What does "Oxenfree" mean?

[Luna Starshine]

I am like half way into the story of the game. I wonder what the title mean. Is it related? Aren´t oxen the plural of ox? I don´t get it. xD

[Kibōchen]

maybe free cattle? xD

edit: it's a catchphrase used in such children's games as hide and seek, capture the flag or kick the can to indicate that players who are hiding can come out into the open without losing the game, that the position of the sides in a game has changed

[SIT_ROM.exe]

The phrase could have origined from any of the following:

1: "All ye all ye outs in free"(which better explains the resulting phrase)

2: The German "Alle alle auch sind frei" (Loose translation: "all all are now also free")

...

There doesn't seem to be a clear consensus on which one was the actual inception of the phrase in question, at least none that I could find after five minutes of searching Google...

[Luna Starshine]

Ok it´s correct. I just came to the posessed Chlarissa scene and she said "all the outs in free" in a demonic voice that basicly sounded like oxenfree.

Thanks, guys. :D

[awex]

There's many variations of the original phrase. But the actual phrase itself is a signal used in hide-and-seek.

During a game of hide-and-seek, the "it" (the seeker) would say "All the outs in free", or any variation, and that would signal to the "outs" (those who are hiding) that they come out without penalty and the game resets.

Spoiler alert for this phrase's connection to the story:

It most likely has to do with Alex being "it" and letting the "outs" (the sunken) in free. Then, the time loop resets, just like a game of hide-and-seek.

[Luna Starshine]

Yeah I finished the game. It´s awesome. I will for sure do 2 more replays of it (a being-rude replay and a strong-silent-type replay!). :D

[Vork]

I just did my silent type run myself. I think I am going to do a rude replay as well ... I am totally gonna slap Ren!