At first I was a little sceptical, assuming that it would be a bit silly or borrow from a cheap cliché, however I was proved totally wrong. This “turn” is supernatural in nature and you’ll begin to notice when things start getting a bit iffy there’s an air of “this doesn’t seem right” that piques your curiosity and makes you want to investigate further. That’s because the story doesn’t consist of a bunch of teenagers frolicking for a few hours it takes an unexpected turn that only escalates as time goes by.
There are times when you enter a new area and you just know you’re in for something that’ll get under your skin. The island itself is fairly vast, spanning a number of different areas that vary not only in size but also in appearance and feel.
Whilst it’s rare to find anything that’s truly unique, Oxenfree’s aesthetic is wonderfully distinctive, to the point where it’s indelibly tied to the game. Before I mention anything else, it’s a gorgeous-looking game, adopting a hand painted art-style that gives the island a unique feel. Taking control of Alex means interacting with those around her and guiding her through the island. In some way or another they’re connected, either as good friends or on a more personal level and you begin to delve into the intricacies of each relationship as the game progresses. You take control of Alex who’s joined by Jonas, Ren, Clarissa and Nona. In its most basic spoiler-free form, Oxenfree concerns Alex and her group of friends who embark on a care-free trip to an island in the hope that they’ll enjoy themselves. And in reviewing Oxenfree I’m going to tread lightly in order to avoid spoiling the game entirely for you.
Stepping into it, it’s apparent that the game was developed by those who have a strong grounding in how to produce a game driven entirely by strong narrative devices. Set on an abandoned island visited by a group of teenagers, Oxenfree weaves the supernatural into an unsettling and ultimately very touching coming of age story.Ĭonsisting of former Telltale Games and Disney employees, Oxenfree is Nightschool Studio’s first game.