Oxenfree II: Lost Signals [PC] | REVIEW

Oxenfree massively vibed with me back when it released in 2016, so I’ve been excited for the sequel from the moment it was announced. I’m happy to report that Oxenfree II: Lost Signals manages to re-capture what made the first game so captivating too, with the excellent storytelling and eerie atmosphere ensuring it delivers another memorable supernatural adventure.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals offers new characters to meet and a new setting to explore this time around, with players taking on the role of Riley as she completes some environmental research in her hometown of Camena – a place that she left of her own accord for various ‘reasons’. And, of course, things end up going wayward when a strange triangular portal opens up in the sky, with what should have been a normal job soon taking a startling turn. It’s up to Riley to get to the bottom of it.

I don’t want to give away too much detail about the plot nor its connections to the original game (though some of them are pretty obvious), but I will say that it delivers yet another absorbing supernatural escapade that hits all of the right notes with its storytelling. It feels more mature than its predecessor given the older age of the main cast, but it’s still packed full of unusual scenarios and engrossing interactions as you learn more about the strange occurrences taking place, the history of Camena, and even Riley’s origins there. There are extras tasks to involve yourself in that flesh out the world, whilst your actions will determine how the plot unfolds and helps shape the ending you’ll see. Much like the first game, there’s plenty of replay value, with one playthrough not enough to see everything on offer.

It’s just really, really, engrossing, with the game bringing with it plenty of unpredictable turns to ensure players will be kept guessing right until the very end. It feels like there can be some REAL stakes in play at times too, especially with the choices you make, whilst the overall mystery brings with it enough nods and connections to the original game to ensure returning players will be kept happy.

“I don’t want to give away too much detail about the plot nor its connections to the original game (though some of them are pretty obvious), but I will say that it delivers yet another absorbing supernatural escapade that hits all of the right notes with its storytelling.”

When it comes to the gameplay, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals plays it safe by giving players more of the same that they would have seen in the previous game. You’ll explore a myriad of attractive locales, all whilst interacting with characters in a variety of ways (the dialogue options let you shape Riley’s personality in an enjoyable manner), doing a bit of puzzle-solving, and slowly uncovering more of the secrets behind the overarching mystery. It’s admittedly light on gameplay, but so was the original, so you’ll know what you’re signing up for if you’re a returning player.

That doesn’t mean it’s not entertaining though. Sure, the puzzles can be a little bit easy to solve, and sure, exploration is kept simple thanks to the game’s 2D setup, but there’s something so engrossing about completing each task given to you and discovering more of the world that it’s easy to get completely hooked in. Of course, it does help that the writing of the game is excellent and ensures there’s ALWAYS something going on plot-wise (it’s always fun to interact with other characters via your walkie-talking when you’re in the midst of an eerie locale), so those light gameplay mechanics feel befitting of the game’s captivating storytelling.

One of my favourite things about Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is its eerie sense of presence. Now this isn’t a horror game in a conventional form, and no, you won’t find jump scares aplenty or a vicious monster stalking you as you try to survive its deadly wrath. Instead, the game has plenty of *little* details that just make it feel so ominous to play, whether that’s when it’s distorting the world in a variety of ways or simply messing around with the player’s expectations. It can be genuinely unnerving, and whilst I wouldn’t say it’s all-out scary, it’s hard not to feel a little uneasy when it throws out one of its spooky surprises.

Check out some screenshots down below:

It’s all brought together by some wonderful art design that really brings the world to life, with each of the sights you encounter in the world rich with detail that helps it feel a lot more eye-catching than the original game. The soundtrack is absolutely spot-on too, with it perfectly capturing the ominous sci-fi tones of the adventure perfectly. It knows when to put on a tune that’ll remind you of the likes of Stranger Things when in a particularly spooky sci-fi sequence, but it also knows when to be startlingly silent during a more ominous scene to fit the tone – it’s all very atmospheric and demonstrates how good of a job Night School Studio have done when it comes to the audio design.

Developer: Night School Studio
Publisher: Netflix, MWM Interactive
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Website: https://nightschoolstudio.com/oxenfree-ii/