Oxenfree

 Switch
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
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  1. GameSpace
    Oct 20, 2017
    90
    Just last week, Oxenfree was launched on the Nintendo Switch, bringing it to a whole new audience. As one of those new people, I am thrilled to have been given a chance to experience Night School Studio’s debut work. A tale of choice, friendship, communication, and what we do if we’re given a chance to alter events… Oxenfree is a narrative masterpiece.
  2. Switch Player
    Oct 12, 2017
    90
    Oxenfree mixes a spooky story, superb soundtrack and vivid visuals to create an experience that is truly memorable. I cannot recommend this game enough to anyone who enjoys getting lost in an atmospheric adventure.
  3. Nintendo Life
    Oct 10, 2017
    90
    A genuinely creepy creation, Oxenfree combines a clever story and smart dialogue mechanics with superbly sinister music to leave a deep and lasting impression on the player, one that should encourage an all-important second playthrough. Fans of Stranger Things and Poltergeist will love the direction this game takes – if not to hell and back, exactly, then absolutely to some other place where horrors abound, just waiting for an invitation into our world. It’s yet another Switch essential.
  5. Universo Nintendo
    May 19, 2018
    85
    Oxenfree is a good game. With amazing history, music and dubbing, anyone who likes the "walking simulator" genre will enjoy the game.
  6. FNintendo
    Nov 13, 2017
    80
    Thanks to its remarkable character development, well written dialogue and overall quality of the plot, Oxenfree is certain to strike a chord with fans of story-driven games, even if its length is rather short but that ends up being minimal when faced with the game's surprising developments.
  7. DarkZero
    Oct 16, 2017
    80
    Like a top-notch episode of a great TV show Oxenfree presents a well told singular story in parallel with interesting mythology. Bar a few pacing issues I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the game – and was enthralled with the narrative for huge swaths of the runtime. Oxenfree is a superb addition to Switch’s growing catalog of indie games. It may not be a title well suited to gaming on the move, but I found that playing curled up on a couch, in a dimly lit room, was an excellent setting to experience the story. Maybe you will too?
  8. NintendoWorldReport
    Oct 9, 2017
    80
    Oxenfree is fascinating. It’s best played in a relaxing spot, free of distraction, so the immersion can be best enjoyed. It’s short and different, but there is replay value. There’s not anything outside of what you can do with the story of the game, other then interact with the world itself. But it’s exciting to come back and see how choices can change the plot of the game. Not quite a Telltale-level game, but also not something to pass up. The beautiful visuals, characters, and choices are why I came back to it. And with that radio you just can’t turn that down.
  9. Meristation
    Oct 24, 2017
    75
    One year later and now in its most versatile version, Oxenfree is a story worth revisiting.
  10. Vooks
    Oct 30, 2017
    70
    It’s an intriguing story, and one I feel is worthwhile experiencing so long as you’re not put off by a lack of moment to moment game-like elements. It’s just a shame that Oxenfree’s design genius is at odds with its pacing.

Awards & Rankings

36
#36 Best Switch Game of 2017
30
#30 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2017
62
#62 Most Shared Switch Game of 2017

User Reviews

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User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 150 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 94 out of 150
  2. Mixed: 43 out of 150
  3. Negative: 13 out of 150
  1. jpritcha
    Mar 10, 2019
    4
    The dialog and story are great, and I am completely fine with walking simulators that tell a good story. However, the following things killedThe dialog and story are great, and I am completely fine with walking simulators that tell a good story. However, the following things killed the experience for me:

    1.) Slow pacing and movement speed
    The game is 4 - 5 hours long, but feels like it could have easily been 3 or less if the movement speed wasn't an absolute crawl all the time. Short games are fine, but drawn out games are not.

    2.) The zoomed out perspective
    While some of the backdrops are beautiful, I had a very hard time making out what things were a lot of the time. There are handy little bubbles that let you know what you can interact with, but they felt like an absolute necessity at times rather than a nicety. Also, I had a very hard time empathizing with a cast of characters that I saw as little more then a bunch of ants throughout the whole game. I feel the game would have been much better if the perspective had been zoomed in by 2x or even 3x, or even if it had zoomed in and out based on context.

    3.) The ABSURDLY long loading times.
    They are seriously on the order of 30 seconds or more between areas on switch. What the hell is this game loading!? Each area is little more than a static background, dialogue, and a few simple 3D models. They pulled me out of the experience completely to the point where I would leave, go do something, and come back to avoid staring at a mostly black screen for so long.

    In summary, the core part of the game is great. If you can put up with the flawed presentation and long load times, the story is well worth it. Unfortunately I found myself being pulled out of the experience too often to really enjoy it.    … Full Review »
  2. TheSeahorse
    Jul 15, 2018
    6
    This game is NOT worth the 20€ price tag and I'm happy I got it at 75% off.

    The game takes about 4-5 hours to complete and the writing and    This game is NOT worth the 20€ price tag and I'm happy I got it at 75% off.

    The game takes about 4-5 hours to complete and the writing and voice acting is really good by game standards. The game falls short however on it's lack of game play, it makes you think you can make choices but all you're really doing is getting different lines of text that all lead to the same point.

    Buy this if you like playing games that play out like a movie, and if you don't know if you like games like that, wait for a sale.    … Full Review »
  3. nusco
    May 12, 2018
    6
    Half teenager movie, half spooky ghost story, Oxenfree is all about the dialogue. Sure, you'll have a heck of a lot of walking around asHalf teenager movie, half spooky ghost story, Oxenfree is all about the dialogue. Sure, you'll have a heck of a lot of walking around as well–but that feels like an excuse to throw more conversations at you.

    The graphics in Oxenfree are very nice, following the tiny protagonists across the vast landscape. The story is also serviceable, the way that the "teens stumbling upon a supernatural mystery" trope tends to be. But again, this game is ultimately about the relationships between the characters and their conversations, which are your tool to steer the story towards one of its many (and subtly different) endings. Indeed, once the talking is done, the game feels a tad empty, and your sense of agency fades.

    Oxenfree is good fun for a few hours, even though it sometimes dilutes those hours to the point where it deserves the infamous "walking simulator" label. It makes up for that with interesting characters, an interesting backstory, and–oh, did I mention all that dialogue?    … Full Review »
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