Oxenfree

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Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 60

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Oxenfree isn’t perfect, but its formula is elegantly simple, its story is compelling and characters are interesting, and its setting is intriguing enough to keep you hooked.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 60

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 60

Oxenfree isn't perfect, but its formula is elegantly simple, its story is compelling and characters are interesting, and its setting is intriguing enough to keep you hooked.

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Critic Reviews for Oxenfree

Reviews

High Score - 100/100

Low Score - 50/100

Silver TIER

44% of scored reviews fell within the range of 80 to 86 / 100

Bob Mackey (USgamer)

4.5/5 stars

“Gorgeous, gripping, and well-paced, Oxenfree cuts a new path for adventure games, and is an excellent debut from Night School Studio. Do yourself a favor: Skip movie night and play this one alongside a friend.”

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Mick Fraser (God is a Geek)

8/10

“Oxenfree is a haunting, emotionally-charged mystery that spreads its shocks a little too thinly, but still manages to deliver an engaging, memorable experience.”

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Philippa Warr (Rock, Paper, Shotgun)

Recommended

“Oxenfree was an unexpected delight for me. Atmospheric, beautiful and with the ability to feel real connections between its characters.”

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**Read all 60 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (60 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
ACG	Jeremy Penter	Recommended	01-16-2016	Video Review	Read review
Arcade Sushi	Luke Brown	9 / 10	01-15-2016	With a mystery that grows stranger and stronger the deeper you dive and characters that are instantly relatable, Night School Studio delivers a first effort that's spooky, sincere and enthralling.	Read review
CGMagazine	Jed Whitaker	10 / 10	01-21-2016	Oxenfree takes the best parts of supernatural 1980's teenage horror films and combines it with believable characters, beautiful set pieces, and a haunting VHS synth-pop soundtrack to create a masterpiece.	Read review
Daily Dot	Dennis Scimeca	3.5 / 5 stars	01-15-2016	In traditional adventure games, even if the experience amounts primarily to dialogue choices and walking through the story, the action is also punctuated with cutscenes. Oxenfree lacks this element, so a second playthrough to experiment with different choices will require a lot of slogging through the same wide-angle shots and simple interactions with the environment that I doubt would change the second time around.	Read review
DarkZero	Thomas McDermott	8 / 10	10-16-2017	Like a top-notch episode of a great TV show Oxenfree presents a well told singular story in parallel with interesting mythology.	Read review
Destructoid	Nic Rowen	9 / 10	01-15-2016	Oxenfree is a walking simulator that is confident enough in its characters and dialogue to bet that you won't mind just hanging around with them. It believes in the sinister low-ebb horror of the island to worm its way into your mind without having to crutch on a jumpscare every few minutes. It knows that its atmosphere and style will be enough to make you want to wander through its forests and dilapidated military bases. It's a walking simulator you should play.	Read review
Digital Chumps	Nathaniel Stevens	9 / 10	06-06-2016	Oxenfree is here to tell a story, and it doesn't lose sight of what contributes to making that story feel relatable and consequential. Alex and her friends are in a time when every move is called into examination from a jury of ruthless peers. Oxenfree responds not by accepting or escaping from resolution, but accurately relating the tension of a time when every answer is on one side of zero. Whether the context is supernatural or merely personal, Oxenfree makes it feel powerful.	Read review
EGM	Matt Buchholtz	7.5 / 10	01-15-2016	Like a good roller coaster, Oxenfree starts with nervous laughter, escalating to an event that leaves the character white-knuckled and wishing they had stayed home.	Read review
Eurogamer	Richard Cobbett	Recommended	01-22-2016	Oxenfree isn't a horror game with a message, but it's still got lots to say.	Read review
Explosion Network	Dylan Blight	7 / 10	05-01-2017	Oxenfree is a really interesting, albeit short experience. It sets itself up for an interesting teen-mystery-horror tale with an emotional pull added into the mix later. It just all comes to an end too quickly and without the time to let any kind of characters grow on you, I failed to care about anyone's fate at the end game, even if I really wanted too.	Read review
Fextralife	Lanzen	8.5 / 10	03-16-2016	Inventive, spooky, and compelling, marred only by an overly vocal cast. The story is clever, you will want to see this to the end. Surprisingly deep mechanics, and a different take on managing NPC opinions. Overall a very logical and thoughtful game.	Read review
FNintendo	André Reis	8 / 10	11-13-2017	Despite being rather short, it's a memorable game and one which will make the players feel responsible for their choices, as the answers given during the dialogues will have direct consequences on the overall development of the game's plot.	Read review
Forbes	Jason Evangelho	8.5 / 10	01-18-2016	Not perfect, but absolutely worth experiencing.	Read review
Game Informer	Kimberley Wallace	7.8 / 10	01-15-2016	Oxenfree has charm and experiments with choice in a fun way, but it has a few missteps that prevent it from reaching its full potential	Read review
Game Rant	Anthony Taormina	2.5 / 5 stars	01-16-2016	Oxenfree is a mature look at growing up through the lens of a supernatural mystery, but awkward pacing and simplistic interactivity hold it back from excelling.	Read review
Game Revolution	Peter Paras	4 / 5 stars	01-20-2016	In a lot of ways, OxenFree is the first game in quite awhile that focuses on the art of audio and video to engage the player. Limbo comes to mind, a title that might be more expressionistic than this, but nonetheless both get under the skin. Also, like Limbo, OxenFree begs to be replayed beyond just the reward of multiple endings. What resonates most is that feeling of something that has passed by. Whether that's one's own nostalgia or solely heroine Alex, OxenFree won't be forgotten anytime soon.	Read review
GameCrate	David Sanchez	9.3 / 10	02-03-2016	Night School Studio has delivered a shining example of narrative excellence with Oxenfree. The story, the characters, the look, and the sound all come together to create an unforgettable series of wonderful moments.	Read review
Gameplanet	Adam Goodall	9 / 10	01-29-2016	Night School's creepy teen horror more than succeeds at being a chilling supernatural tale, but its real strength lies in its rough, earnest, truthful account of five teen lives and the ways that they grow and fracture under the worst, most unearthly kind of pressure.	Read review
GamesBeat	Aleksander Gilyadov	95 / 100	01-15-2016	Oxenfree might just be a big next step for adventure games, particularly when it comes to the way it presents dialogue choices. Night School Studio has managed to execute an interactive story that treats player choice in a mature and subtle way. It's an emotional experience with wonderful characters and great writing, and it's one that masters its 70s and 80s influences.	Read review
GameSkinny	Stephen Brown	8 / 10	04-11-2017	Unique, with a strong cast of relatable characters, this is a supernatural mystery thriller with a compelling narrative and setting.	Read review
GameSpew	Unknown	8 / 10	02-05-2016	Oxenfree's aesthetic is wonderfully distinctive, to the point where it's indelibly tied to the game	Read review
GameSpot	Alexa Ray Corriea	8 / 10	01-15-2016	Masterful audiovisual design and a witty script set Oxenfree's tale of angsty teens battling the supernatural apart from other horror games.	Read review
GamesRadar+	Tom Stone	3.5 / 5 stars	01-15-2016	Oxenfree's easy to like, with its inspired dialogue system feeling like a step forward for this genre. It's the lack of challenge and compelling gameplay that leaves it a few steps behind.	Read review
Gaming Nexus	Matt Mirkovich	9 / 10	06-30-2016	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.	Read review
GamingTrend	Eric Van Allen	90 / 100	01-15-2016	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.	Read review
Geeks Under Grace	David Burdette	7.9 / 10	11-07-2017	While Oxenfree has a few flaws, its beautiful backdrop and stirring musical score set the stage for a tense story that has you flinching at every turn. It may be a bit too creepy, but the emotion and connection you feel with the characters will spur you to the finish.	Read review
God is a Geek	Mick Fraser	8 / 10	01-18-2016	Oxenfree is a haunting, emotionally-charged mystery that spreads its shocks a little too thinly, but still manages to deliver an engaging, memorable experience.	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Dermot Creegan	4 / 5 stars	01-19-2016	Despite its affinity for the supernatural, Oxenfree's soul is firmly planted in reality.	Read review
IBTimes UK	Ben Skipper	3 / 5 stars	01-21-2016	In Oxenfree, Night School Studios has used simple mechanics to great effect establishing and building on its small cast of characters, and keeping players engaged with its creepy tale of paranormal dread. It's a shame then that it doesn't quite stick the landing, seeming to rush to its conclusion without offering a sufficient pay-off. A small number of minor (dialogue for the wrong character playing) and major (two complete crashes) glitches also hold it back. It's undoubtedly a stylish and unique game however, that we hope does its part to usher in a wave of games that take a similar approach to storytelling.	Read review
IGN	Kallie Plagge	8.2 / 10	01-15-2016	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.	Read review
IGN Italy	Andrea Maderna	9 / 10	01-23-2016	If you're into digital narration and you love Amblin movies from the eighties, maybe with a bit of John Carpenter in them, you should not miss Oxenfree. If you hate games where the main activity is talking, stay away from it.	Read review
Kill Screen	Chase Ramsey	78 / 100	01-15-2016	In the end, Oxenfree is absolutely a game about teenage bullshit (forgive me for being a little disingenuous earlier). But it manages to revitalize that narrative by focusing on feeling more than substance; it glances at each character's inner struggle rather than serving it up for a full meal.	Read review
Metro GameCentral	David Jenkins	8 / 10	01-19-2016	Some of the most natural dialogue ever designed for a video game – in terms of quality and interaction – helps to make a superior supernatural thriller.	Read review
MonsterVine	Samantha Lienhard	4.5 / 5 stars	02-19-2016	Oxenfree is a spooky game perfect for anyone who enjoys ghost stories and dialogue-driven gameplay. Although the story is short, its multiple endings and lingering questions will pull you back for more.	Read review
New Game Network	David Will	76 / 100	01-26-2016	Oxenfree spins a supernatural mystery with some truly brilliant touches, but without especially interesting characters or mechanics, it's little more than a spectre of its true potential.	Read review
Nintendo Life	Mike Diver	9 / 10	10-10-2017	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.	Read review
NintendoWorldReport	Alexander Morningstar	8 / 10	10-08-2017	Not quite a Telltale-level game, but also not something to pass up. The beautiful visuals, characters, and choices are why I came back to it. And with that radio you just can't "turn that down".	Read review
NZGamer	Matthew Codd	9 / 10	02-05-2016	A fresh, compelling take on the "cabin in the woods"-style teen horror.	Read review
OnlySP	Joanna Nelius	4.65 / 5 stars	01-15-2016	For a game that draws on the essence of a 80s or 90s horror flick, it takes many of the identifying tropes and defenestrates them.	Read review
Paste Magazine	Garrett Martin	8.5 / 10	01-15-2016	Despite the supernatural intrusion, Oxenfree never loses sight of the human drama at its core, remaining largely understated and tasteful in its exploration of the gulf that grief and insecurity can create in any relationship.	Read review
PC Gamer	Andy Kelly	83 / 100	01-15-2016	A beautiful story-driven adventure game with a compelling story and great characters, set on an island filled with intriguing mysteries.	Read review
PlayStation LifeStyle	Tyler Treese	8 / 10	06-03-2016	Oxenfree deals with some heavy topics in just a few hours, and manages to do something genuinely interesting with them. A phenomenal conversation system anchors most of the experience, but there’s many mysteries for dedicated players to solve. Oxenfree is a game that rewards players that go the extra mile, and how much you get out of it is directly tied to how much you put in.	Read review
PlayStation Universe	Neil Bolt	8.5 / 10	06-08-2016	So much of Oxenfree is an utterly heavenly experience. The conversation options knocks other games out of the water, and the characters are relatable and well-realised. The story is well-paced for much of the fairly brief play time, but sadly things unravel by the time the finale arrives, making a potential stone cold classic into something that's merely great.	Read review
Polygon	Allegra Frank	7 / 10	01-15-2016	Oxenfree doesn't live up to its potential, but has a story worth telling	Read review
Push Square	Jacob Hull	7 / 10	06-07-2016	It may be brief, but Oxenfree has elements of greatness and stands out as an excellent example of video game storytelling. It's also a beautiful and intriguing game that draws you in from the very start and makes you want to see just how deep the rabbit hole goes. Unfortunately, the situational narrative is let down slightly in the final third where it confuses even itself and fails to merge with the far stronger and more prominent social narrative.	Read review
Rock, Paper, Shotgun	Philippa Warr	Recommended	01-20-2016	Oxenfree was an unexpected delight for me. Atmospheric, beautiful and with the ability to feel real connections between its characters.	Read review
Shacknews	Josh Hawkins	9 / 10	01-15-2016	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.	Read review
Slant Magazine	Alexander Chatziioannou	3.5 / 5 stars	01-18-2016	Players will remain invested in a story that, if not entirely original, remains exciting and poignant in equal measure.	Read review
TechnoBuffalo	Joey Davidson	Recommended	01-21-2016	Oxenfree is a tight, well-paced thriller with characters that make you want to explore every inch of its creepy island.	Read review
Telegraph	Tom Hoggins	4 / 5 stars	01-19-2016	There's a haunting elegance to Oxenfree that's there because each of its constituent parts are working together to create it.	Read review
The Escapist	Ian Cheong	4 / 5 stars	01-19-2016	Oxenfree is a story about human interaction and how we choose to treat each other, all set against a backdrop of supernatural horror. It just feels really human in spite of all the weird stuff.	Read review
Twinfinite	Yamilia Avendano	4.5 / 5 stars	01-28-2016	Besides those two slight issues, Oxenfree is a compact, fresh experience that introduces lovable characters, a phenomenal soundtrack, and one of the no doubt dopest endings this year.	Read review
USgamer	Bob Mackey	4.5 / 5 stars	02-01-2016	Gorgeous, gripping, and well-paced, Oxenfree cuts a new path for adventure games, and is an excellent debut from Night School Studio. Do yourself a favor: Skip movie night and play this one alongside a friend.	Read review
VideoGamer	Tom Orry	8 / 10	01-15-2016	I can't think of many games like Oxenfree. It's simple if judged purely on gameplay mechanics but wonderfully accomplished in terms of storytelling, characters and dialogue.	Read review
Washington Post	Christopher Byrd	Recommended	01-19-2016	"Oxenfree" captures a mood (an eerie night), intensifies it (people get possessed!), and then efficiently wraps things up before anything becomes tedious. This analog, supernatural story unites its characters in a web of guilt and showers them in decorative static.	Read review
Wccftech	Rosh Kelly	9.4 / 10	01-26-2016	Oxenfree is whole heartedly one of the best experiences you can have playing games. It is a cornerstone example of how stories can be told in an interactive media, and how to build a supernatural tone around 'average' characters without exaggerating everything.	Read review
We Got This Covered	Christian Law	4 / 5 stars	06-03-2016	Oxenfree is a gorgeous and artistic adventure game, which demands attention. It is, however, kept from greatness due to some unfortunate technical problems that can lead to a lot of frustration.	Read review

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

Oxenfree is a supernatural adventure game. Rites of passage and Senior year traditions set the stage for a group of friends sneaking off to Edwards Island, an old military outpost with no phone service. Players will take on the role of Alex as she brings her new stepbrother Jonas to an overnight party gone horribly wrong. Inspired by classic cult films like Stand by Me and Poltergeist, Oxenfree is an adventure that pulls from the past but looks to the present. “It’s a coming of age story where players control how their hero comes of age,” says Sean Krankel, co-founder of Night School. “We’re drawing on the fond and mortifying aspects of being in your late teens, and setting it against a dangerous and ghostly backdrop.”

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Oxenfree

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Critics Consensus

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Critic Reviews for Oxenfree

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