Originally released in 2016, Night School Studio’s Oxenfree has not only received acclaim, but it still regularly has new players discovering it for the first time. The story of Oxenfree is a bit basic on the surface, but it resonates with players because of its relatability and simplicity. Alex, the player character, is a rebellious teen coping with her own loss while getting to know her new step-brother Jonas on a secret trip gone wrong. Oxenfree uniquely combines a coming-of-age story with the opening of a ghost rift that players must try to fix as the game progresses.
As a game, Oxenfree is deeply personal to a lot of fans. Each character introduced has their own unique personality, and when all of them are together and talking over each other, the game really shows what it’s capable of. In an interview with Game Rant, Night School Studio co-founder Adam Hines discusses his own relationship with Oxenfree and any plans the studio may have coming in the future.
Oxenfree is a unique game with a lot of replayability possibilities, which also makes it easy for players to sink into and really connect with. When asked about his own connection to Oxenfree, Hines said that, for him, what resonates the most is the tone and atmosphere of the game. He equates the game to being “told like a campfire story,” which gives it a slow build for players.
My favorite parts of the game are when all the characters are on screen, trying to talk over each other. I think all of the mechanics really come alive in those moments.
For Hines, his connection to Oxenfree has evolved in a unique way throughout the years since its release. He said that at the time of release, he was still mentally immersed in tying up Oxenfree’s loose ends, and especially focused on the patch that added a “New Game Plus” feature when the original story was complete. Five years later, Hines says that the memory of that time is even hazier than before, and sort of serves as a time capsule for a hectic, yet very rewarding period in his life.
He’s also learned quite a bit since Oxenfree’s launch. He said that at the time of release, he had “a sprawling list” of things he would have changed or done differently, but now looking back he doesn’t remember what he would have changed if given the chance. Hines also imparted some insight into the game development process:
… know that the game you’re planning to make will never, ever be the game you’ll actually make, so it’s better to figure out what the game can’t be, and then what it has to be, and then just stick to that.
Hines says that he delights in seeing new people discover the game for the first time and write about it, even if they hated the game. He says it’s interesting to read what people think of the game from their own playthrough and even little details that person noticed compared to someone else who might not have seen it.
It’s always interesting, reading what people gleam from the game, what they like about it, what they don’t, what small detail they alone appreciated.
As for the future of Oxenfree, a TV show adaptation of the game is in the works, as it’s “being fed through the intestinal tract of the Hollywood production system.” Hines was a bit more tight-lipped about Night School’s upcoming projects, but says he hopes fans of Oxenfree will also enjoy whatever comes next.
Oxenfree is available now for Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
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