You're standing in a swamp that looks like a watercolor painting come to life, listening to a talking catfish, and wondering why that last achievement didn't pop. Compulsion Games didn't exactly make it easy. South of Midnight is a vibe—there's no other way to put it—but the achievement list is surprisingly dense with missable interactions and specific combat feats that require more than just button mashing. If you’re trying to 100% this Southern Gothic tale, you need a plan.
Getting the full 1,000 Gamerscore or the Platinum isn't just about finishing Hazel's journey. It’s about slowing down. Most players rush through the narrative, chasing Shuck and trying to mend the world, but the South of Midnight achievement guide logic dictates that you actually have to explore the nooks and crannies of the Prospero area and the Weaving world.
Honestly, the hardest part isn't the bosses. It’s the stuff you walk right past because you're distracted by the incredible soundtrack.
The Foundation of Your South of Midnight Achievement Guide Strategy
First thing's first: there is no "easy" mode that disables achievements. You can play on the difficulty that feels right for you. However, some combat achievements are actually harder on lower difficulties because enemies die before you can pull off complex Weaving combos. You want them to have a bit of health so you can rack up the necessary hits.
Most of the list is broken down into three buckets. You've got your unmissable story beats, your "do this specific thing in combat" tasks, and the dreaded collectibles. The collectibles in this game aren't just shiny baubles; they are deeply tied to the lore of the Deep South. If you miss a "Sticker" or a "Lore Entry" in a story-specific area that you can't return to, you might be looking at a second playthrough. That's the stuff that keeps completionists up at night.
Navigating the Missables
You’ve got to be careful. Some areas in South of Midnight lock behind you. Once Hazel moves into a new region of the weave, the previous path might be blocked by environmental changes or story progression.
The most common mistake? Ignoring the spirits. You’ll see these faint, shimmering echoes of people. Interacting with every single one you find isn't just for flavor; it’s often tied to "The Archivist" or similar completionist achievements. If you see something that looks interactable, touch it. Even if it seems like a minor piece of dialogue, the game is tracking your "curiosity."
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Combat Finesse and Weaving Wonders
Combat in this game is rhythmic. It’s not a character action game like Devil May Cry, but it’s not a slow soulslike either. To nail the combat-related achievements, you have to master the Weaving mechanics.
There’s an achievement for hitting a specific number of "Perfect Weaves" in a single encounter. This isn't just about dodging; it’s about timing your counter-weave to unravel the enemy’s defense. If you’re struggling, find a group of the smaller, spindly Haints. Don't kill them. Just stand there and practice the timing. It’s like a dance. Once you get the rhythm, the achievement pops, and you can finally clear the room.
- Environmental Kills: Look for the glowing flora. Some achievements require you to use the environment to stun or defeat enemies.
- Chain Weaving: You need to jump from one enemy to another without touching the ground. This is much easier in the mid-game once you’ve unlocked the verticality upgrades for Hazel’s traversal.
Wait, did you remember to pet the dog? Or the magical equivalent? There’s almost always a "hidden" interaction achievement in games like this. In South of Midnight, pay close attention to the animals in the hub area. Interacting with them at different stages of the story usually triggers a specific trophy.
Detailed Breakdown of the Tricky Stuff
Let's talk about the "Blindside" achievement. This one bugs people. You have to hit an enemy from the weave-tether without them spotting you. The AI in this game is surprisingly sensitive to sound. If you’re sprinting, they’ll turn around. You have to crouch, use the tall grass (which is everywhere in the Bayou), and wait for the patrol pattern to reset.
Collectibles That Actually Matter
The "Tales of the Deep South" achievement is the big one. It requires you to find all the audio logs and written notes. These are scattered across the Prospero, the Delta, and the higher-altitude reaches.
- Prospero's Toll: Check under the docks. Everyone misses the note under the docks.
- The Delta: Look for the abandoned shacks that aren't marked on your main path. If a path looks like it leads to a dead end, there is almost certainly a collectible there.
- The Weave: This is where it gets tricky. Some collectibles only appear when the world is in a "mended" state, while others are only there when the world is "torn."
Basically, if you see a weird distortion in the air, use your pulse ability. Hazel’s pulse isn't just for finding the next objective; it’s a scanner. It highlights interactables through walls. Use it every ten steps. Seriously.
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Boss Specific Trophies
Every major encounter with a Great Creature has a specific achievement tied to it beyond just winning the fight. For example, during the encounter with the giant alligator-like beast, there’s an achievement for never getting hit by its tail swipe.
If you get hit, you can’t just "undo" it. You have to restart the checkpoint immediately. This is why keeping multiple save slots is a lifesaver. Don't rely on the autosave; it might trigger right after you take damage, locking you out of the achievement for that run.
The boss fights are spectacles, but they are also puzzles. The South of Midnight achievement guide community often points out that the "Hard Way" achievements—doing the fight without using certain power-ups—are the most rewarding. It forces you to actually learn the boss's telegraphs rather than just powering through with brute force.
The Mystery of the "Secret" Achievements
There are usually 3-5 secret achievements that don't reveal their description until you earn them. Most of these are story-related, but one is usually tied to an Easter egg.
Keep an eye out for references to Compulsion Games' previous work, like We Happy Few. There’s often a small item or a line of dialogue that pays homage to their history. Finding these often triggers one of those hidden trophies. In South of Midnight, look for masks. Masks are a recurring theme for this studio, and interacting with a specific one tucked away in a late-game library is a common sticking point for hunters.
Technical Tips for the Completionist
If you’re playing on Xbox, use the Achievement Tracker overlay. It’s a godsend for the "cumulative" achievements, like "Weave 500 Haints." You can see the percentage bar move in real-time. If it’s not moving, you’re doing something wrong.
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On PC, keep an eye on your frame rate during the more intense Weaving sections. Some users have reported that timing-based achievements can be finicky if your FPS is dipping. Lowering the settings slightly for a boss fight can actually make the "Perfect Weave" windows feel more consistent.
Why Some Achievements Glitch
It happens. You do the thing, but the toast notification doesn't appear. Usually, this is because of a "Quick Resume" issue on consoles. If you’ve been leaving the game suspended for days, the connection to the achievement servers can get wonky.
Pro-tip: Fully close the game and restart your console if you notice trackers have stopped moving. It’s a pain, but it’s better than finishing the game and realizing the last five hours didn't count toward your total.
Final Steps for Your 100% Run
To truly master the South of Midnight achievement guide requirements, you need to be thorough. This isn't a game you can "plat" in five hours. Expect to spend about 15-20 hours if you’re taking your time to soak in the atmosphere and find every secret.
- Prioritize Mobility Upgrades: The faster Hazel can move, the easier it is to backtrack for missed items before the "Point of No Return."
- Talk to Everyone: NPCs often have branching dialogue. Exhaust every option. Sometimes an achievement is hidden behind the third or fourth time you talk to a character.
- Save Often: Use manual slots before every major boss or entering a new "Zone."
The beauty of South of Midnight is that the achievements actually encourage you to see the work the developers put into the world. They aren't just chores; they're invitations to look closer at the moss, the water, and the spirits haunting the shadows.
Actionable Insights for the Hunter:
- Check the Point of No Return: Before heading into the final confrontation with Shuck, ensure your collectible count matches the regional totals in your menu.
- Master the Pulse: Habitually tap the pulse button in every new room to highlight hidden lore pieces.
- Monitor Your Combat: If you haven't unlocked the "Chain 10 Weaves" achievement by the time you reach the Delta, find a large mob and focus purely on aerial movement.
- Stay Updated: Patch notes sometimes change achievement requirements if they were deemed too difficult or glitched at launch, so keep your game version current.