Riley is frustrated. She’s dropped off at a bus stop after dark and finds herself all alone in a strangely quiet town. Her new colleagues are nowhere to be seen as she surveys the quaint seaside square, muttering under her breath. It turns out that no matter how long you’re away, home always remains the same. The protagonist of our pixel-art game isn’t the only one experiencing deja vu. Despite the challenges of the last seven years, including a global pandemic, climate crisis, and AI apocalypse, Oxenfree II’s simplistic visuals transport me back to the simpler times of 2016.
Oxenfree II is a combination of a walking simulator and a branching-dialogue game, blending the paranormal with interpersonal relationships. Players must navigate the perilous minefield of human connections while fending off vengeful ghosts. For those familiar with the original game, this will sound familiar and may initially breed contempt. However, as the story unfolds, the game reveals a masterfully woven and surprisingly poignant tale.
With its zoomed-out perspective, Oxenfree II’s beautifully drawn forest scenery resembling felt takes us back to 90s sidescrollers. This leisurely sci-fi-tinged seaside stroll creates a relaxed storytelling experience. While wandering through the sleepy town, players constantly engage in conversations with environmental scientist Jacob. Unlike the energetic teenagers from the original game, Riley and Jacob, both in their mid-30s, are more jaded and struggling with their pasts and uncertain futures.
Fortunately, players have a say in how Riley’s story unfolds. Each dialogue choice, seemingly innocuous, plays a significant role in shaping the events of the game. Your off-kilter comments accumulate and ultimately determine whether Jacob joins you for the final part of the adventure or how the mysterious poltergeist-worshipping cult treats you.
The balance between the mundane and the supernatural is what makes Oxenfree II intriguing. Night School effortlessly switches between the foreboding feeling of being lost in the woods at night and the peacefulness of a daytime hike.
In terms of gameplay, Oxenfree II doesn’t offer much more than its predecessor, relying heavily on the magic walkie talkie mechanic. The radio transmitter is used to communicate with your boss and solve puzzles, close portals, ward off spectres, and open sealed doors. The puzzles have received a visual upgrade, with radio waves converging into three-dimensional shapes as players manipulate different frequencies.
Oxenfree II may not win over those who didn’t enjoy the original game, but it succeeds in delivering a surprisingly human experience. At its core, the game is about resilience, overcoming tragedy, and rediscovering one’s passion for life. While it includes cults, ghosts, and world-threatening portals, it remains a reflection on the human experience.
Oxenfree II is a slow-paced adventure that lends itself to being played in hour-long bursts, much like curling up under a duvet and binge-watching a Netflix series. It may not appeal to everyone, but it respects the players’ time and leaves them contemplating how they want to spend it. Oxenfree II is available now on multiple platforms.