Oxenfree II: Lost Signals Review (PS5) | Push Square

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Generally put on a pedestal and welcomed by all, new IPs are what keep the gaming industry fresh. While other publishers create sequel after sequel, it's those new experiences — particularly in the indie space — that start to live longer in the memory. Night School Studio managed something memorable with 2016's Oxenfree, but what happens when your chance to do it again falls on deafer ears? Following a tamer response to Afterparty, the developer has returned to what it knows best. Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is a relatively safe sequel that does little to veer off the familiar path of the first game, but with a new cast and location, it's a story fans will be gripped by.

Gone are the party-seeking teens of Edwards Island, replaced by the more mature Riley and Jacob in a small coastal town named Camena. You play the whole game controlling the former while the latter joins you on a job to plant transmitters that analyse strange radio frequency signals. When a portal opens up in the night sky, though, the task takes on a whole new supernatural twist.

Since gameplay is somewhat on the light side, it's this narrative along with the two main characters and supporting cast that do much of the heavy lifting. Through dialogue options and some of your actions, you'll be able to shape the story to your liking, creating friendships and saving lives along the way. Your choices lead to a number of different endings, and with a few different faces to charm, replay value is fairly high.

The walkie-talkie and the radio return from the first game, allowing you to expand your horizons a little and interact with characters you wouldn't normally encounter. This opens Oxenfree II: Lost Signals up a little further with small side quests to