Oxenfree Reviews

Oxenfree II is a brilliant side-scrolling horror game. It manages to be horrifying, heartfelt, and exciting all at the same time. For fans of the retro horror genre and anyone wanting to see what indie horror looks like, Oxenfree II is the perfect game for you.

Despite its slightly vague story and note-collecting-based narrative, I was completely smitten by Oxenfree, so it's an easy title to recommend, especially if you know a lot about World War 2.

Oxenfree is a supernatural thriller, mystery game about a group of friends who, while attempting to have a fun night out before their senior year of high school, end up experiencing what will slowly become the worst night of their lives. You play as Alex; a teenage girl who brought her new step-brother along to an island beach party that turns into a living nightmare.

A genuinely creepy creation, Oxenfree combines a clever story and smart dialogue mechanics with superbly sinister music to leave a deep and lasting impression on the player, one that should encourage an all-important second playthrough. Fans of Stranger Things and Poltergeist will love the direction this game takes – if not to hell and back, exactly, then absolutely to some other place where horrors abound, just waiting for an invitation into our world. It’s yet another Switch essential.

Unique, with a strong cast of relatable characters, this is a supernatural mystery thriller with a compelling narrative and setting.

Oxenfree is everything that is right in the indie development scene. It tells a great story, has really unique gameplay that's almost completely dialog driven, and has some of the most subtle horror elements I've seen in a game. This is one of those games that you shouldn't sleep on, make sure you check it out.

Narrative is often overlooked in favour of the more natural forms of interactivity that are inherent to video games. But in the last few years, we've gotten a series of thoughtful and engaging titles that have really pushed the medium forward in this regard. Not only have they changed our perceptions of what constitutes a game, but they have also highlighted the narrative flaws of many beloved of the series of the past – no matter how good their gameplay. It's because of this that perhaps the term "walking simulator" is a tad disingenuous. And yes, Oxenfree certainly fits into this category if you're so willing to use it.

Every neighborhood has that one creepy abandoned house, or the recluse that lives in a huge building all to himself but hasn’t been seen in years. Stories get passed on about how these places are haunted (usually due to some terrible tragedy that occurred years prior), and stupid teenagers typically test their luck & attempt to find the truth of the situation. Typically nothing comes from this type of mischief, but what if the rumors were actually true?

Although I had trouble caring about the characters for their own sakes—even Alex was often more sarcastic than what I thought my dialogue selection meant—Oxenfree’s story is gripping and compelling. There are multiple ending variations you can get based on your choices, so it’s worth replaying, and the overall plot is worth the ride.

Oxenfree is a unique character-driven game with a supernatural twist on teen angst.

Oxenfree executes what it set out to accomplish in a great way, providing a rather unique adventure game filled with interesting methods of interaction and some pretty shocking moments. You’ll feel a wide range of emotions, but above all you’ll be moved as it gradually dawns on you that the teenagers are simply struggling to let go of the inner demons that dwell on the inside.

Where ever teenagers are, urban legends develop. Whether it’s a sinister figure stalking young lovers deep within the woods, or monstrous twins that hunt anyone that breaks an arbitrary rule. There is always something that goes bump in the night; according to the adolescent generation.

The story took me around four hours to finish and tends towards creepy or unsettling rather than SCARY. If it had been SCARY I would probably have thrown the Steam key back in Adam's face and hidden under a duvet for a few hours. I liked how it resolved (or at least I liked how I resolved it) and how it was paced. It came together cleanly and it mostly served to support the strongest part of the game which is the discovery/building of these other relationships.

All it takes is a solitary, coherent, compelling idea and a cohesive team to make a great game. Whatever the team size is, as long as you have those, you’re onto a winner. Of course, the smaller the team, the easier it can be to nail those two elements. Oxenfree is an example of just that. One simple but effective idea conveyed almost perfectly by a small group of ex-Telltale and Disney developers, now known as Night School Studio.

But ultimately your mileage will vary with Oxenfree, which makes it hard to outright recommend. The story is unique and the themes are mature, but the telling of that story isn’t as sharp as it could be. Moreover, the actual mechanics of the game are surprisingly straightforward for a game all about mystery; so don’t expect to face any major challenges along the way. Truthfully, the major conflicts in Oxenfree are the dialogue choices, which further influence the growth of Alex as a young woman faced with an extraordinary scenario.

Oxenfree is elegantly simple, using branching dialogue and a little something supernatural to develop three-dimensional characters and drive the coming-of-age story. There’s not much else to it in terms of gameplay, which is absolutely a good thing, but pacing issues in its story can make it feel sluggish between conversations. Mostly, though, it’s like walking through a stunning painting, listening to the idle chatter and revealing talks of (sometimes unnatural-sounding) teenagers.

Five teenagers unleash something unpleasant on a spooky island.

Oxenfree is a fantastic horror game, and Night School Studio has definitely pulled out all the stops to bring this story to life. Its classic Telltale meets the horror movies of the 1980s, and they’ve hit all the right notes. The branching storylines, likeable characters, and underlying dread and mystery really help this game to accomplish everything it could. Oxenfree is sure to keep you guessing until you reach the final ending screen. At which point I can’t promise you won’t just start over, ready to explore the ghostly realm ocne again.

Oxenfree is a smart, emotional adventure that feels focused and purposeful. It’s got plenty of narrative twists that lead to great “a-ha” moments, but keeps the story well-grounded in its compelling protagonists and clever gameplay moments. Oxenfree is simply well-made, endearing, and very memorable.

What if you combined a John Hughes movie with a Wes Craven film? This is the essence of Oxenfree. The complex relationships of ragtag teens mixed with supernatural elements reminds me of scary movies from the '80s, but Oxenfree also tries to be a narrative game that reacts to your decisions. It is a dialogue-heavy experience, and a lot of its success depends on that. The character interactions are the best part of the journey, but like a lot of games that delve into choice, the results of your decisions aren't always satisfying.

Hide and freak.