Horror fans have a new reason to celebrate. The Midnight Walk, a handcrafted stop-motion horror adventure developed by MoonHood and published by Fast Travel Games, officially launched on May 8, 2025. The game is now available across PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR2, Steam, and Steam VR, and early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive—especially on Steam, where it currently holds a “Very Positive” rating from users.
With its eerie atmosphere, emotionally rich narrative, and distinctive claymation visuals, The Midnight Walk is quickly being recognized as one of the most artistically ambitious indie games of the year.
Game Overview: A Clay-Crafted Descent into Darkness
In The Midnight Walk, players step into the shoes of “The Burnt One,” a mysterious, partially melted figure lost in a surreal and nightmarish world. Guiding them through the darkness is Potboy—a small, glowing lantern creature with a ceramic teapot for a head—serving as both a companion and a lifeline in the game’s shadowy environments.
What sets this game apart is its visual identity. Every character, object, and landscape in The Midnight Walk was sculpted from real clay, 3D-scanned, and animated using a painstaking stop-motion-inspired technique. The result is a game that feels handcrafted in every sense—evoking comparisons to the works of Tim Burton and Laika Studios (Coraline, ParaNorman).
The game is divided into five interconnected tales, each with distinct themes and environments. Players navigate these areas through light exploration, puzzle-solving, and stealth mechanics, all presented from a first-person perspective. The eerie charm of the game is deepened by a signature mechanic: the ability to “close your eyes,” which reveals hidden paths or temporarily freezes enemies—adding a supernatural twist to the horror.
Gameplay Mechanics: Accessible Yet Immersive
While The Midnight Walk doesn’t rely on combat, it demands patience, observation, and intuition. Much of the gameplay centers around:
- Light and shadow mechanics to navigate puzzles or reveal secrets
- Stealth-based evasion of blind monsters that respond to sound
- Environmental storytelling that gradually unpacks a haunting lore
- VR immersion on PSVR2 and PC, enhancing the tactile nature of the claymation art
Players without VR gear can still experience the full game on PS5 or PC in non-VR mode, where it retains its atmosphere and narrative depth.
Reception Highlights: Critics and Players Alike Praise the Vision
Critics have widely praised The Midnight Walk for its arresting visuals and distinct tone. Highlights include:
- Polygon and Game Informer applauded the game’s visual fidelity, calling it “emotionally evocative” and “a rare visual achievement in gaming.”
- Road to VR noted the title’s use of VR as “one of the most aesthetically impressive uses of the medium,” despite some early technical hiccups that have since been patched.
- UploadVR and Checkpoint Gaming highlighted the effectiveness of its horror elements, calling it a “gentle nightmare” and “a breath of fresh air in a genre oversaturated with gore.”
On OpenCritic, The Midnight Walk holds a “Strong” aggregate rating, and on Steam, the game has climbed to “Very Positive” user reviews within days of launch. Many reviewers commend its emotional storytelling and artistic ambition, though some noted the simplicity of its stealth and puzzle mechanics compared to more traditional horror titles.
Art and Sound: A Handcrafted World That Feels Alive
The claymation visuals aren’t just a gimmick—they’re the soul of the game. From grotesque monsters to whimsical props, everything in the world feels touched by human hands. This tactile quality gives the environments a sense of realism despite their fantastical design.
The original score, composed by a small team of indie sound artists, underscores the haunting atmosphere with melancholic piano pieces, ambient drones, and eerie soundscapes. The game’s sound design helps reinforce key gameplay moments, such as hiding from enemies or discovering hidden rooms.
PC System Requirements and VR Support
For PC players, The Midnight Walk runs smoothly on a mid-range setup but benefits from higher-end specs for VR:
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: Intel i7-6700k or AMD Ryzen 7 5800
- RAM: 16 GB
- Graphics: GTX 1070 or equivalent
- Storage: 18 GB
- VR Headsets Supported: Valve Index, Meta Quest (via Link), Rift S, HTC Vive
Pricing and Platforms
The game is available for $39.99 USD on:
- Steam (PC and Steam VR)
- PlayStation Store (PS5 and PSVR2)
There are no physical editions currently announced, though limited-edition merchandise such as handmade clay figurines and art prints are available through Fast Travel Games’ online store.
Final Thoughts: A New Horror Classic in the Making?
With The Midnight Walk, MoonHood has made a striking debut—one that embraces art, emotion, and atmosphere over action and spectacle. Its meditative pace, strange beauty, and thoughtful world-building mark it as a standout title not just in horror, but across the indie landscape of 2025.
While it may not satisfy players looking for adrenaline-pumping scares or combat-heavy survival mechanics, it excels as a narrative-driven, artistically daring experience. For fans of games like Little Nightmares, Inside, or Kentucky Route Zero, this one is an essential addition to your library.
Whether you’re playing on a standard display or fully immersed in VR, The Midnight Walk is a haunting, heartfelt journey that lingers long after the credits roll.
Key Takeaways
- The Midnight Walk released on May 8, 2025 for PS5, PSVR2, Steam, and Steam VR.
- It features a handcrafted stop-motion art style with first-person exploration, puzzle-solving, stealth, and light horror elements.
- Available for purchase on PlayStation Store and Steam, with both standard and VR modes supported.
Background and Development
The Midnight Walk began as a concept project at MoonHood Studios, eventually gaining momentum through a partnership with publisher Fast Travel Games. Their shared vision of a surreal horror experience led to years of development focused on blending handcrafted artistry with immersive gameplay.
Concept and Inspiration
Drawing inspiration from the visual worlds of Tim Burton and other dark fantasy influences, The Midnight Walk features a macabre yet whimsical style. Its clay-crafted aesthetic gives the environment a textured, handmade quality, creating a sense of physicality rarely found in digital games.
MoonHood designed the gameplay to evoke a sense of vulnerability, contrasting it with moments of empowerment, especially through the presence of a glowing lantern companion who plays a vital role in guiding the player through the darkness.
Timeline of Production
Initial concepts for The Midnight Walk began several years ago. By 2024, gameplay footage was revealed at major gaming events. The title received heightened attention following a February 2025 showcase at Sony’s State of Play, where the official release date was confirmed for May 8, 2025.
Developers spent considerable time refining the handcrafted animation style, using real clay models and custom lighting setups to capture a stop-motion aesthetic through modern 3D scanning and animation techniques.
Partnerships and Collaborations
MoonHood’s collaboration with Fast Travel Games was critical to the project’s completion. Fast Travel’s experience with VR and narrative-driven games helped elevate the title, ensuring it launched with polish across multiple platforms.
In addition to in-house developers, MoonHood worked with external sculptors and artists to achieve the game’s signature look. Their influence can be seen in the tactile, real-world textures that define every frame of the game.
Game Overview
The Midnight Walk is a single-player, first-person dark fantasy experience that invites players to explore a surreal, shifting world. With puzzle-solving, stealth elements, and emotionally resonant storytelling, the game offers more than scares—it’s an interactive piece of art.
Plot and Setting
Players take on the role of “The Burnt One,” journeying through a strange, nightmarish landscape where reality seems distorted. The setting is filled with eerie forests, abandoned structures, and unsettling silence, building an atmosphere of isolation and curiosity.
Along the way, fragments of story and lore are uncovered, hinting at a deeper mystery surrounding the protagonist and the world itself. Themes of memory, fear, and companionship are central to the narrative arc.
Gameplay Mechanics
The Midnight Walk relies on thoughtful navigation, environmental storytelling, and non-combat challenges. Rather than fighting, players must use stealth, light, and clever puzzle-solving to survive and progress.
- Stealth and evasion: Evade blind monsters using careful movement and audio cues.
- Environmental puzzles: Solve creative, atmosphere-driven puzzles to unlock paths.
- Light-based mechanics: Your lantern companion reveals hidden paths and can freeze enemies when you “close your eyes.”
VR and Non-VR Play
One of the game’s strongest features is its dual-mode play. Whether in VR or standard mode, the experience is designed to immerse players fully. VR support is available through PlayStation VR2 and Steam VR, with the handcrafted world feeling especially tactile in virtual reality.
Art and Audio
Visuals are the core of the game’s identity. Every character, prop, and environment was physically sculpted and then digitized, creating a mesmerizing stop-motion feel. Lighting, shadows, and texture detail bring a spooky, storybook-like quality to the world.
The audio complements the visual design with moody ambient music, environmental sounds, and subtle cues that guide players through dangerous and emotional moments alike.
Technical Requirements
On PC, the game runs on Windows 10 and requires modern hardware. Steam users report stable performance on mid-to-high-end rigs. VR users may want to ensure they meet minimum specs for a smooth experience.
- Minimum CPU: Intel i7-1180 / AMD Ryzen 7 5800
- GPU: GTX 1070 or equivalent recommended for VR
- OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
- Storage: 18 GB free space
FAQ – Post-Launch
Is The Midnight Walk available now?
Yes. The Midnight Walk officially launched on May 8, 2025, and is now available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR2, and PC via Steam with optional VR support.
Do I need a VR headset to play?
No. The game supports both traditional screen-based gameplay and VR. It’s fully playable on PS5 and PC without a headset, but offers a unique immersive experience in VR.
How is the reception so far?
Early reviews have praised the game’s visuals, atmosphere, and originality. Players and critics alike note its emotional depth and artistic execution, though some feel the gameplay may be more subdued for those expecting fast-paced horror.
Is there any multiplayer?
No. The Midnight Walk is a strictly single-player, narrative-driven experience.
Where can I buy it?
You can purchase The Midnight Walk digitally on the PlayStation Store and Steam. Physical editions and collector’s bundles may vary by region.
