Seven years after the release of the first game, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals delivers what I expected from a sequel. While the overall A-to-C narrative may seem like a “B” is missing from the journey, I’m impressed with most of what Oxenfree II does. It brings back the original’s simple yet charming funk mechanics, adds a walkie-talkie, expands the world to include protagonist Riley, and most importantly, features incredibly well-written and believable characters. While the paranormal events of Oxenfree II are chilling and chilling, the cast is warm, bright, and complex, and the overall package feels like ’80s summer fun.
Developed by Netflix-owned Night School Studio, If Oxenfree is about the idealized 1980s teenagers that Hollywood popularized with series like Netflix stranger things, then Oxenfree II is about the lesser-seen adults who come to terms with their mess afterwards. Set five years after the original game, Riley arrives in her hometown of Camena on the first day of her new job in environmental research. She grew up here and left for reasons you’ll learn in the story, only to return to work in her 30s.
She soon meets Evelyn, a colleague working 20 miles away, who shows her how, and Jacob, her current colleague. After placing a transmitter high on the island, everything quickly goes awry and a familiar triangular prism appears across the sky of Oxenfree’s Edwards Island, visible in the distance from Camena. And that’s no good, so Riley and Jacob set out to end it. As the duo explore more of Camena, trekking through abandoned mines and caves, scaling cliffs and sprinting across moonlit beaches, they discover a cult, terrified teenagers who are adamant in their choices, ghostly apparitions, some familiar faces and more. I thoroughly enjoy each hike to the following transmitter location because it always leads to more dialogue between Riley, Jacob, and the various people from Camena that Riley can talk to over a walkie-talkie.
Mechanically, Oxenfree II plays just like its predecessor. You explore an island; Choose dialogue options that portray the protagonist as sarcastic, friendly, or cold. and solve simple puzzles with a radio. The walkie-talkie is technically a new mechanic, but for the most part it’s just another option for dialogue. I don’t mind the lack of mechanical innovation in the sequel, but if Oxenfree’s heavy focus on narrative and light gameplay puts you off, this game might do the same. Just be careful when exiting the game as horrible checkpoints with no clear save function caused me to replay several sections which dampened my excitement when playing the first time.
I can’t express enough how much I enjoy the conversations between each character. Not only are they well-written and full of romanticized language aimed at drawing you into their feelings, but the voices convey sincerity in every line. Riley and Jacob are the clear standouts, and to learn at the end that it’s possible not to befriend Jacob in-game was confusing. Jacob feels inseparable from the story as he is the light that guides Riley through the mysterious journey of the night and her spirit’s attempt to discover who she is inside. In more ways than one, Oxenfree II is a tale of discovery: of the paranormal, spooky plans of desperate teenagers, and who those characters want to be after the events of the night.
I particularly like the mature tone and story of Oxenfree II because it bucks the trend of adults thinking they know what’s best for teenagers. Instead, players get to choose how Riley and Jacob treat them, and that freedom leads to some surprising twists. Those excellent conversations and twists are the pinnacle of the narrative experience for me, but the overall story falters a bit, not because I don’t like what it has to say, but because it seems rushed, almost as if she’s getting a second act missing . Oxenfree II feels methodically slow and then suddenly strives to finish, and it’s jarring.
Oxenfree II doesn’t change what its 2016 predecessor delivered, but delivers more of the excellent writing and charm I’ve come to expect from Night School Studio. While there’s little gameplay beyond traversal, it serves the characters. After 10 hours with this cast, I want more, but I’m happy with where this story ends and how my choices shaped that ending. Despite poor checkpoints and a quick rush to the end after an overly long build-up, this return feels deserved and important, with a message that resonates far more than Oxenfree’s. With Oxenfree II behind me, I’m thrilled that Night School Studio has delivered something special more than seven years from this world.
