When Alan Wake was released in 2010 by Remedy Entertainment, it wasn’t just another horror game. To me, it was a novel experience. A meticulously crafted psychological thriller that combined elements of horror, mystery, and action. All wrapped in a bow with an atmosphere that echoed the works of Stephen King and David Lynch.
With its small-town setting, eerie atmosphere, and unique storytelling mechanics, Alan Wake quickly developed a cult following. Remedy had originally intended the game to be open-world, but after years in development, they shifted gears to a more linear experience that ultimately allowed for tighter storytelling and more intense pacing.
Storyline and Atmosphere
The story follows Alan Wake, a best-selling thriller novelist who suffers from a crippling case of writer’s block. Alan and his wife, Alice, travel to the small town of Bright Falls, Washington, in hopes of finding inspiration and rekindling their relationship.
However, things take a dark turn when Alice goes missing under mysterious circumstances, and Alan finds himself caught in a nightmarish reality where his own written words start manifesting as part of a sinister plot.
Bright Falls becomes a character in its own right, with its fog-covered forests, dimly lit streets, and ominous mountains. Remedy’s attention to detail in crafting this setting helps to draw players into the same psychological turmoil Alan faces, as he battles both shadowy supernatural enemies and his own deteriorating mental state.
Out of every element, the story resonated with me the most, and it was easy to place myself in Alan’s shoes throughout the game.
Gameplay and Mechanics
Alan Wake isn’t a traditional survival horror game. Remedy made the interesting choice to center its combat around the theme of light versus darkness. The enemies, known as “The Taken,” are shadowy figures that cannot be harmed until they’re exposed to light.
Alan’s flashlight, therefore, becomes as much a weapon as his handgun, creating an unusual but incredibly immersive gameplay loop. Players must conserve batteries and ammunition, creating a constant sense of tension and vulnerability.
Narratively, the game uses an episodic structure reminiscent of a TV show, complete with “Previously on Alan Wake” segments between chapters. This pacing choice allowed Remedy to break the story into digestible parts, keeping players engaged and giving each episode a unique narrative arc.
The structure has since inspired numerous other games, and it’s one of the ways the game stands out in terms of storytelling.
Themes and Inspirations
Remedy drew heavily from classic horror and thriller sources for Alan Wake. The town of Bright Falls itself feels like it could have been pulled straight from Twin Peaks, with its strange characters, rural charm, and dark secrets.
The game’s narrative style also draws on Stephen King’s meta-horror approach, where the nature of storytelling itself becomes central to the horror. Both Twin Peaks and Stephen King are referred to in quotes or motifs throughout the game, as well.
Alan Wake delves deeply into themes of obsession, creation, and the blurry line between reality and fiction. Alan is haunted by his own mind, grappling with the idea that the horror he’s experiencing may have come from his own hand.
As he finds pages from a manuscript he doesn’t remember writing, which describe events he’s currently experiencing, the game pushes players to question what is real and what might be the product of a troubled mind.
Impact and Legacy
Upon release, Alan Wake was met with both critical and commercial acclaim. While not as mainstream as some other titles of the time, it developed a loyal fan base and was praised for its innovative mechanics, writing, and atmosphere.
However, due to a combination of factors, including its platform exclusivity (it initially launched on Xbox 360), Alan Wake didn’t become the blockbuster hit that some other horror games had been.
Over time, though, the game has gained a greater appreciation as an innovative and influential title. Its psychological horror approach, rooted in a story-driven experience, set a high standard for future horror games, such as The Evil Within. Elements of Alan Wake have influenced numerous titles, including Control, another Remedy title that features explicit nods to the Alan Wake universe.
Alan Wake Remastered: Revisiting Bright Falls
In 2021, Remedy Entertainment released Alan Wake Remastered, a polished re-release for modern platforms, including PlayStation for the first time, allowing an even wider audience to experience the story. The remaster didn’t alter the gameplay mechanics or storyline but instead focused on improving the graphics, resolution, and frame rate.
Character models were given more detail, the lighting effects were refined, and some of the environmental details were enhanced to make Bright Falls feel even more atmospheric and immersive.
The remaster was an important opportunity to introduce Alan Wake to a new generation of players, who might have missed out on the original release. It came out at a time when Remedy’s interconnected universe concept was starting to unfold, thanks to Control.
In Control, there’s a direct reference to the events of Alan Wake, officially tying both games into the same shared world. This connection heightened the anticipation for Alan Wake 2, as Remedy teased that Alan’s story was far from over.
Why Alan Wake Still Matters
More than a decade after its initial release, Alan Wake remains relevant not just for its influence on gaming but for its narrative exploration of neurodivergence, creativity, and the power of fear. Remedy’s choice to make Alan a novelist suffering from writer’s block was an inspired one, as it allowed the story to explore the horrors that can arise from one’s own mind.
Alan’s journey is one of confronting his own demons, literal and figurative, and the game doesn’t shy away from depicting his emotional and psychological turmoil. It’s a comforting story to me and one that left an impact from the moment I began the original release all those years ago.
The remaster also comes at a time when story-driven, atmospheric games have gained popularity, proving that Alan Wake was ahead of its time in many ways. As we revisit (or discover for the first time) the haunting forests of Bright Falls, we are reminded of how effective a well-crafted narrative can be in drawing players into a game.
Alan Wake was a game that managed to blur the lines between video games, literature, and TV, creating a unique experience that has endured in gaming culture. The release of Alan Wake Remastered has only solidified its status as a classic, preserving it for new audiences and allowing long-time fans to rediscover its eerie charm.
With Alan Wake 2 finally released, it’s clear that Remedy’s shadowy world has more secrets to reveal, and the character of Alan Wake has more horrors to face.
