A Journey Through the Cozy and Horror Genres

MoonHood Studios was co-founded by Klaus Lyngeled and Olov Redmalm, who have previously worked together on titles like Stick It to the Man, Flipping Death, Lost in Random, Fe, and more. The Midnight Walk is MoonHood Studios‘ first major project, and it seeks to marry the cozy and horror genres to give players a unique experience when it releases on May 8. Whether playing in VR or on a flat screen, the developers want to offer gamers an intimate and tangible experience that sticks with them long after they put the controller down.

Game Rant recently got to sit down for a hands-off look at The Midnight Walk, which promises to be darker in both theme and action than Klaus and Olov’s previous projects. Olov suggested that the title is, perhaps, more mature than the duo’s other games, and they hope the audience will come along with them for the ride.

Related

The Midnight Walk Could Face the Same Issues as South of Midnight

Even though they’re relatively different games, The Midnight Walk and South of Midnight could both suffer from the same problems.

Themes of Light and Dark Are at the Heart of The Midnight Walk

In The Midnight Walk, players take on the role of The Burnt One, who has the ability to bring fire, light, and warmth back to a dark world. These themes are at the core of the game’s story, as all three can be good and nourishing in moderation. However, fire can be devastating if left unchecked, plunging the world into chaos and ruin. The world of The Midnight Walk has been through its fair share of trials and tribulations, which players will unravel as they experience five fairy tales along the road to Moon Mountain.

As The Burnt One, players will use matchsticks to spread fire. These can be used to ignite machines, activate fireplaces, lure or scare enemies, and bring new life to a world that has been left in disrepair. Gamers will also encounter different kinds of matchsticks, like one that glows blue and acts like a flashlight. The developers also pointed out that matches have a built-in timer by nature, allowing them to be utilized in various ways while solving puzzles.

One of The Midnight Walk‘s most interesting mechanics has to do with closing one’s eyes. Klaus Lyngeled explained that this concept came from developing the title for PlayStation VR2. Due to the hardware’s ability to track eye movement, the developers came up with the player closing their eyes to wish away certain monsters, listening for a nearby object, or seeing an alternate pathway upon reopening them. Klaus explained that the mechanic worked so well, it became an integral part of the experience, which led to its inclusion in the flat-screen version of the title. Because of this emphasis on sound, the developers heavily recommend that gamers play the horror title with headphones on.

The Midnight Walk Is Brought to Life Through Handcrafted Artwork

In order to bring the world of The Midnight Walk to life, MoonHood Studios created over 700 art pieces and scanned them for use within the game. The materials used to bring this world and its characters to life vary from clay, to paper to cardboard, and just about anything else the team could get its hands on. Klaus explained that working on handcrafted pieces that are later scanned allowed them to add an unlimited amount of detail. The developers don’t mind if the player sees a scrape, a tear, or a piece of glue, because it all adds to the final product. Every nuance breathes authenticity into the feeling that the player is living among these miniatures on a larger set or table.

Characters play a crucial role in The Midnight Walk, and the player will encounter a wide variety of them on their journey to Moon Mountain. Of course, the first creature to join The Burnt One on their quest is Potboy. Klaus and Olov expressed that they found the inclusion of a close companion to be vitally important to the game, especially since it’s in first-person. The addition of a kind and trustworthy ally is also meant to enhance the cozy feeling of the horror game, as the player is never truly alone. In fact, Potboy was the very first piece of art crafted for The Midnight Walk, and he served as an inspiration for many of the designs and concepts that would come later.

The importance of friendship comes back again when The Burnt One and Potboy encounter Housy, who also joins them on their journey. Housy is, quite literally, a home for the player to live in. Gamers will be able to see their collectibles within the house, listen to the game’s soundtrack, and generally relax within a safe space. When the player wishes to continue down the road, Housy sprouts legs and follows along. Olov explained that this was a crucial element when giving the game a cozy feeling, as it introduced the idea that the player’s home is always with them, meaning safety and comfort are never too far away.

MoonHood Studios has spent two and a half years creating The Midnight Walk from the ground up, and the developers are very excited to see players get their hands on the title when it releases on May 8.

Systems

Released

May 8, 2025

ESRB

Teen // Violence

Developer(s)

MoonHood

Publisher(s)

Fast Travel Games