

I enjoyed the freedom of acting out these scenes according to my interpretation of Alex. The most important aspect of the gameplay is choosing Alex’s responses. These small actions don’t impact the plot at all, but they help set the mood and give you a sense of control. For instance, in one scene by a campfire on the beach, you can stoke the fire, sit by it, throw rocks in the water, and more. As Alex, you select different dialogue options that pop up frequently, but you can also interact with the environment how you choose. The stage and scenes are set, but you choose your lines and actions. This means you spend a lot of time exploring, but I like how it feels like a performance. Getting off the island becomes the priority, and your interactions are all framed by that goal. The group accidentally opens a rift, causing spirits to infringe on their weekend of fun. Seeing these characters grapple with complex and relatable issues is a highlight you may think you have their archetypes pegged, but the characters’ family and romantic lives come to the forefront and demonstrate that not everyone is so easily classified. While this is definitely a coming-of-age tale, it’s just as much as a ghost story. You also encounter the resident mean girl, her quieter sidekick, and the happy-go-lucky best friend. You play as Alex, who is dealing with accepting her new stepbrother, Jonas (who she brings along). It was supposed to be a huge rager, but only five people show up and they all have strained relationships. Oxenfree follows a group of unlikely companions on an island for a night of partying.

The character interactions are the best part of the journey, but like a lot of games that delve into choice, the results of your decisions aren’t always satisfying. It is a dialogue-heavy experience, and a lot of its success depends on that. The complex relationships of ragtag teens mixed with supernatural elements reminds me of scary movies from the ‘80s, but Oxenfree also tries to be a narrative game that reacts to your decisions.
Oxenfree all endings and choices movie#
What if you combined a John Hughes movie with a Wes Craven film? This is the essence of Oxenfree. Making allies to confront the supernatural
