world that looks beautifully crafted. The Midnight Walk is bound to interest horror and adventure fans in general, but the game’s vibes are even more reminiscent of Tim Burton’s early work.
The trailer for The Midnight Walk offered an intriguing sneak peek into its world filled with monsters who are lurking around dim corners. In the game, players take on the role of The Burnt One. Alongside an adorable little anthropomorphic lantern named Potboy, the two embark on a mysterious journey that is filled with wild visuals and heart-pounding encounters.
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The Midnight Walk Wears Its Tim Burton Influence On Its Sleeve
Developed by MoonHood, The Midnight Walk is a clear evolution of the stop-motion art form. Of course, it’s important to note that Tim Burton wasn’t the inventor of this type of animation, but his early work and collaboration with director Henry Selick helped bring it into the mainstream. The Nightmare Before Christmas remains one of the essential titles in the world of stop-motion film, causing the style to become somewhat synonymous with Tim Burton, despite a large portion of his work being live-action. Because of the impact The Nightmare Before Christmas had on the industry, games like The Midnight Walk have been able to become reality.
The Midnight Walk isn’t the only stop-motion game to make itself known recently, though. Last year’s Harold Halibut and the upcoming South of Midnight both embraced this type of animation, as well, which is an exciting change of pace for how a game’s visuals are brought to life. However, the difference with The Midnight Walk is that it holds that unique style of cute creepiness that The Nightmare Before Christmas encapsulates so well. There’s a grotesque charm in the character design in both projects that brings forth a compelling visual blend.
Other stop-motion films Tim Burton is known for are James and the Giant Peach, Corpse Bride, 9, and Frankenweenie.
The Midnight Walk Promises Both Charm and Scares
Although the design of characters like Potboy showcase the game’s cute qualities, it also looks like a game that harbors plenty of scary moments. The coziness of its horror shown throughout the trailer is abruptly broken up by horrifying monsters that are bound to make one’s palms sweat when coming face-to-face in the game’s dimly lit world. When it comes to Sony’s State of Play, the event was a huge moment for horror fans in general. Not only was The Midnight Walk an exciting announcement, but a Days Gone remaster and a deeper look into Directive 8020 padded out the showcase’s list of updates.
Gamers Won’t Have to Wait Much Longer for The Midnight Walk
- The Midnight Walk launches for PS5 and PC on May 8.
Thankfully, The Midnight Walk is only a few months away now. For those who have been missing the creepy character designs that Tim Burton helped bring to life, The Midnight Walk is a game that may be the perfect title to scratch that itch. Between The Midnight Walk and South of Midnight, stop-motion fans have some exciting releases to look forward to this year.
Because of the impact The Nightmare Before Christmas had on the industry, games like The Midnight Walk have been able to become reality.
As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, it will be fascinating to see if stop-motion becomes a more prevalent style used within game animation. The legacy of Tim Burton has helped make stop-motion a more popular method of world building, and it’s thrilling to see it enter the gaming space.
- Released
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May 8, 2025
- ESRB
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Teen // Violence
- Developer(s)
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MoonHood
- Publisher(s)
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Fast Travel Games