Oxenfree II: Lost Signals Hands-On Preview

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals has the wonderfully comforting feeling of revisiting somewhere familiar. I have been aware of the sequel since Night School Studio revealed it in 2021, but only when I played it at Summer Games Fest did I realise quite how much time has passed since the original Oxenfree launched.

Over those seven years, the immediate difference is that Oxenfree II is more visually striking than its predecessor, which was already an attractive game with a distinctive art style. That same aesthetic is back, yet it stands out more vividly on screen. Oxenfree II looks superb, while its gameplay feels just as smooth as that of the first game.

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals takes a more mature approach

Oxenfree II has a more grown-up feel. The original centred on a group of teenagers, and its story played out like a teenage summer adventure, seemingly influenced by the atmosphere of Netflix's Stranger Things. This follow-up focuses on Riley, who is in her 30s, and the first 30 minutes I played suggested a more mature story, from the language she uses and the life problems she faces to the wider tone.

Riley arrives on a mysterious island with no idea how she got there. Before long, however, Evelyn starts speaking to her through a walkie-talkie and Riley settles into the situation. As in the first Oxenfree, you are offered several dialogue options that give each conversation its flavour. I favoured the more sarcastic replies, although other selections would let me respond sincerely or show greater fear about the unfolding events. Whichever option you choose, the voice performances are excellent, another quality that defined the first game for me.

Time tunnels and Camena Island

As I climb a lighthouse, I come across a time tunnel, something director Bryant Cannon says has been made easier by the power of new-generation consoles. At the summit of the eerie, apparently deserted lighthouse, the tunnel reveals the structure in another era: sunlight fills the scene, while people look towards the sea as the sun sets over it. Cannon says these time tunnels are central to Oxenfree II's gameplay, as players will use them to overcome obstacles.

He describes one example in which Riley is trapped in a mine because rocks are blocking the exit. By travelling through a time tunnel to 1901, Riley finds the mine open and can continue onwards.

Evelyn tells Riley to head for the central port on Camena Island, which lies not far from Edwards Island, the main location in the first Oxenfree. I am then tasked with going to the top of the island to install a transmitter. On the way, I meet Jacob, a contractor who is also Riley's partner on this new job. They have an easy rapport, and Jacob introduces players to the possibility that Camena Island is more unsettling than it initially seems.

A transmitter's alarming signal

The pair continue up the island, where Riley needs to set up the transmitter. Following a brief minigame in which I use both analogue sticks to locate the signal, Oxenfree II begins to reveal its intentions: a mysterious burst of energy, resembling lightning, fires from the transmitter towards a triangular, prismatic tear in the sky above Edwards Island. Riley, Jacob and Evelyn are understandably alarmed by the odd occurrence, and although the trio appear ready to investigate it, that is where my demo concludes.

My 30 minutes playing Oxenfree II offer only a small glimpse of what lies ahead. It is beautiful, includes terrific voice acting and plays much like the original. In other words, because I loved the first game, I am very eager to discover what awaits when Oxenfree II releases on 12 July.