You’ll probably end up wanting to have it in your collection after you finish the game, but that would put the price tag at $25.

Maybe like an LCD Soundsystem Halloween album. It’s kind of like Gilmore Girls had a vacation in Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Seriously - I’m on my second time through, and it’s easy to get sucked in by Oxenfree‘s realistic dialogue - even if it sometimes relies on easy jokes that admittedly seem like a clever high school junior and her stoner buddy would spout off. The gameplay is simple. Rather than “walk here, press this button, watch this cutscene,” you can partake in conversations while sitting down, drinking a beer from a plastic cup, and make choices that will change the way your dopey buddy who won’t share the weed brownies looks at you forever. The dialogue options reveal exposition without being hammy about it, and the voice actors are top-notch, nuanced and interesting. Oxenfree‘s visuals are clean, fresh and smooth with a gorgeous and unique art style.

I’ll say right now that if the trailer interests you, and you’re down for a spooky afternoon or evening on the couch while being enveloped in some superb voice acting, you’ll want Oxenfree in your game library. You’ll use a radio as a primary gameplay mechanic, but that’s easily dismissed as something to keep your fingers busy as you walk from location to location, build relationships with your friends, and un-peel the onion that is this weird island.ĭon’t expect any spoiler alerts. In Oxenfree, you’ll take control of Alex and her a group of friends high school juniors full of angst who are just, like, lookin’ to have a good time, you know? They’ll make crappy jokes, look to connect with Alex on a personal level, and as you’d expect, explore dynamic relationships that can branch out depending on who you like, dislike and how much of a jerk you are to those around you. Maybe to escape the chains of franchise fatigue and create something they could call their own. Formerly of Disney and Telltale, cousins Sean Krankel and Adam Hines founded Night School Studio with a crew of ex-Disney/Telltale staff in 2014.

Since its announcement trailer in spring of 2015, it seems like Oxenfree‘s hype has been directed more towards who is behind the game than Oxenfree itself.

Oxenfree game genre