Night School Studio
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | June 6, 2014 |
| Founder | Sean Krankel, Adam Hines |
| Headquarters | Glendale , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Sean Krankel, Adam Hines |
| Products | Oxenfree, Mr. Robot:1.51exfiltrati0n, Afterparty, Next Stop Nowhere, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, Thronglets |
| Parent | Netflix (since September 2021) |
Night School Studio, LLC is a United States-based video game creator and publisher established on June 6, 2014, by Sean Krankel and Adam Hines, with its headquarters located in Glendale, California.
Shortly after its inception, the company began working on its first project, Oxenfree. Following a casting announcement on Backstage, the team unveiled initial gameplay footage on May 18, 2015, ahead of the game's release in January 2016. The title garnered favorable reviews and led to plans for a cinematic adaptation in collaboration with Skybound Entertainment.
Night School collaborated with Telltale Games to co-create the "Text Adventure" segment for Mr. Robot:1.51exfiltrati0n. In September 2021, Netflix acquired Night School Studio as part of its strategic move into the gaming industry.
History
Founded on October 1, 2014, by Sean Krankel and Adam Hines—both formerly affiliated with Disney Interactive Studios and Telltale Games—Night School Studio launched its first project after announcing a casting call on Backstage late that year. In March 2015, they revealed Oxenfree, a supernatural thriller centered on teenagers investigating a ghost-infested abandoned island. Operating with limited financial resources, the studio concentrated exclusively on this title.
Gameplay previews were released in May 2015, with a scheduled launch for January 2016. The game design prioritized fluid dialogue systems that preserved player agency without relying on disruptive cutscenes. The official launch trailer debuted in January 2016 alongside releases for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Xbox One. Concurrently, Night School partnered with Skybound Entertainment to develop a web series documenting the game's creation, as well as plans for merchandise and a movie adaptation. A PlayStation 4 version arrived in May 2016 featuring an expanded "Game+" mode; Linux compatibility was added in June. Oxenfree received positive critical acclaim and was showcased at the Indiecade festival.
In August 2016, Night School entered the mobile gaming market with Mr. Robot:1.51exfiltrati0n, published by Telltale Games. They jointly developed the game's "Text" mode functionality alongside Telltale.
During this time, Night School was commissioned to develop a narrative companion game linked to Telltale's anticipated Stranger Things adventure title. Despite increasing their workforce, internal challenges at Telltale—including delayed payments—impeded development progress. After Telltale's abrupt shutdown in October 2018, Night School's related project was discontinued. To reduce financial exposure, the studio simultaneously worked on Afterparty.
Following its acquisition by Netflix in September 2021, Night School maintained creative independence over existing projects such as Oxenfree II. Furthermore, the studio produced a mobile game named Thronglets tied to the seventh season of Black Mirror, integrating it into the episode "Plaything". This effort aimed to deliver an engaging real-world gaming experience closely connected to the show's storyline.
Controversy
In September 2024, Night School Studio withdrew Oxenfree from the Itch.io platform, informing customers that the game would no longer be available for download from Itch.io after October 1, 2024. This action prompted backlash, with some critics attributing the removal decision to Netflix as Night School Studio’s parent company.
Games developed
| Year | Title | Genre(s) | Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Oxenfree | Graphic adventure | Windows, Mac, Linux, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, iOS, Android |
| Mr. Robot:1.51exfiltrati0n | Adventure | iOS, Android | |
| 2019 | Afterparty | Graphic adventure | Windows, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, Switch |
| 2020 | Next Stop Nowhere | Adventure | iOS, Mac |
| 2023 | Oxenfree II: Lost Signals | Graphic adventure | Windows, PS4, PS5, Switch, Android, iOS |
| 2025 | Thronglets | Life simulation | Android, iOS |
See also
- Duncan the Wonder Dog, created by cofounder Adam Hines