Oxenfree is an adventure game set on Edwards Island, a former military island where five teenagers spend their weekend. The story begins with Alex, a blue-haired girl, and her friends Ren, Jonas, Mona, and Clarissa, who are all connected to each other through relationships and past experiences.
The gameplay involves controlling Alex as she explores the island, interacting with her friends and uncovering the island's secrets. The game features a unique conversation system where players choose from three options, each represented by a different color, which influences how the characters perceive Alex and their relationships with each other.
While progressing through the story, players will encounter various puzzles to solve using Alex's portable radio. These can involve finding the right frequencies for conversations or music, as well as uncovering the island's dark history through audio and video distortions. The game offers a sense of progression and discovery, but with many irreversible choices.
Players can collect optional items, such as photographs and buried letters, which provide additional context to the story. There are also anomalies that can be tracked for extra information.
The game was released on the Nintendo Switch in 2018 and has since been updated with new content, including a "New Game+" mode that offers an alternate experience with new dialogues and settings.