Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals review – a mysteriously spooky sequel

Creating a sequel to a highly successful original game is no mean feat. In fact, in most areas of media, the art of following up a supposed ‘home run’ of a first story has more often than not left viewers, players, and/or listeners disappointed. Now, imagine you’re Night School Studio and not only do you have to follow up on your best-performing game ever made, but also juggle the multitude of choices players had the option of making in the original Oxenfree. In many cases, this might seem like an insurmountable task but thankfully, Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals tells a fresh, intriguing, and mysterious new story while staying true to the core mechanics that so many fans praised the first time around.

Where the original Oxenfree told a fantastic coming-of-age story mixed with paranormal imagery akin to something like Twin Peaks, Oxenfree 2 sees you follow the story of Riley Poverly, a recently employed environmental researcher who has returned to her hometown of Camena. Returning players will be familiar with Camena as the town the original cast set sail from. Riley is quickly introduced to Evelynn, who will help you on your quest across Camena, while Riley’s partner, Jacob Summers, makes his first appearance early on when attempting to fix his broken-down truck. While the synergy between Riley and Jacob is left up to the player’s choices, the voice acting across the board is expertly delivered.

The Oxenfree 2 cast is certainly smaller than that of its predecessor but there are still opportunities to speak with a number of new voices over the new walkie-talkie mechanic, which presents a number of opportunities for small side quests. Given the original Oxenfree’s coming-of-age story, Lost Signals feels like a game that shows how Night School Studio – and the personnel within – have grown over the last seven years. Riley’s return home opens up a number of optional conversations that explore her past and attachment to Camena. Jacob also has plenty of time to open up as a character, presenting us with small nods to his own insecurities and regrets but also his optimism for the future.

When Oxenfree 2 eventually opens up you’re presented with a fairly clear objective that can be tackled at your own pace. The original Oxenfree captivated players with its intuitive walk-and-talk dialogue mechanic, allowing the player to traverse Edward’s Island while both learning about the intriguing cast of characters and presenting players with the opportunity to shape the story in a number of unique ways. Oxenfree 2 retains this DNA, and at times expands upon it, such as allowing conversations to transition seamlessly between different locations. With that said, there are times when you’re forced to stop in one area to allow certain dialogue exchanges to finish. 

These moments can almost grind the game to a halt, for better and for worse. The optional points of rest present opportunities for characters to have more heart-to-heart discussions but in certain areas, they’re forced upon you as a means to progress the game’s overarching narrative. This was a little tedious to deal with in places as all I wanted to do was continue to the next objective. However, by no means is this a huge detraction from the overall experience. For some players, no doubt these moments of rest will allow others to take in Oxenfree 2’s superb narrative.

Speaking of narrative, Oxenfree 2 presents yet another engrossing story filled with paranormal and down-to-earth plot points. The presence of horror-lite elements really only exists to help support the broader story the game is attempting to tell. Combined with the previously mentioned dialogue system, the narrative structure continues the formula that the first game presented with some noticeable changes to help make the entire experience feel fresh while still retaining the winning system the first game implemented so well. The returning radio mechanic affords the player more freedom to engage in extra story components if you want to, which lets the player influence the narrative even more.

The light puzzle elements have also received an overhaul. You can still use your radio to progress certain puzzles, but the core puzzle mechanic of breaking time-loop segments has been altered to streamline and ultimately improve what was a tedious process in the original game.

All of this is supplemented with a serene and haunting soundtrack, supported by expansive backdrops that will close in on you for tense moments before opening up to showcase the beauty of Camena. This combination of art, music, and dialogue is what makes Oxenfree 2’s, arguably simple traversal mechanics, so great. Where some games can present an open world with barren landscapes that become repetitive after your first or second time moving through them, Oxenfree 2 constantly keeps the player engaged with a tight, driven narrative experience. However, there were two points during the game where conversations over walkie-talkie repeated themselves.

Aesthetically, it retains the same style as the original, with a visually interesting illustrated art style that allows 3D characters to explore a 2D-drawn landscape. This landscape allows for the areas of Camena to stand out, and while greenery and lakes devour a lot of Camena’s countryside, each of these areas offers a visually distinct layout that prevents the player from getting too lost. However, if you do manage to lose your way, the game’s map provides an easy-to-use navigation tool that still allows for a level of player interaction and drive. Being able to plot out your routes with the added intrigue of finding new ways to traverse areas is immensely satisfying, especially with the additional options for shortcuts later down the line to prevent any needless backtracking.

Ultimately, Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals feels like a solid evolution of Night School Studio’s previous work. It takes what made the original Oxenfree so appealing and builds from there, refining the existing mechanics and adding new features that complement rather than constrict. Alongside this, its narrative is captivating and emotional with a number of ways of approaching the game’s rich world. The number of minor gripes I have with the game did little to sway my overall positive opinion of Oxenfree 2. Likely, it’ll be a game that I opt to revisit a few more times and I’ll certainly be thinking about this paranormal-narrative experience for years to come.

Reviewed on PlayStation 5. Game provided by the publisher. Image credit: Netflix.