Oxenfree II: Lost Signals Reviews
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is an underwhelming attempt to build on the strong foundation of the original with a new story in which teenagers have been replaced by whining millennials.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
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 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.
With Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, Night School studio proves that they can still deliver great story and narrative in a video game.
Review in Persian | 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
With elaborate ties to the first game, the wait was worth it. Night School Studio excels in poignant character studies and has proven once more that its creative writing knows no bounds. What OXENFREE II: Lost Signals lacks in the graphics or gameplay department the spectacular sound design and alluring interdimensional narrative more than make up for it.
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.
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
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 2: Lost Signals is a testament to the artistry of Night School Studio...
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.
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
It’s absolutely great to be proven wrong by such a talented group of developers over at Night School Studio. They’re certainly cracked another amazing time with Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals, a game that I wouldn’t have a hard time recommending to any sort of player out there who’s looking for something exciting and worthy of their time to play.
A solid narrative-driven trippy adventure on PS5
Oxenfree II is a slow-burn horror mystery that slowly latches its paranormal tentacles onto you, thanks to a creepy story delivered by a first-rate cast. It's the definition of a superior sequel and fans of the first game will certainly not be disappointed.
Oxenfree 2 feels like it relies on its dialogue system a bit too much as its more exciting elements take a backseat. While the dialogue is still incredible, the appearance of these more unique sequences left me often asking where I would be able to find more of the unique time-altering puzzles and surreal visuals that also made it stand out over other games. The character writing is still as good as the first game, but it feels like more could have been done to make it stand above the first game.
That is, as mentioned, a bit of a paradigm shift for how “young adult” the original game skewed, but an important one, creating an engrossing, if more casual, experience. Oxenfree II, seven years separated from its predecessor, is all grown up, and while it’s not quite yelling at clouds yet, it’s rather pointedly a game that’s quite literally about getting the kids off its lawn.
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is a solid follow-up to the original, albeit having lost some of its original charm along the way. It further explores the mysterious world set up by the original, while getting you to empathize with the protagonist and its supporting characters. It is enjoyable for the most part, especially for fans of narrative adventures. At the heart of the game is a personal story of the characters finding their identity and recovering from past trauma, however, I felt that the original Oxenfree had more heft in their interpersonal interactions and replay playthroughs. Though I enjoyed seeing the rules of the world expanded as well as the addition of fresh set pieces that push the subgenre to its limit.
Oxenfree II is a brilliant side-scrolling horror game. It manages to be horrifying, heartfelt, and exciting all at the same time. For fans of the retro horror genre and anyone wanting to see what indie horror looks like, Oxenfree II is the perfect game for you.