South of the Circle | Xbox Review

August 16, 2022 Alyssa White

Are you looking for a narrative experience that will make you feel every emotion humanly possible in a short time span? Then do I have the game for you! State of Play’s South of the Circle quickly sunk its claws into me and refused to let go. I didn’t leave this story feeling happy and chipper, but it did linger in my mind for a while after I had finished it. Is this the game for you? Let’s find out.

It’s About the Journey, Not the Destination

You play as Peter, a professor/climatologist in the ‘60s who has traveled to Antarctica to study the relationship between clouds and radiation. His plane crashes, and the pilot is injured. Peter ventures out to seek help, but along his arduous journey he is hit with flashbacks. During these segments, we see Peter’s budding relationship with a fellow professor named Clara and his struggle with writing a compelling research paper. These breaks from the bleak attempt at survival in a harsh climate are a welcome treat and a fascinating look into this man’s life.

Your Life Is In Your Hands

Gameplay is limited, but South of the Circle does utilize several mechanics that subtly alter your story. Dialogue choices are made by selecting a color (or shape if you’re colorblind) that corresponds with a certain set of emotions. Only one of these prompts actually changes your ending late in the game, but you are able to mold Peter into a man who is shy, bold, charismatic, unsure, or caring. I was invested in ensuring that Peter was a good human, but some of the options are a tad misleading. I would select, for example, the caring choice but he would seem more nervous than empathetic. I also wish that the one selection that changes your ending actually changed more than just a short moment before the credits roll. Everything else remains the same besides a few lines of dialogue. Some decisions also impact your history with Clara later in the game, but don’t make a huge difference in the grand scheme of things.

I adored how Peter and Clara’s relationship was portrayed, and I was cheering them both on with their individual journeys. I do wish some of the story elements that are brought into the fold were further expounded upon. A few beats are introduced, and then are tossed to the side quickly afterwards. I would have loved to have gotten a deeper dive into these side stories.

There’s Beauty Everywhere

The voice acting is top-notch. The cast includes the likes of talent such as Gwilym Lee (Bohemian Rhapsody, The Great), Olivia Vinall (Bravely Default II), and Richard Goulding (The Crown, Me Before You) to name just a few. Their performances feel natural and each character comes to life through their talent. The visuals are also gorgeous, with a style that reminded me of the likes of games such Firewatch. I did notice quite a bit of clipping with the graphics, but it’s a mild distraction at best. The score is also appropriately utilized to expand on the emotions of each scene.

The Final Verdict

South of the Circle is a compelling, albeit short, story about survival and chasing your dreams. It took me a little under 4 hours to complete, but it lingered with me long after the last credit rolled. I enjoyed molding Peter into the man I wanted him to be, but I do wish some of the choices felt more natural to the emotion they were tied with. I also wish a few story beats had been more fleshed out and that your decisions affected the story and ending more, seeing as the two finales are so similar. If you’re looking for a narratively driven adventure to spend your time with over the course of a sitting or two that will stick with you, though, this is a wonderful choice to play.

This review is based on an Xbox copy of South of the Circle provided by Evolve PR for coverage purposes. It is also available on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Apple Arcade, and PC via Steam and GOG.