Psychological horror Horror shooters and action horror

Alan Wake Remastered

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A writer, a missing wife and a darkness that comes alive at night.

Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
Stores: Epic
Price: Paid
Rated: Metacritic 79 on PS5 (43 critic reviews), 80 on PC and Xbox Series X, 58 on Switch; OpenCritic 80 from 97 critics; PlayStation Store 4.17 of 5 from 25K ratings
Length: About 8 hours for the main campaign
Players: 1
Controls: Third-person shooting: aim the flashlight to burn the darkness off enemies, then fire; flares and flashbangs for crowds
Made by: Remedy Entertainment
Released: 2021

Get it on Epic PlayStation Store Xbox Nintendo eShop

What frightens In the Pacific Northwest town of Bright Falls, a writer searching for his missing wife finds pages of a horror story he has no memory of writing coming true, while a supernatural darkness takes over the townsfolk and sends them after him at night, shielded until his flashlight burns it away.
Content: violence, blood, strong language, alcohol and tobacco use, jumpscares.

Alan Wake Remastered is Remedy's 2010 psychological action thriller in 4K, with both story expansions, The Signal and The Writer. Novelist Alan Wake comes to the small town of Bright Falls, his wife Alice vanishes, and he finds pages of a horror story he does not remember writing coming true, as people taken over by a dark presence hunt him through the night.

About Alan Wake Remastered

Alan Wake first came out in 2010, made by Remedy Entertainment, the studio behind Max Payne and Control. This remaster, published by Epic Games, came out in October 2021 on PC through the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S, and on Nintendo Switch in October 2022. It includes the main game and its two story expansions, The Signal and The Writer, in 4K. The original PC version, without the remaster's upgrades, is still sold on Steam, but the remaster is not.

Alan Wake is a famous writer with writer's block. He comes to Bright Falls, a remote mountain town in Washington, for a break, and his wife Alice disappears. He then finds pages of a horror story he has supposedly written but has no memory of, and page by page the story starts to come true.

The game is split into episodes framed like a television series, each opening with a "previously on" recap and ending on a cliffhanger. At night a supernatural darkness takes over the townsfolk, the Taken, and turns them against you. Darkness shields them, so you shine your flashlight to weaken them before your gun will hurt them, and use flares and flashbangs when a fight turns against you. Enemies are aggressive and like to appear behind you, but checkpoints are generous. Between sections the game often takes away all your ammunition and equipment, which keeps the tension up. There are a few simple puzzles and some short driving sections.

The main campaign takes about eight hours. The two expansions continue the story and give it a fuller ending. This is a remaster, not a remake: it plays as it did in 2010 and still looks its age in places, but it runs at 4K and 60 frames per second on PS5. It suits players who like story-heavy horror with the feel of Stephen King and Twin Peaks, and anyone who plans to play Alan Wake 2.

How to play Alan Wake Remastered

Play the story episode by episode; each opens with a recap of what happened so far.
Aim your flashlight at the Taken to burn away the darkness around them, then shoot them.
Use flares and flashbangs to hold back or destroy groups of enemies.
Keep moving and check behind you; enemies often appear from the rear.
Play The Signal and The Writer after the main game; they continue the story.

Screenshots

Alan Wake Remastered screenshot: Alan points a flashlight from a porch across a dark, misty yard at a wooden building with a sunburst sign

Alan Wake Remastered screenshot: Alan aims a revolver as a red flare lights smoke and dark figures among the pine trees

Alan Wake Remastered screenshot: Alan walks a steel walkway under a bridge, his flashlight beam cutting through the dark

Alan Wake Remastered screenshot: three people stand on a ferry approaching the lakeside town of Bright Falls under mountains

Alan Wake Remastered screenshot: Alan fires a flare gun at shadowy Taken by a railway crossing at night, sparks and smoke filling the air

Alan Wake Remastered screenshot: Alan holds a flashlight on a dark road as cars and debris swirl in a storm of darkness overhead

Alan Wake Remastered screenshot: Alan shines his flashlight on Taken loggers advancing through a night-time logging yard

Tips

Save flares and flashbangs for the fights where you are cornered; timing them is how you get out.
Do not hoard: the game often takes away your ammunition and equipment between sections.
Keep turning the camera; the Taken like to spawn behind you.
Do not skip the two expansions; they round off the main story.

Questions

What does Alan Wake Remastered include?

The full original game and both expansions, The Signal and The Writer, with improved visuals.

Is Alan Wake Remastered on Steam?

No. On PC it is sold on the Epic Games Store. It is also on PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.

How long is Alan Wake Remastered?

The main campaign takes about eight hours. The two expansions, The Signal and The Writer, add more on top.

Should I play Alan Wake before Alan Wake 2?

It helps. Alan Wake 2 continues the story of this game.

Is Alan Wake Remastered scary?

It is more a third-person action thriller with some survival horror than a constant fright, but the night sections, with the Taken coming out of the dark and often from behind, are tense.

What is the age rating?

ESRB Teen (blood, language, use of alcohol and tobacco, violence) and PEGI 16.