Remedy Entertainment's Alan Wake 2 shakes up what you thought you knew about the series. The first game had many combat segments that were broken up by light exploration and puzzles—gameplay elements that carry over to the upcoming sequel. However, Alan Wake 2 places much more emphasis on survival horror, focusing less on defeating monsters and more on trying to get to your next objective in one piece. It's slated for an October 27 release date on console (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S) and PC, and has the potential to elevate the series above its current cult classic status.

A New Gameplay Direction

The upcoming game takes place in Bright Falls, Washington, and follows FBI profiler Saga Anderson and writer Alan Wake. The demo build I played showcased the characters in separate chapters.

(Credit: Remedy Entertainment)

Saga is investigating a string of murders, but ends up entangled in a supernatural horror story written by Alan that she must escape. As an FBI agent, she studies clues and leads gathered from talking to other people or interacting with objects, which helps her decide the next step. This is visually presented as a corkboard that she conjures in her mind. While controlling Saga, you walk around an interdimensional room, pinning files and Polaroid picture evidence to the board to connect the dots. Piecing together the different clues to uncover the next objective made me more actively involved in the plot. This new gameplay mechanic is just one of the many ways that Alan Wake 2 differs from the combat-focused original.

Alan’s segment has a similarly creepy atmosphere. He navigates the Dark Place, which resembles a hardboiled, noir version of New York City. He totes a light-absorbing wand, the Angel Lamp, that has the power to alter the environment. You can use this to your advantage. For example, I discovered that a potentially useful shotgun resided in another room, but there was no obvious way to access it. So I transferred light from a nearby lamp post to get rid of debris blocking the door. It was reminiscent of the time-rewind mechanic in Remedy Entertainment’s other game, Quantum Break. It's a clever approach to the franchise's light powers that doesn't involve more combat.

(Credit: Remedy Entertainment)

However, there's one annoying gameplay aspect: the lack of directions or objective markers. In the demo, I was tasked with finding an alternate hotel entrance. An NPC hinted to “follow the neon lights.” There were buildings with neon lights everywhere, so the hint wasn’t particularly helpful. In fact, I stumbled into an area that caused the demo to abruptly end. Alan Wake 2, at least in the demo, could use a more robust tracking system to prevent confusion.

Why the Change?

Alan Wake 2 plays more like the Resident Evil 2 remake than simply an expanded Alan Wake 1. “That never was an idea that we would just do the same game again," co-director Sam Lake told PCMag. "13 years in between, many things have evolved when it comes to video games. It definitely felt like we needed to have more ambition on all fronts and just push it.”

In the first game, you could take out ghouls with plenty of ammunition to spare. That isn't the case now. You can run out of bullets, which makes enemy avoidance and tactical play essential gameplay elements. It's a much more engaging gameplay experience than simply blasting through creatures. There’s a more cohesive vision on display, and no more confusion about whether or not Alan Wake is an action game or a horror game: It’s firmly a survival horror game.

(Credit: Remedy Entertainment)

Enemies are vulnerable to light, so you must use a light source to penetrate their shields—otherwise guns are virtually useless. Previously, Alan’s flashlight automatically replenished over time when not in use, and his consumable batteries were emergency backups in case you ran out of juice.

Alan Wake 2 increases the stakes by making it so that your battery power doesn’t regenerate over time. The combination of scarce ammo and limited battery power creates a fear-inducing atmosphere where you may not be sure you'll survive the next enemy encounter. The overhauled mechanics lend well to its overall oppressive atmosphere. It forced me to change tactics by focusing on surviving instead of destroying every creature in sight. I paid for it dearly whenever I took a third-person shooter approach.

Why You Should Game on a PC

Lie in Wake

2023 is already a year packed with many memorable releases, including The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Street Fighter 6. Based on the demo, Alan Wake 2 has the potential to join that class. The game heads to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on October 27. Make sure to check back then for a full review.

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