Oxenfree is a fabulously unique video game that takes the form of a supernatural, teenage coming-of-age adventure.
The opening scene of the game, developed by Night School Studio, depicts a group of teenagers drinking on an isolated beach near an abandoned military base. From there, the game proceeds and takes you on an adventurous tryst that includes encounters with frightening creatures, people and scenes with the risk of treacherous outcomes. The main protagonist of this supernatural game is a high school senior named Alex, who embarks on a fateful journey with her friends. The player has to choose what Alex does, where she goes and what she says.
The coming-of-age genre has long been hugely popular in the worlds of film, TV and books, but its reinterpretation in the form of the Oxenfree video game allows for a truly unique kind of engagement with the genre.
Supernatural Teenage Games
The Oxenfree Game is a Unique Coming-Of-Age Adventure
Trend Themes
1. Supernatural Teenage Games - The trend towards video games that blend supernatural and coming-of-age themes create opportunities for innovative storytelling and immersive experiences.
2. Choose Your Own Adventure - The resurgence of choose-your-own-adventure style games provides new ways for players to engage with narrative and participate in character development.
3. Cross-media Storytelling - The popularity of the coming-of-age genre in film, TV and literature presents opportunities to create expanded narratives across multiple media platforms.
Industry Implications
1. Video Games - The video game industry has the potential to attract new audiences and developers by exploring supernatural and coming-of-age themes.
2. Film and TV - The success of Oxenfree and other coming-of-age stories in the video game industry can inspire the creation of new and innovative stories for film and television.
3. Publishing - The popularity of coming-of-age stories in all forms of media presents opportunities for publishers to expand their offerings with new and diverse narratives.