Oxenfree II: Lost Signals Reviews
"The upside of treading old ground is that the Oxenfree 2 story gets to link back to the original in some fun ways"
The final act aside, OXENFREE II: Lost Signals is an underwhelming experience, especially when compared to its predecessor.
Oxenfree II doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it also doesn’t really spin in a way that makes you feel the momentum of a good story or gameplay mechanics you can sink your teeth into. This is an underwhelming sequel with lackluster characters and a profound lack of anything substantial to help this stand out like the original did.
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals does its job well when it comes to creating a mysterious ambiance, graphics and sound included, and capturing the player's attention to solve its mysteries. The downside is that its gameplay often feels too repetitive and monotonous, and a big part of its dialogue lines are uninteresting, which is unfortunate for a game that makes use of a lot of exchanges the main characters. In the end, the experience is a lot more linear than thought, but all this doesn't mean Oxenfree II cannot be enjoyed by fans of plot-driven narrative experiences with a taste for the supernatural.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Oxenfree 2 is not exactly the best representative of the term sequel, but it is a supernatural point and click adventure that values the points they conquer in the first. With adult characters and dramas to match, the walkie-talkie expands the drama, with more decisions that make you feel the pressure caused by the scarce time allowed by the dynamic system of dialogues, for greater immersion in the adventure. Add to this slight occasional puzzles and Oxenfree 2 may even be better than the first, but it is not a sequel that rises far above the original.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Oxenfree 2 is an easy recommendation if you loved the first game as much as I did. While the original is definitely my preference between the two, the sequel expands the series’ lore and is packed full of callbacks, while also featuring a lot of the quirks that made the first so interesting. Oxenfree 2 is, fundamentally, more of a good thing.
Oxenfree II : Lost Signals is a great follow-up to the first episode. The characters are great again and the game seem to still be master at portraying them. However the game lacks ambition and comes out a little bit too late maybe. We would have loved Night School Studio to try something news while still trying to link both games.
Review in French | Read full review
It seemed like Alex was damned to wallow in limbo until the end of time, but it’s Oxenfree 2 that ended up being caught in a loop. Some of those replicated features work in its favor, like its fluid dialogue and cast of decently well-realized characters, yet it’s too heavily anchored to its predecessor. The aforementioned dialogue system is mostly the same and hasn’t been further streamlined or upgraded. Traversal is still too slow. And even though its narrative builds on what came before, it struggles to provide a comprehensive summary of that first game and contextualize those all-important events. All of these stumbles mean that Oxenfree 2’s signal isn’t lost, just full of unnecessary static.
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is an underwhelming attempt to build on the strong foundation of the original with a new story in which teenagers have been replaced by whining millennials.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Unfortunately, the plot and characters don't come close to the predecessor.
Review in German | Read full review
Despite some witty dialogue and a few poignant moments, OXENFREE II: Lost Signals is an unexciting talkie-walkie with conversation interruptions and dull gameplay.
Despite its rough edges, it's still a very enjoyable game, with a good story and two protagonists you'll quickly grow fond of. Those who have played the first one won't be surprised, but will enjoy it. While new players have a good opportunity to visit Camena.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
OXENFREE II: Lost Signals suffers from staying too close to the first release while losing the main component of the story that made the first so great—the surprise!
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is a wonderful advertisement for games absolutely competing with movies -and even books- at telling a meaningful and engaging story. With a tremendous voice-cast, a heartfelt script and impactful dialogue options, Oxenfree II puts you firmly in the position of ‘captivated audience member’ and ‘engaged player’ at the same time. Fans of the original game will be treated to equally lovely visuals and atmospheric soundtrack as those boasted by the first Oxenfree, but I did get the feeling that the similarities are perhaps a little too strong, with the unique gameplay elements that made the original so memorable not quite having the same impact the second time around.
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is an adventure game focused on supernatural mysteries. With a simple exploration system and a plot made up of easy-to-empathize personal dramas, the title is a good recommendation for fans of the genre, but leaves something to be desired in terms of user experience quality.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
All in all, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals provides an experience that fans of the original will no doubt love. With refined gameplay features and a truly stunning presentation, there’s a lot here to keep fans of the genre happy for hours. However, a few technical issues and new-generation oversights keep Oxenfree II from being a game that truly stands out from the crowd, which is disappointing given the rest of its potential.
An adventure with an intriguing story, spoiled by an irritating companion and a bit tedious gameplay. Sometimes it feels like Oxenfree II would have looked better in a TV series format, especially with such a great atmosphere and amazing voice actors.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is another narrative hit for Night School, delivering a slow-burn story that expertly weaves together supernatural horror with an introspective story of self-discovery. The sequel does find itself struggling with its own identity crisis though, as tedious interactivity leaves me wondering if the studio’s heart is more in movies or TV than video games.
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is a fairly safe sequel that allows its narrative and new cast of characters to do the heavy lifting. Through constant chit-chat between Riley and Jacob, gameplay remains enjoyable enough to keep you engaged, allowing the story to always be at the forefront of your mind. A few frustrating puzzles and frequent load screens aside, Night School Studio has put together a worthy follow-up that fans and newcomers can equally enjoy.
Despite some stumbles, there's still much to recommend playing and finishing Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals. Fans of the first game will get a little more out of it, but new players will catch up easily. Though it wraps up a little too cleanly and some bothersome traversal gets in the way, it tells a well-written, relatable story that's worth experiencing.