Afterparty

really fun and bouncy writing but often wears out its welcome if you play for longer than an hour or two

This was the first Night School game I ever played. I fell in love with this genre of games after playing it. I loved the story of the world these two kids "live" in. Voice acting was top notch. Ashly Burch was amazing as always. For those that like a fun story with a little bit of heart, I totally recommend!!

Maybe the real friendship was the rehab we found along the way.

it feels just like an American movie—quirky, humorous, but EXTREMELY BORING.
Fans of American culture might enjoy it,
but others will realize it's the worst thing they've ever seen!

Got drunk with Satan. 10/10

Interesting story and much nicer graphics than Oxenfree but after two hours I faced a game breaking bug which basically got me stuck. Off course i'm unable to re-load since there is only one save. I'm not willing to replay those 2 hours and go through the same dialogue again since it's not skippable. I'm reading there are many bugs in the game so i'll give this a pass. I see that it is a 2020 release and it's weird that they haven't addressed the bugs 5 years later. Better avoid this until they fix it.

So, I love the art style, the music, the characters, the jokes, the whole premise even, but here's some problems: dialogues tend to cut off too much due to overlaping triggers as characters walk, there's a specific spot in Satan's house where characters keep getting stuck which requires a reload and also two major gripes with the story: why should I care about Satan's wellbeing? The game is trying to make me feel like choosing to throw away my chance at escaping hell for the sake of curing Satan's alcoholism is a good thing and I should do that, when it makes no sense. Especially after all I've been through. And why is it despite me choosing only positive and supportive dialogue options Lola and Milo still end up splitting up in an argument at the end? It makes no sense and makes me feel like my choices don't really matter. Also, Satan giving you infinite tries to beat him at the drinking game eliminates all stakes. I enjoyed the game, but considering all that I could only give it a 7/10

Things that the game got CORRECT [✔]

Not a bad game. It's very charming with good characters, and at moments, genuinely funny.
But I think Night School bit off a bit more than they could chew. It kinda lacks the polish of the Oxenfree games.

Can't figure out how to get to the party upstairs. Dead to me right from the start.

Out drinking Satan, Quick and witty dialog, plus a catch soundtrack? What's not to love!

Pretty smooth and very easy control with a pretty cool art style. The characters are both relatable to an extent, there were times I could see myself as both Milo and Lola. Other characters are also pretty amazing, I have a whole lotta love for Sister Mary Wormhorn.

As someone who tends to only play games as a way to relax and shut off for a few hours, Afterparty did that to a perfect level. I never felt like I was trying to 'grind' the game for achievements or a hidden purpose. I killed 6 hours playing it and didn't even realise! The dialog between characters are funny and gave me a few laughs here and there.

Overall a wonderful game :)

Hell has never looked this good, and by 'hell' I mean this game. It's GORGEOUS. So pretty, fun, with interesting story and characters, and the voice acting is GREAT

good game about hell

Not too bad, it's pretty buggy though. Even on my second playthrough big devilman himself gets stuck on the circular path to his office in his house and I have to reload back and go through it all again and SLOWLY inch behind him and hope it doesn't glitch. Then on the way back Lola got stuck. At this point I'm more likely to uninstall it and not finish second go-through. (It was frustrating enough the first time)

Fun little mini games, I enjoyed the lighting and atmosphere. Ashley and the other VA's were nice, but only get it on sale. Drinks were fun but pretty gross, aside from that it's a pretty surface level little game. Get ON. SALE. The bugs break the whole thing and reloading sucks.

a short coming-of-age story that tries to explore themes of agency. i think it tries, but it is just clear in one scene... you don't really get to KNOW these characters beyond small details, and that simply isn't enough for me to understand the dilemmas they are going through. the setting is creative, it's well put together, really shiny and entertaining,,, but i can't help but feel that the story is surface-level, almost unfinished :(

i may give it a second chance in the future, as you can't see all the content in one playthrough, but unless i somehow managed to skip all the thematically-relevant heartbreaking scenes of the game, i don't see my opinion changing that much. for now, sadly it gets a thumbs down. go play OXENFREE, tho! that's a good game...

Only a few minigames are available throughout the entire game. The gameplay mechanic involving alcohol is a good idea, but it only proves useful in a few situations and does not significantly alter dialogues in other cases. The first half of the game is too boring and will only appeal to those who enjoy toilet humor, as there is quite a lot of it. The only truly good aspect of this game is the ending—it is genuinely interesting and may have even touched my emotions, giving me something to think about. Oxenfree was much better.

Typically amazing stuff from the same studio that brought us 2 great games in the OxenFree universe. If you haven't played it, you will :)

played it on switch. Ok story great dialogue

The story is cool and you get multiple endings based on your choices. But don't expect too much gameplay. You basically walk from place to place and select dialogue options. Get it on sale

You got to fight for your right to party!

Good

Played this game a while back but loved the unique artstyle . This game does have choices that change the story depending on what you do I believe and because of that it does have some replay content. I recommend it if you like branching storyline games and if you like literature and watchable material relating to demons.

Like the art, the sound and dubbing, the ending
Do not like the humour, mini-games

If you want to spend a couple hours just walking ingame, go ahead-
For me however, this game had so much potential with the drinking-game mini-games but didn't use it at all.
I had high hopes, but was pretty disappointed by the fact that it was indeed, just a walking simulator with like 3 mini-games within the 10 hours that i spent on it (The hope for good execution of the drinking-game concept really kept me going)

Oxenfree was amazing, this was boring af

LOVED IT

I really enjoyed it. Just wish I could play it again for the first time.

I liked it. It's pretty short it's silly and just an easy way to pass the time. I know it's nothing like Figment, but it reminded me of Figment a little. Works great on the steam deck.

I like the neon and the idea of escaping hell is fun, but the characters are lame and the story is boring

Pretty. Thought provoking. Funny. Would recommend to a friend. Probably won't play again.

Other thoughts: Maybe don't play if you have a drinking problem, maybe play if you know someone who does? As to this game's replayability, there are multiple endings and mildly interesting achievements to hunt for but I wish you weren't literally just playing the same game again. Also I restarted the drinking game with Satan like 10-15 times, had to sit through that whole intervention womp Every Time, and still never won. Would have appreciated being able to skip that bit. Especially since you can't skip the game as far as I could tell? I suppose I could be wrong. Also I would do it all over again so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Both Oxenfree 1 and 2 were spectacular so I was excited for this one, it is nowhere near as good. The visuals and sound mixing are beautiful but that's it for the positives.
I know it takes place in hell but it feels like every character is shitty and unrelatable and swearing is funny? It kinda actually feels like the plot was written by a grade 9 student who may have never been to a party.
I also feel like it glorified drinking to the point it was uncomfortable, I did finish the game but I feel the same way.

Thumbs-up with two big caveats. This is cute, but I enjoyed it less than Oxenfree.

The conceit and setting are inspired. The idea that hell is one big sticky frat party will resonate with a lot of gamers. It sure resonated with me.

The writing is energetic, too. Lola and Milo’s different flavors of anxiety come out well, and the cast in general are endearing. Banter is witty and constant.

The ending feels a little forced—just as the plot was starting to zoom in on the protagonists and get a little personal, it backs off from that, and in a weird twist shifts focus to a barely present character—but there’s still a bit of closure. Really, though, I was just ready for it to be done.

Because of those caveats!! I.e.:

1. The writing and performances are witty, but they’re also trying very hard. SO hard. Almost every character speaks with exactly the same mid-2000s, cripplingly self-aware, low-budget indie-movie tic. It’s fun, but you have to have a high tolerance for that sort of banter.

2. A much bigger problem: the game is frightfully passive. You just move left and right and listen to dialogue, occasionally directing the conversation in inconsequential ways. It doesn’t even reach the level of walking sim, since there’s almost nothing interactable and no content reward for exploring. Even worse, when you’re asked to find a character or location, you’re set free to poke around, *implying* that there’s content to explore, but all you ever find—after multiple screens of walking—are dead ends. I kept falling for this, and it felt bad every time. Probably a full hour of my six hours of game time was spent walking into, and back from, dead ends. The dialogue is often pretty passive, too; the game only asks you to make two or three meaningful decisions total.

That second caveat is what makes it difficult to recommend this wholeheartedly. I think Afterparty would be a fun two-hour movie. I had fun with it, but I’m not sure that this needed to be a videogame.

Love the DA but there's so much text lmao I wasn't ready for that. I guess it's good if you know what you're getting into.

I wanted a fun lighthearted game drinking with the devil in hell. Instead I am stuck with the two most boring stuck up dorks in gaming history and have to listen to their unskipable cringeworthy banter. Only thing worse is the demon that is supposed to torment them and fails miserably. I hope when I finish this I get to see them burn. Only reason to continue playing honestly. I want the worst for them.

Another excellent game from Night School Studios!
Has a similar vibe to Oxenfree, but with a fresh story and art style.

Was super fun to play!

Afterparty is a fun game full of humor and amusing story telling. This experience is story heavy vs challenging gameplay. A lot of the narrative is dependent on the story telling while game play takes a backseat. There is a small amount of "minigames" where some challenge can be found. The entire experience is a little on the shorter side but with a couple different endings to encounter, there's a reason to go back for another play through. The voice acting is spot on and makes for an almost visual novel like experience. I would recommend, especially if a story about two friends trying to drink their way out of Hell catches your interest.

gameplay – S
story – S
sound - S+
design – B
detail - A
ui – A
enjoyment - S
===
overall - S
==
Amazing game, the story and charicters are so much fun. The sound is top! i did have a few bugs with people getting stuck but it was not game bracking.

Pretty fun casual game, funny dialogue and entertaining story. I find the concept very unique and interesting, the choices you make really had an impact on the ending you can get (there are multiple, I think) which is exactly what I expect from a story-based game.
The mini games were okay, dance-off was easy, beer pong was a bit too unpredictable and the shots mini game almost made me rage quit. But, other than that,
I would recommend this game on a sale, I got it for a pretty low price and it was very much worth it for two afternoons of gameplay (not a completionist here).

Yep

Full of lofi hip hop - beats and incantations to summon demons to.

Small Story Game with weak Start.
But if you invest some Time it gets better and better, recommend beside that only to buy in the Bundle Sales like it was during Halloween the non Sale Price of 19,50€ is to much.
Its important to know the Game is alot of talking and walking and lacks on actual Gameplay.

Not as good as Oxenfree.
Boring plot.

Awesome game.

Mega nudne, nieciekawe i miałkie...
Ogromny zawód po genialnym Oxenfree

This game started a bit slow for me and, being older, the themes of excessive drinking and Hell didn't excite me. However, I did end up enjoying it enough that I played it second time to get another ending. I also appreciated the bit of social commentary it there was. Only two things annoyed me. One was that I felt there was a bit too much walking to-and-fro, which felt like padding. The other was that the graphics setting kept resetting to Very Low, but I can't with certainty say if the actual quality changed or just the descriptor in the menu. Whichever it was, the graphics were fine. All-in-all, the game was a fun experience, so yeah, recommend. Perhaps on sale. I picked it up in a 3-for-1 bundle (with Oxenfree 1 and 2) for like 3 euro.

Oxenfree is one of my all time favorite indie game, so it pains me to say that Afterparty is a disappointment. I still like the quirky characters and some moments in this game do shine. But the charm of it, the reason why I love Oxenfree so much just feels... lost.

2.5/5

Currently a buggy mess, though a nice concept.
Graphics keep resetting to Very Low and the necessary NPCs get stuck during a specific part of the story, blocking progression.

Dark humor version of Oxenfree. I was hoping for something with a Monkey Island vibe and initially it seemed like it might be, but the more I played the more it became a drag. This is a highschool drama with very shallow story, flat characters and pretentious writing that never shuts up, it's Oxenfree meets Borderlands 3.

There's a severe lack of technical polish and it looks like a mobile phone game or a very old PC game.

As for the barely existing gameplay, I didn't appreciate the minigames and the alcohol-drinking gimmick felt wrong, I guess it goes with the highschool theme ("we are young and awesome let's party and get drunk") but I'm too old for this stuff.

It's not all bad, the writing is pretty good for gaming standards and some of the dialogues are fun, but not enough for a game which only selling point is precisely that. I really wanted to give this game a positive review, but it annoyed me more than it made me laugh, so I just can't.

If you enjoyed Oxenfree and Borderlands 3's non-stop ranting go for it, otherwise I'd pass.

Beer pong mini game shouldn't be THAT frustrating.

Bought it in a bundle with 2 other games for such a cheap price that it was worth it. With that said, the story is predictable and the options the game gives you are somewhat samey.

Felt a lack of replayability and quality of life improvements, such as being able to skip dialogue on a second playthrough and constantly needing to go back a save to try getting a perfect match of whatever minigame I was trying to get the achievement to. Expected more of a game that took pride in telling a charming story with multiple paths to take, but instead got tired of waiting to get to the point where the achievements were available on my second playthrough.

Just boring repetition without a real sense of value added to the first campaign I finished (in less than 6h while doing every interaction possible might I add)