# South of the Circle — user reviews > 52 indexed App Store user reviews of South of the Circle by State of Play Games, rated 4.24/5 from 705 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/south-of-the-circle/id1477077753/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/south-of-the-circle/id1477077753.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 460 · 4★ 105 · 3★ 50 · 2★ 29 · 1★ 61 ## What do users think of South of the Circle? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Incredible story and visuals - 👍 Captivating voice acting and soundtrack - 💡 Unique interactive narrative experience **Cons** - 🐛 Occasional glitches and bugs - 🔍 Choices have little impact on the story - 🤔 Unsatisfying or abrupt ending **Commonly reported bugs** - Game freezing and losing progress - Overlapping character animations - Unclear control instructions **Most requested features** - Chapter selection menu - Multiple ending options - Ability to roam more freely ## Newest reviews (12 of 52) ### 4/5 — Beautiful story but little gameplay *2022-09-18, version 1.4.2* This took about 3 hrs. This nugget surprised me. It’s not necessarily a game but more of following along in the story of one man. Most the game is a point and direct the character to move through the story, it expects little in the terms of actual gameplay. You make choices and see how that affects your story. It has a beautiful love story, visual artwork, narratives, characters, and my word the voice actors! It is more well done than some movies out there. ### 5/5 — This game look and sounds INCREDIBLE *2021-07-25, version 1.2* Honestly the art, cinematography and sound design of this game are good enough that the ‘inconsequential gameplay’ that others are complaining about here didn’t bother me at all. I can’t believe how well it runs on my iPad Air either. if you’re into games that tend to be called “walking simulators” you should know what to expect here ### 5/5 — Adorable *2021-07-18, version 1.2* I spent maybe more thn 5 hours finishing the whole game. I simply love all the graphics and also the voices of the character. However as this game is very story based- the ending is very unsatisfying and i especially don’t understand why Clara saying all the wrong things. Maybe yes the story meant to be artsy or something. But I still feel you owe an explanation to the user. ### 4/5 — Good game. But disappointed. *2021-07-05, version 1.2* The game it’s self is beautiful. The story is absolutely captivating and I just spent about 3 hours finally finishing after playing when I could for weeks. The ending has me bummed however. Even if it’s not how I wanted it to end I just wish there was more information. More substance. Would definitely like to see an alt end or after game dlc. I just have so many unanswered questions. ### 5/5 — Spoilers inside *2021-04-21, version 1.2* A very good game overall. Take it as a movie. What I didn’t like too much was the abrupt ending, especially the Clara getting mad scene. It’s not that I don’t understand it, I think the developer team got the point across, that memories can be distorted and Clara is mad for the wrongs Peter must have done to her. I understand this through the 3(?) replays of the confirming with John whether to put Clara’s name scene. Apparently Peter is imagining some if not all of them. I just think Clara’s disappointment and their break up can be developed a bit more gradually, so we can be left with a deeper impression of the irreparable sadness. ### 5/5 — Amazing interactive storyline *2021-04-12, version 1.2* I don’t write much reviews on games, but this one definitely deserves it. The storyline was epic. There were a couple of glitches here and there but nothing that made me want to stop participating this story. It was by far one of the best games/stories I’ve ever witnessed. Everything was amazing, from beginning to end, I was 100% captivated by the story. Amazing work guys. I will be looking at more of your work. ### 3/5 — Conflicted on the game *2021-04-09, version 1.2* It’s gorgeous and the dialogue is fantastic but the ending left me a bit hollow making the illusion of choice extremely transparent. I don’t think a single choice I made mattered. At all. SPOILERS : why exactly couldn’t it have been that he still ended up in Antarctica because Clara realized she wouldn’t be able to go because of awful gender politics of that era and just still wanted him to get the opportunity? I mean if there just needed to be a reason for him to have been there even if you weren’t terrible. Or was the whole point that you choosing the kind and fair options was you just lying to yourself about what happened. I would have liked that to be clearer. Made everything I did seem completely pointless. ### 5/5 — The Best Experience I’ve Had Yet *2021-02-09, version 1.2* This game is amazing, the art style is so simple yet complicated at the same time and it manages to capture the depth and feeling of the environment I’m in. I’ve never really appreciated a soundtrack as much as this one, and the slight background noise of birds chirping and foot steps seem to add on to this experience. I played with a Dualshock 4 and a very good set of earbuds, I felt that playing on the standard screen might make it crowded and I wouldn’t be able to appreciate the scenery as much as you could be, and I do not regret my decision. This game is truly one of a kind and definetely worth the small price for Apple Arcade - If not more! I found myself so invested in the story it was actually quite surprising. Thank you so much, Developers for this wonderful experience. ### 4/5 — Honestly Pretty Good *2021-02-07, version 1.2* Look, it’s not for everyone, as seen either above or below my own review, but it is good in my opinion. Do your choices matter? Honestly just in the moment for how who you’re talking to responds/feels about you for a second and not in the overall sense. Did it help me attach to the main character? Duh, that seems it’s function. The walking bits I wish allowed for more roaming, making it clear there’s a straight invisible path, but the story is actually really good and I actually liked the two main characters. I feel it was super interesting and think it’s a good game to show that mobile gaming is more than farming/puzzle simulators or minimized fps machines, they can be theyre own thing. Takes a while to work through the game, but worth it tbh. ### 5/5 — Great game overall *2021-02-01, version 1.2* Played the whole thing in one day it was so immersive. Didn’t want to put it down because it has such a great story to it. Honestly better than most movies I’ve seen in awhile but...... the ending left me wanting more would like to know for certain what happens other than that though really great game would like a part tow or something to not leave it at a cliffhanger like it did ### 5/5 — Not a Game. An Experience *2021-01-10, version 1.2* (Spoiler-free review) This is not a game. It is an experience. You spend roughly 3-4 hours learning about the past and present of Peter Hamilton, and his struggles with love and survival. The story is beautifully written and the dialogue and acting is incredible. You get a bit of control over your character, choosing what sort of emotions you express in your words. But as the story goes on you get more and more wrapped up in this international mystery in Cold War England and Antarctica. The ending left me a little unsatisfied, but as I thought about it I see the beauty in it. Overall, an incredible game. I’ve never cried over characters in a game before but I did now. 5 stars ### 4/5 — Gorgeous, just a couple of problems... *2021-01-05, version 1.2* I completely adored almost all of this. Everything was beautiful about it and well crafted, from the visuals, to the music (which was completely fantastic and really heartrending) the storyline, and the amazing voice acting. As noted in other reviews, the choices you make in this game doesn’t really influence the end. I think it would end the same no matter what I picked, but honestly, it doesn’t bother me. I like this new medium of story telling, I think it’s captivating. My one problem other than the occasional glitches visually is that the ending is so unsatisfactory. I know that this is supposed to be art and the director wanted to leave it ambiguous for drama or metaphor or something, but I spent a ridiculous amount of time on this story, way longer than I would on a movie, and I personally think it’s more respectful to your viewers to give us a little more. Other than that, this was incredibly lovely. I recommend (though not to those of the faint of heart). ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Idk what wrong with it *2021-06-12, version 1.2* Okay so I was really bored one day and got this. I got it like 3 months ago and it wasn’t downloading. I also couldn’t delete it after it wasn’t downloading so it was stuck in the downloading phase. Btw it’s STILL in the downloading phase. I have tried everything to get rid of this app. And it’s not my phone. (Well it might be) but every. Single. App. Except this one will download. Idk if it’s bc of this game or my phone is tweaking but it’s really really really really annoying having a half downloaded game that you can’t do anything about for three months on ur phone. Anyways yeah if anyone else has this problem then at least ik I’m not going crazy. ### 1/5 — Does not Save Game Progress on My AppleTV *2021-06-11, version 1.2* It did / did not save my game play on my newest model AppleTV, i.e., no Continue or Load options being displayed. Always starts a new game. I thought it might be because I did not have a Save point. However, I played for 2+ hours on my AppleTV completing several sections with icons at top of screen. When went back today to play, it again restarted from the beginning. Loaded it on my iPad and saw the options missing on AppleTV. Another, game element that I think should be added to the Options section is to display the words related to each of the game icons. ### 1/5 — Awful *2021-02-07, version 1.2* Artsy, yes. Historic, yes—Cold War, Cambridge—interesting story, but Nothing much to DO. One finger propels Peter through the story filled with flashbacks with an ending that is unfulfilling and unchangeable—waving or walking away?? The choices do not seem to influence a long several hour, slow movie about Peter’s life, and apparently poor choices, even if you make good ones for him when given the option...I have seen some reviews that discuss its visuals, music, etc, but in the end—its not an adventure game, its a melodramatic, unsatisfying, passive slog through indecision to a complete lack of conclusion. Sad waste of four hours of my life. I would not recommend. Very unfulfilling... ### 2/5 — Please don’t waste your time with this game *2023-05-16* Spent 4 hours playing this game….you’re not really “playing it” and the choices you make don’t really change anything. It’s more like watching a movie than playing a game. Really disappointed with the ending. They set up an excellent storyline but failed to deliver a meaningful ending. It’s like Clara literally forgot everything you said and completely disregards any interaction you’ve had before. And for this to happen after I spent hours with the storyline. Cmon guys, do better. The graphics, camera movement, voice acting, and music are pretty incredible, but overall it fails to finish to a cohesive and satisfying ending. Just made me so mad to spend so much time with it, only to be confused and frustrated at the end. Please don’t waste your time with this. ### 2/5 — Didn’t get it *2021-01-13, version 1.2* I really wanted to like this game. I have played a couple of ‘walking-simulator’ type games before and usually end up enjoying the story even if I sometimes find the controls a little repetitive or tedious. However, the gameplay is so inconsequential here that I was left wondering why it is a game at all rather than simply an animated short. Your role in the game is limited to making decisions for the main character and directing him around the environment at various times. As others have noted, none of the decisions appear to make any difference to the overall story. It’s also very unclear what any of the various buttons mean, so you’re never really sure what choice you’re making anyway. In terms of moving him through the environment, if you play on iPhone most of the time you’re just pressing on the screen to make him move - it doesn’t matter where you press. Often I just found that this obscured part of the environment and I wished it was a cut scene instead. There are small parts where you can click on various things to investigate, but - even if you manage to find these things - it doesn’t add enough to enrich the story being told in the dialogue. Add in a couple a game-ending glitches and a somewhat dissatisfying ending, and what you’re left with is a game that may not be worth your time. ### 2/5 — Mixed Feelings *2020-11-13, version 1.01* I think that the voice acting is lovely and engaging. The app would benefit from more direct instructions (and a reminder regarding the various emotion options). It is generally a slow-paced game, but the ending was very abrupt and sudden. Perhaps this was related to certain options I chose? Regardless, the ending seemed unfinished. I appreciated and enjoyed the storytelling and narrative until the last few moments of the app—the ending really took away from a lot of the appreciation that I previously had for the app. I don’t know if it was a glitch, but some of the scenes repeated themselves for me. It was confusing without added context. ### 2/5 — Poorly executed and glitchy *2020-11-05, version 1.01* I Gave star for art, and another for music. Which were good. Super glitchy. At one point the dude vanished and literally fell through the mountain he was trying to walk up I wanted to like this game. But it just fell completely flat in story an execution. This is due to the choose your own adventure style that untimely betrays it’s own concept. There was no follow through to any of your choices. At best This was simply a cartoon I was held captive in. Your choices don’t change a single thing. Simply minor and slight dialogue differences. Basically the tone of peter voice essentially. There are not multiple endings. Even the developers said they didn’t have a budget to do more then one generic ending. So after 3-5 hours of investing in an emotional ride for it to fall so flat and after you supporting Clara to get a generic one fits all ending where she hates you irregardless of countless choices you made coupled with ambiguity of the outcome of anyone, simply feels insulting and you to get no idea on how things ended feels ### 3/5 — MORE A MOVIE THAN A GAME *2022-03-02, version 1.4.2* "South of the Circle" is more of a movie than a game. Normally, that would be a disappointment if you were actually expecting a game. What makes the game moderately amusing (it's really neither great or terrible) is the very well-written dialog and voice novers along with the attractive pastel-like graphics. On the downside, the player involement seems to be limited to selecting mood buttons that seem to have almost no impact to how the game proceeds. In this way, you are really like an observor with very minimal decision-making in how the story progresses. There are really no challenges or puzzles that you're called upon to solve. At one point, about 80% into the game, an odd "The End" screen appears. But then the game progresses on for a number of more scenes until it concludes in a rather hasty and somewhat unsatisfying ending. ### 3/5 — WHAT?!?! *2022-02-20, version 1.4.2* I got drawn in! I was so into the story, and loved it…then it ended!!!! YOU CANT END IT LIKE THAT!!!! Seriously review though; this is my first time playing a game this style and I did enjoy it for the most part. I agree with another reviewer that said they didn’t feel their choices made much difference. There is a set story, and nothing you choose seems to really change anything…especially not the ending. And of course, I am not happy with the way it ends. It left me confused to what was going on, and what actually happened through the whole story. ### 3/5 — Great story, D+ controls *2021-05-25, version 1.2* This is an amazing story they are telling but the controls are crappy. I wouldnt mind but the camera is lock. Also i really want to run around and have more survival abilty to it. I don’t feel like there is a survival impact, the most i felt nervkus was drivingg to the base but it was also ruin with so many cutscenes. I get its suppose to help with ending but it feels like there is very little pay off at times. I felt this game was trying to be 2 different games but came out as one game. I was hoping for a survival game with a love story but its more like a love story taking place during a historic time with traces of survival. Also the animation and graphics dont mix. Like the fingers don’t move well and it feels like puppets. Also there overlapping items. Its ok. I do love the story. Also the voice acting is amazing ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Incredible *2023-05-31* When I first found this game it looked like a cool twist between story, and mobile. I downloaded the game and in the same day I spent a solid five hours and went through the entire game. It is amazing. I highly recommend this game to whoever enjoys a good story. The ending left me sitting on my seat, and I debated on multiple occasions until going with what I felt was right. This game really puts you into the time period and how it was. I don’t know if it was just the choices I made, or it’s just how it ends, but unlike most stories you don’t get the girl, fun twist at the end that left me dazed at all that was happening. I loved how connected I got with the main character, like when he fell in the snow I found myself begging him to get up, I especially love how much you could connect with the characters and their will to do things. The give this game 5/5 stars as it is a total masterpiece, I felt like I was playing some $30 game on a Pc, just for it all to be on mobile. The only thing I found not annoying I would say but a nice thing to fix is when they are holding hands, as they warp between each other. I really think anyway in likes this genre should get the game, fair warning though have some time on your hands before playing. ### 5/5 — Wow *2023-02-17, version 1.4.2* All I gotta say is wow. This game was very entertaining to play, it had me hooked from the start. I really enjoyed Peter’s story throughout this game, there was so many times I thought one thing was gonna happen and then it was something else than what I expected. The one thing I gotta say that I wasn’t a big fan of was the ending. I’m really hoping that the developers of this game decide to make a second game (wink wink) because the ending was sort of a cliffhanger and open to interpretation. The voice acting, the music, the visuals and art in this game were so amazing. I highly recommend giving this game a try if you’re looking for something fun and story driven! ### 5/5 — Touching story, great game *2022-06-23, version 1.4.2* The controls were surprisingly good, and didn’t bug out for me, which I was happy about. The animations were a little glitchy, like during the first hug scene, Peter and Clara’s faces kept going inside each other's, so you would see like Peter’s cheek poking out of Clara’s face, and sometimes their eyes and mouth would disappear, but others then that, it was fine. The story itself was very captivating and let me to finish the game in an entire day because I didn’t want to stop playing. It was also a very touching game and I found myself crying a bit at the end. Also, the voice acting, just “✨”. Never once did it sound like an annoying robot was talking. The “The End” was put way before the actual ending, I’m not sure if it is meant to be like that, but it might get some people to exit the game before it’s actually over. Also, I want to know if they live or not. Maybe you could add to the ending, maybe where Peter gets home and makes up with Clara, and they get “knighted” as Floyd says. That would be really awesome if you added that. This game is amazing and I super highly recommend it. Also, the developers are amazing as well, thank you so much for creating this game and I hope you make more like this in the future! ❤️ ### 5/5 — OMG I LOVED IT SO MUCH!!!! *2021-11-29, version 1.4.2* I was in the car all day traveling home with nothing to do so I downloaded this game and omg I loved it so much!!! The graphics were amazing and it was just the type of game I was looking for! I would play it a thousand times! The story line was so relatable and so lovely!!!! 10/10 recommended. I would like to know what friends all happened between Clara and Peter tho 😢But other than that the game was really just a pleasure to play and I tank everyone who was part of this!!!!! 🥰❤️ ### 5/5 — Excellent adult interactive story *2021-11-27, version 1.4.2* Similar in concept to Firewatch or Kentucky Route Zero (both of which are available on MacOS through various channels, but neither of which are. unfortunately available yet for iOS). This is a game in the sense that it is interactive, but your interactions don’t change the outcome, they serve to invest you in the narrative and are reflected in the dialog. When executed well, it’s a surprisingly powerful technique. This is a beautiful and well done example - a love story that is set in a harsh environment during the unsettling political climate of the 60’s. Highly recommended if this is your cup of tea - this is right up there with Firewatch in my opinion, in regard to the story. Great job. If you’re expecting something more of a competitive video game, this is not the right choice. ### 5/5 — My first review *2021-11-08, version 1.4.2* I have never played a story that was compelling and beautiful enough to write one of these, but this game was fantastic. The graphics and art in the game was gorgeous. The story was very well written and a beautiful game about the uncertainty of the 60’s. But the writing and the voice acting took the cake for me. A huge fan of audio books, this games actors did Ana amazing job of making you feel as though you were watching a true story. 10/10. Just wish it was longer. ### 5/5 — Rarely this Compelled to Review *2021-10-12, version 1.4.2* I feel a bit contrarian, looking over the issues other reviewers have with the game structure and narrative — I felt compelled to completely disagree. Of course, my favorite game is Kentucky Route Zero, I love this kinda stuff. The fact that choices in the game are altogether inconsequential is not an issue for me. You are fully immersed in this setting, you become the character — I feel that the way the story is woven together, alternative endings wouldn’t have as much of an impact as slowly uncovering the mysteries of Peter’s life does, being a bystander. The score had my heart pounding, created a sense of urgency. Not only is it a story of survival, it’s a story of love. You really become attached to the narrative in a way that transports you to the Cold War era. The way that the choices are designed, completely emotion-based, you feel what the character is feeling. It’s a really novel and unique design. Not to mention how clean and seamless the minimalist, geometric artwork is. It is essentially an animated movie, but you still take more of an active role in it than you would a film. ### 5/5 — Amazing *2021-09-18, version 1.2* I love the story line to this game. The game direction isn’t super clear, but if you listen closely to the voices it will be easier to play. Personally I love this game, I’ve never really played a walking simulator ever so this was a good experience for the first time. I enjoyed playing it when I had free time or didn’t know what to do. I would love to see another game like this, I bet it would be as good as this game or even better. I would recommend this game to anyone. It was also nice to have choices on what you say. ### 5/5 — Not what I was expecting. *2021-09-10, version 1.2* I am a big fan of story driven games, especially those in the art form as this game. This game really blew my expectations of future arcade games way up. The simple fact that games like that and beyond a steel sky can be as immersive as they are on such a unique platform is the exact reason why I come to Apple Arcade. Please make a sequel to this. I’m very interested in finding out what the worlds reaction to events are and seeing how it plays out. Maybe war? Thanks for the experience. Great game. ### 5/5 — Really fun game, really sad though! *2021-08-12, version 1.2* I really enjoyed playing this game! I couldn’t stop playing the game actually and the storyline is really good. The voice acting was really good, but that was it really well thought out, and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I thought that it was a good choice game although I felt like the choices didn’t make a difference in the outcome of the game. Sometimes the choice icons could be a little confusing but overall this game kept me entertained throughout the whole experience. I will recommend this game to everyone especially since kept me entertained as well as feeling inspired, sad, and conflicted. Very nicely done! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*