Oxenfree II: Lost Signals

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,184 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals Game Cover
It's not often a game keeps its claws in after the credits roll, but Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals will stay with me for much longer than just another playthrough.
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"Oxenfree II: Lost Signals" is a supernatural narrative adventure game where the player, as Riley, investigates unexplained electromagnetic interference in her hometown. The game features a non-linear story influenced by the player's dialogue choices and decisions, with consequences that permanently impact the future. It can be played as a standalone story or in conjunction with the original "Oxenfree."

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,184 reviews
story284 positive mentions
stability17 negative mentions
  • The game features a compelling narrative that builds on the original's story, providing closure to the characters and their arcs.
  • The visuals and art style are stunning, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
  • The dialogue system is improved, allowing conversations to continue seamlessly between loading screens, making interactions feel more natural.
  • The pacing can be slow, with a lot of backtracking and tedious traversal that detracts from the overall enjoyment.
  • The new characters, while interesting, lack the depth and chemistry of the original cast, making it harder to connect with them.
  • The game feels less mysterious and engaging than the first, as much of the intrigue is lost due to the established lore from the original.
  • story749 mentions

    The story of "Oxenfree II: Lost Signals" is a continuation of the original, exploring themes of human relationships, regrets, and dreams through a more mature lens. While it retains the engaging dialogue and atmospheric storytelling of its predecessor, many players feel it lacks the mystery and emotional impact that made the first game memorable, with some plot elements feeling predictable or underdeveloped. Overall, it offers a satisfying conclusion to the original narrative, though familiarity with the first game enhances the experience significantly.

    • “An emotional story inside a world with beautiful, collage-like visuals, solid eerie atmosphere, fantastic characters, well-written dialogues, awesome voice acting performances, and great music.”
    • “The ways in which this expands on the first are infinitely interesting, while still being its own story with lots of heart.”
    • “The story quickly grabs your attention, making you eager to uncover its secrets.”
    • “Most of the story felt like a retread and I didn't much care about the new added themes.”
    • “The story doesn't flow naturally at all and feels like a retcon into the original game.”
    • “The main plot isn't as engaging as the first game.”
  • gameplay193 mentions

    The gameplay in "Oxenfree II: Lost Signals" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its simplicity and reliance on walking and dialogue rather than action or complex mechanics. While some appreciate the familiar mechanics and engaging story, others criticize the underutilization of new features like the walkie-talkie and the repetitive nature of backtracking. Overall, the game maintains a strong narrative focus, but its gameplay may not satisfy those seeking more dynamic interactions or challenges.

    • “I really enjoyed how this game blended the mechanics from the first game while still creating a new and unique story!”
    • “The gameplay is so fun, and arguably better than the first; the dialogue feels natural and the story is satisfying.”
    • “The gameplay remains pretty much exactly the same as the original, but it adds more complexity and the movement is slightly less 2D than the first.”
    • “Gameplay is too simplistic, with promising yet underdeveloped mechanics, like the radio, and a lot of slow, boring backtracking.”
    • “The gameplay itself is often clunky, and you end up interrupting dialogue or walking to places you didn't intend.”
    • “Despite some witty dialogue and a few poignant moments, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is an unexciting talkie-walkie with conversation interruptions and dull gameplay.”
  • music146 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance the overall experience, while some feel it doesn't quite match the iconic soundtrack of the original. The return of composer scntfc is noted positively, as the soundtrack features a blend of ambient and electronic music that fits the game's eerie vibe, though some players found the new tracks less memorable. Overall, while the music contributes significantly to the game's ambiance, opinions vary on its impact compared to the first installment.

    • “An emotional story inside a world with beautiful, collage-like visuals, solid eerie atmosphere, fantastic characters, well-written dialogues, awesome voice acting performances, and great music.”
    • “The music was great, glitchy synth stuff that really added to the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The soundtrack is as stellar as the last one, the art style is amazing, and I love how the dialogue flows.”
    • “I was very happy to see scntfc return to score the music, but was disappointed to hear that this score was also 'more of the same'.”
    • “The music is nothing short of extraordinary and the visual representation of the broken narrative/time anomalies really drives the impact of the story for me.”
    • “The soundtrack in this one just felt really uninteresting in comparison.”
  • graphics112 mentions

    The graphics in the game have received significant praise for their stunning visuals and unique art style, which combines elements of watercolor and collage-like aesthetics. Many reviewers noted that the graphics are an improvement over the original, enhancing the atmospheric experience while maintaining the charm of the first game. However, some players mentioned issues with blurriness and a less clean appearance in certain areas, but overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's immersive storytelling and emotional depth.

    • “An emotional story inside a world with beautiful, collage-like visuals, solid eerie atmosphere, fantastic characters, well-written dialogues, awesome voice acting performances, and great music.”
    • “The graphics are a huge step up from the original while maintaining the familiar art style.”
    • “The atmospheric and hauntingly beautiful visuals of Lost Signals are simply stunning.”
    • “I think I was expecting more in terms of the graphics and the story.”
    • “One problem that I seemed to have was that the graphics were a bit blurry.”
    • “The visuals are extremely muddy.”
  • atmosphere106 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Oxenfree II: Lost Signals" is widely praised for its haunting beauty, combining stunning visuals, an immersive soundtrack, and exceptional voice acting to create a captivating and eerie experience. Players appreciate the blend of supernatural elements and emotional storytelling, although some feel that humor can occasionally detract from the overall tension. Overall, the game successfully builds upon its predecessor's atmospheric foundation, delivering a rich and engaging world that draws players in.

    • “An emotional story inside a world with beautiful, collage-like visuals, a solid eerie atmosphere, fantastic characters, well-written dialogues, awesome voice acting performances, and great music.”
    • “The art style, the music, the atmosphere, the mystery, the choices in dialogues, everything plays out really nicely so far.”
    • “The blend of supernatural elements and interpersonal relationships creates a unique and immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is creepy, just like in the first game, but I felt like this time it was lacking in intensity.”
    • “While this sequel retains the mysterious atmosphere, it unfortunately stumbles in the story and character department.”
    • “Overall, Oxenfree II had strong atmosphere but weaker gameplay and story compared to the original.”
  • emotional71 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Oxenfree II: Lost Signals" is widely praised for its depth and impact, with many players noting that it evokes a range of feelings, from nostalgia to heartbreak. The game's exploration of themes such as family, trauma, and personal growth resonates strongly, particularly through its well-developed characters and poignant storytelling. While some players felt less emotionally connected to certain characters compared to the first game, the overall narrative and emotional writing still left a significant impression, often leading to tears and introspection.

    • “An emotional story inside a world with beautiful, collage-like visuals, solid eerie atmosphere, fantastic characters, well-written dialogues, awesome voice acting performances, and great music.”
    • “Big themes this time around (other than being a supernatural mystery thriller) are family, trauma, and how emotional scars of the past shape and haunt us.”
    • “The ending wrapped everything up neatly and it felt heartwarming to everyone.”
    • “The emotional depth of the story was lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I found the narrative to be uninspiring and the emotional moments felt forced.”
    • “The game failed to evoke any real feelings; it felt more like a chore than an emotional experience.”
  • stability22 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant bugs and glitches that can lead to soft locks and hinder progress, while others report a mostly smooth experience with only minor issues. Notably, the game runs well on the Steam Deck, but many users feel that it could benefit from additional polish to address the various technical problems. Overall, while some players enjoyed a bug-free experience, the prevalence of glitches has left others frustrated.

    • “At least it runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “It runs great on Deck (although I had to get a special Proton version to fix the intro logo video) and has great voice acting and a decent story.”
    • “100% bug free (at least for me) on day 1 too.”
    • “But I can't say that this is worth the time investment, especially with several soft locks elongating my playtime due to glitches.”
    • “Bugs and glitches; I only had one issue near the beginning of the game trying to find an entrance into Jacob's house. After interacting with things, it wouldn't let me move nor was I receiving dialogue for a good 5 minutes, and I had to exit the game and restart the entire area.”
    • “There were a couple I encountered during my playthrough, most of them minor, though there were two glitches in particular which were basically game-ruining.”
  • grinding17 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with frequent backtracking and navigation through repetitive environments detracting from the overall experience. While some appreciate the character interactions and story connections, many feel that the gameplay becomes monotonous and lacks engagement, making traversal feel like a chore. Overall, the combination of confusing dialogue and tedious mechanics leads to a less enjoyable experience for many players.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “A bit grindy.”
    • “I do think that the constant backtracking over the same environments multiple times gets a bit tedious at points, but it was doable with the enjoyable conversation between the two main characters.”
    • “The map is larger with more backtracking and more tedious navigation, most of which is pointless climbing.”
    • “The caves were tedious, especially since I had to backtrack through there for an item that the game failed to realize I'd already gotten.”
  • replayability15 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag. While it features multiple endings and diverse dialogue options that encourage exploration of different outcomes, some players feel that the lack of a New Game Plus mode and minimal changes in dialogue during repeat playthroughs diminish its replay value. Additionally, the game's length and pacing may lead players to prefer spacing out their playthroughs rather than playing back-to-back.

    • “It has a great story in my opinion and you can tell a lot of work has been put into it, lots of different endings and dialogue options so it has some replayability especially if you wait for a while between playthroughs.”
    • “Engaging in conversations with your companions feels natural and meaningful, and the branching paths add replayability and encourage exploration of different outcomes.”
    • “Neither point ruins the game for me, and it is mostly compensated by the insane amount of dialogue trees which really help give the game and the characters more substance and add a ton of replayability.”
    • “Also, the lack of new game plus was a bit strange and makes replayability lower for me.”
    • “It's also quite short for the asking price, especially since the replayability is low.”
    • “In short: the story and characters sadly make the replay value feel quite low.”
  • optimization11 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of Oxenfree II has received mixed feedback. While many players appreciate the smoother performance compared to previous titles and commend the impressive voice acting, some have reported issues with choppy performance, unresponsive controls, and distracting dialogue stuttering, although updates have addressed some of these concerns. The game's naturalistic dialogue and atmospheric sound design contribute positively to the experience, despite some players finding the character interactions less engaging than in earlier installments.

    • “Much smoother and more optimized than previous titles, in my opinion.”
    • “Impressive voice acting: the natural-sounding performances by the voice actors, aided by the absence of lip flaps, contribute to the game's intimate and realistic atmosphere.”
    • “Naturalistic dialogue and performances both ground the characters, creating an eerie, yet catchy soundtrack that reinforces its sci-fi horror mood.”
    • “I really enjoyed the personalities in the first Oxenfree and even after party, but I didn't enjoy anyone in this game (to the point that I was more than happy to [spoiler]chuck Olivia into the portal at the end just to stop hearing her whining[/spoiler]), and the constant stuttering in the dialogue was irritating and distracting.”
    • “Haven't played much yet but the way the people speak, constantly stuttering and 'uhhh/ermm' before every single word they say, is already getting kind of annoying.”
    • “Choppy performance and unresponsive controls while exploring (has since been updated).”
  • humor10 mentions

    The game's humor is generally well-received, featuring a mix of self-deprecating jokes and witty banter that adds charm to character interactions. However, some players feel that the constant humor detracts from the darker atmosphere, with certain characters, like Jacob, becoming tiresome due to their clinginess and incessant chatter. Overall, the dialogue is described as quirky and insightful, balancing humor with horror and depth, though opinions on its effectiveness vary.

    • “He is funny, a lovely companion and also quite interesting and relatable in his own right.”
    • “I'm sure one look at the trailer tells you everything about what's been improved upon while maintaining the charm of the original and the character interactions and dry and sarcastic humor I enjoyed from the first game.”
    • “If you are a person who enjoys a lot...and I mean a lot of dialogue, you are in for some interesting, quirky, insightful, and even funny conversations.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Character development in the game is inconsistent; while some players praise the depth and connections formed with central characters like Riley and Jacob, others feel that it lacks proper fleshing out and does not match the overall story quality. Overall, it appears to be a mixed experience, with some characters receiving commendable development while others fall short.

    • “Great character development: the central characters, Riley and Jacob, are well fleshed out, allowing players to form meaningful connections with them.”
    • “Character development was on par with the first.”
    • “It's just too bad the story and the character development aren't at the same level.”
    • “Only character development is with him and it isn't even fleshed out properly.”
    • “The gameplay, atmosphere, and character development remain largely the same, though a big part of the mystery is gone.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Reviews suggest that the monetization strategy feels like a cash grab, particularly following Netflix's acquisition of Night School Studio, leading to concerns about a lack of investment in advertising and overall quality.

    • “To me, it felt almost like a lazy cash grab, especially with Netflix acquiring Night School Studio.”
    • “It's like NSS ran out of money for advertising.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

78% average critic score

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Play time

7hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
5-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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