Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 81 | 25 |
| Creator reviews (2 tracked) | – | 88 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 91% | 86 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 79 | 27 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 84% | 78 | 8 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 23 reviews sampled · 17 total reviews in window · weighted 9.9 up / 1.9 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (96)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 70
“Players will remain invested in a story that, if not entirely original, remains exciting and poignant in equal measure.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“A genuinely creepy creation, Oxenfree combines a clever story and smart dialogue mechanics with superbly sinister music to leave a deep and lasting impression on the player, one that should encourage an all-important second playthrough. Fans of Stranger Things and Poltergeist will love the direction this game takes, if not to hell and back, exactly, then absolutely to some other place where horrors abound, just waiting for an invitation into our world. It's yet another Switch essential.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The definition of a "feel good game", Oxenfree is a delightful cartoonish adventure with a strong 80's vibe.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Despite the supernatural intrusion, Oxenfree never loses sight of the human drama at its core, remaining largely understated and tasteful in its exploration of the gulf that grief and insecurity can create in any relationship.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Oxenfree is truly unlike any other experience that you can pick up for the Xbox One right now. While it isn't heavy on gameplay, the narrative and aesthetics really build a superb atmosphere and give a great sense of weight to proceedings. It doesn't necessarily score a direct hit with every story beat and we could definitely live without the crashes. There's also an argument to be made that around four or five hours, the game is a tad short in the grand scheme of things. It feels shorter still when you pick up the controller to make a quick bit of progress late in the evening, then find yourself staring at the rolling credits at 3am with all the lights on because something just doesn't feel right.As we said, Oxenfree is an unsettling game.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It may be brief, but Oxenfree has elements of greatness and stands out as an excellent example of video game storytelling. It's also a beautiful and intriguing game that draws you in from the very start and makes you want to see just how deep the rabbit hole goes. Unfortunately, the situational narrative is let down slightly in the final third where it confuses even itself and fails to merge with the far stronger and more prominent social narrative.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Not quite a Telltale-level game, but also not something to pass up. The beautiful visuals, characters, and choices are why I came back to it. And with that radio you just can't "turn that down".”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Players that love a good story, some nice reveals, and lots of character driven dialog will eat up Oxenfree. It personally reminded me at times of Goonies, Donnie Darko, and X-files, all thrown in a blender together and spat out. It's a game with a great amount of heart, and one scene in particular, while it didn't have me in tears, I couldn't help feel touched by that moment.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you can live with that, Oxenfree ends up being a great experience for modern adventure fans. It may have a lot more dialogue than puzzles, but it is so well written that you miss it in the silent moments. The interesting story is backed up by likeable characters, and the whole thing is wrapped up with a presentation that bleeds style. Unless you want to wait to see if the issues are addressed in a future patch, Oxenfree is worth checking out now.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Oxenfree is a story about human interaction and how we choose to treat each other, all set against a backdrop of supernatural horror. It just feels really human in spite of all the weird stuff.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Oxenfree is a game where player choice matters a lot, and that fact mixed with an incredible atmosphere and an even better narrative create great memories for the player. Alas, it has a few flaws, such as the camera positioning and the walking speed, but the whole experience can make you forget them.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Oxenfree isn't a horror game with a message, but it's still got lots to say.”
read full review ↗
Slant Magazine
Nintendo Life
PLAY Zine
Paste Magazine
Pure Xbox
Push Square
NintendoWorldReport
ZTGD
Worth Playing
The Escapist
The Game is a Lie
Eurogamer…and 84 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- 3.2.16 Patch NotesJul 9, 2022
- Patch 3.1.1 ■ ◼︎🁢N🀰🀫otesSep 8, 2021
- 3.1.0 Patch NotesJul 12, 2021
- 3.0.1 Patch NotesMar 30, 2021
- Patch NotesMar 29, 2021
- Patch NotesFeb 21, 2019
- Patch NotesOct 20, 2016
- Patch NotesOct 20, 2016
- Free New Game Plus Update is Now AvailableJun 1, 2016
- Free New Game Plus Update is Now AvailableJun 1, 2016
- Update: 2 Weeks InJan 29, 2016
- Update: 2 Weeks InJan 29, 2016