Everything, down to the puzzles, feels appropriately placed. That's before even acknowledging the gorgeous cast of actors involved in the project and the truly compelling story that unfolds for Alan as well as Saga, who each gain an interesting presence in Bright Falls and the world beyond. It doesn't feel like the most satisfying combat, and it's rather easy to beat, but this is also exactly what I wanted and more from an Alan Wake sequel. It is also the best original horror game of 2023 by a wide margin, and a damn fine video game overall.

CGMagazine - Philip Watson - 9.5 / 10

Alan Wake 2 is possibly one of the greatest pieces of storytelling crafted, and is a must play title.

COGconnected - Mark Steighner - 90 / 100

Alan Wake 2 rewards fans of the first game for their patience, and invites new players along for a wild, sometimes terrifying and mind-bending ride.

Game Rant - Dalton Cooper - 2.5 / 5

Alan Wake 2 has incredible graphics and some memorable moments, but it's dragged down by technical issues and tedious gameplay.

GameSpot - Mark Delaney - 10 / 10

Remedy delivers its greatest game to date by turning a long-awaited sequel into a uniquely meta multimedia masterpiece.

GamesHub - Leah Williams - 5 / 5

Alan Wake 2 almost feels mad in its approach, with an overwhelming array of threads in the tale that threaten to collapse under pressure at any moment. Yet with clear and incisive logic, matched with a devotion to delightful absurdity, the team at Remedy has managed to craft a breathtaking story – one that plays out in clever, fascinating, and horrifying ways.

GamesRadar+ - Josh West - 5 / 5

"Whenever I thought I had a handle on where Alan Wake 2 was leading me it upended my expectations"

GamingTrend - David Burdette - 90 / 100

There is nothing you'll play this year like Alan Wake 2. The choice of two protagonists works wonderfully, with an interwoven plot that is Remedy at their best. I love the twists and turns it takes, with an incredible atmosphere set that boosts everything it touches, including the combat. Alan Wake 2 is breathtaking both visually and audibly, whether in Bright Falls or The Dark Place. Our departure thirteen years ago is long forgotten; Alan Wake's return is a triumph.

Geek Culture - Jake Su - 7.6 / 10

The 20-odd hours we spent in Alan Wake 2 left us in a strange place. While its graphical and audio prowess are clear to see, the gameplay, and more crucially, the story, are going to have their merits hotly debated and discussed, and that’s not even including the technical shortcomings. For what it’s worth, we enjoyed this haunted journey through both darkness and light, but for hardcore fans and even newcomers, this sequel might not be an instant classic right away.

God is a Geek - Lyle Carr - 9.5 / 10

Alan Wake 2 is a spectacular sequel that was more than worth the wait, with a story that simply has to be experienced to be believed.

IGN - Tristan Ogilvie - 9 / 10

Alan Wake II is a superb survival-horror sequel that makes the cult-classic original seem like little more than a rough first draft by comparison.

Metro GameCentral - GameCentral - 6 / 10

A peculiar sequel that at times seems to be purposefully undermining the best elements of the original, but it still gets just enough right to please both existing fans and potential newcomers.

Nexus Hub - Sam Aberdeen - 10 / 10

Alan Wake 2 is an innovative, bolder, and scarier sequel that pushes the survival horror genre forward. Remedy have turned its strangeness dial to 11 and it's magnificent.

PCGamesN - Andrew Farrell - 9 / 10

Alan Wake 2 is a marvel, serving up intense gameplay, a twisty, dark story, and more secrets and surprises than you could possibly imagine. Remedy has outdone itself here, delivering a truly remarkable experience.

PlayStation Universe - Tommy Holloway - 9.5 / 10

13 years since its predecessor, Alan Wake 2 was absolutely worth the wait. Improving on the original in every way, with Remedy embracing their inspirations, and honing their craft, Alan Wake 2 is a surrealist horror masterpiece.

Press Start - Brodie Gibbons - 9.5 / 10

While I'm sure there were countless drafts and edits throughout the journey to this point, this Alan Wake II is proof that great things come to those who wait. Like breaking through after a thirteen year stretch of writer's block, I can only imagine the sense of relief in letting this monster of a game loose.

Rectify Gaming - Henry - 9.5 / 10

Game design is an art and Remedy Entertainment have created something of a masterpiece with Alan Wake 2. The four long years of development have paid off, and the passion and love from the studio truly speaks for itself. From the incredible worldbuilding and interconnected narratives to the elevated survival horror and detective case solving, Alan Wake 2 is a unique experience that you don’t want to miss.

Screen Rant - Jacob Zeranko - 5 / 5

Alan Wake 2 is a mind-bending, epic thriller that takes the best of Remedy’s catalogue & combines it all into nothing short of a masterpiece.

TechRaptor - Jason Rodriguez - 7 / 10

Alan Wake 2 takes you to the quiet locales of Washington and the streets of New York, places where darkness has taken root. Along the way, you can expect a tense and foreboding atmosphere, frantic action, and a memorable, mesmerizing romp. Sadly, there were several glaring issues that became prevalent during the course of this review.

TheGamer - Jade King - 5 / 5

This feels like the game this developer has wanted to make for years, unrestrained in the best possible way as it goes hard on layered storytelling, flawed yet fascinating heroes and a series which for over a decade now has been harbouring untold potential.

TheSixthAxis - Nick Petrasiti - 10 / 10

Just as it gives equal screen time to its two protagonists, Alan Wake 2 is a fine blend of equal parts narrative and survival horror. Both aspects are brought together in brilliant fashion to create a game that is going to mess with your head, scare the hell out of you and make you grin about it as you plunge forward once more, eager to see what's next.

VG247 - Kelsey Raynor - 5 / 5

In a superb blend of reality and fiction, Alan Wake 2 will earn its place as one of the best horror games out there.

VGC - Jordan Middler - 5 / 5

Massively confident, often groundbreaking, and full of surprises, Alan Wake 2 is Remedy at its very best. The shooting isn't stellar, but Alan Wake 2 is otherwise a horror thriller that shouldn't be missed.

Wccftech - Francesco De Meo - 9 / 10

With its excellent trippy horror story, memorable characters, amazing atmosphere, and some of the best visuals in gaming to date, Alan Wake II is a game like few others and Remedy Entertainment's best. It took 13 years for the acclaimed writer to come back, but the long wait was worth it. We could have hardly wished for a better sequel, despite the derivative survival horror gameplay holding the experience back a bit.

Windows Central - Samuel Tolbert - 4.5 / 5

Remedy Entertainment crafts a suspenseful journey full of twists, examining its title character in spades. It's a messy, imperfect narrative that doesn't even try to wrap up every plot thread, but delivers a raw, emotional ride. Solid third-person survival horror-gameplay helps carry that journey outside of a handful of technical issues.

XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 10 / 10

Alan Wake 2 is a masterpiece and you should play it, now.

top 13 comments

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[–] yaboiweeaboojones@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Excited to pick this up, hoping for some control references.

[–] hh93@lemm.ee 0 points 1 year ago

With how directly Control tied into the Alan Wake universe with their DLC being completely centered around it I'd be really surprised if they wouldn't go even further now

[–] Ilflish@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago

10 hours in and I'm loving it. I'm sure there will pure mechanic purists who hate and and those it might be too abstract for but this feels like purely a step up from control

[–] seananigans@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Big Remedy fan so picked this up day one thanks to positive reviews. While I enjoy it, it suffers from the same problem I felt from Alan Wake 1: the combat is too hard and not that fun. Looks like I’ll be preferring the easy difficult again. That’s okay, still a confident and strong game so far.

[–] hardaysknight@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Shine light, shoot gun was too hard?

[–] seananigans@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Thanks for the high quality and good faith comment.

[–] lorty@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Interesting how it didn't land with some reviewers. Seems like an alright game.

[–] Nerdybynature@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I never played the first one past the tutorial because I was younger and it got too scary. I had a forced PC upgrade and got the game for free and probably would have finished by now, but the whole sounds not syncing up is ruining my immersion, so I guess I’ll wait a few more patches.

[–] seananigans@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Since launch I’ve had to download two patches already. I’m playing on ps5 so it’s uncertain whether they’d help you or not, but that’s all to say that you may be able to play sooner than later since they’re offering so much post-release support.

[–] Spacecraft@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Holy shit I thought it released oct of 2024 for some reason. I have plans for my weekend now.

[–] Lord_Logjam@feddit.uk 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've never played the first game. Would it be a good idea to pick up your remaster before I play 2?

[–] simple@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The original game is a bit dated but it's still a fun time, so yes.

[–] Lord_Logjam@feddit.uk 1 points 1 year ago

It's down to under £10 on the Xbox store as well.