10 Video Game Features Every Title Should Have Stolen

1. Adventure Game Changing Dialogue System - Oxenfree

Oxenfree’s approach to video game dialogue is so good it’s crazy we haven’t seen other dialogue-heavy games copy it.

I’d argue this might be as close to natural conversation as video game dialogue has ever been able to reach. Night School Studio designed Oxenfree’s conversations to happen a few different ways. Characters will speak at length and you’re given the option to interrupt, though you don’t have to. There’s no punishment for saying nothing, though if you stay quiet for a while your companions might ask if you’re listening.

The characters tend to talk amongst each other and you’ll get a few speech bubbles to participate as much or as little as you want. There is a time limit which some might find frustrating but it’s important as it keeps the pace. You’ll often walk and talk so it never feels like anyone is just waiting around awkwardly paused for your response.

Given that the game features a bunch of teenagers, this comes off pretty naturally.

There are also sprawling dialogue trees to ensure you can go down precisely the conversation and narrative path you want to. Various characters react differently to the ways you choose to engage and it can be just as meaningful to say nothing as it is to say something.