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Video Game Alan Wake Review
Alan Wake (2010) is a shooting game with a horror tone where you must survive the darkness and the terrors that dwell within it. You use your torch to weaken the monsters that hunt you, then switch over to conventional weapons to dispatch them. It stands out for the way darkness itself is your primary enemy, and also for the surreal, nightmarish story that makes the unfolding drama as creepy as the shooting.

Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Alan Wake 3 years ago. It was re-examined by Ben Kendall and updated 12 weeks ago.

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Play OverviewPlay Overview

Alan Wake is a shooting game with a horror tone where you must survive the darkness and the terrors that dwell within it. You use your torch to weaken the monsters that hunt you, then switch over to conventional weapons to dispatch them. It stands out for the way darkness itself is your primary enemy, and also for the surreal, nightmarish story that makes the unfolding drama as creepy as the shooting.

You play crime novelist Alan Wake as he and his wife go on vacation to the sleepy midwest town of Bright Falls. When your wife mysteriously vanishes into the waters of the lake, you start having strange visions and hallucinations that guide you on a path that's equal parts Twin Peaks and Stephen King. As the drama unfolds, and you rush from the safety of one well-lit area to the next, you discover you are caught in the pages of the protagonist’s novels, and things soon spiral into the surreal.

Play focuses on surviving attacks seemingly from the darkness itself and from possessed ‘Taken’ locals. You use flashlights to burn away the possession before dispatching them with firearms. When in darkness, you are more vulnerable to attacks, so you need to conserve your flashlight's battery and quickly move between the patches of bright light scattered about.

The result is a game that takes its unique narrative and pairs it with gameplay that keeps you moving and you swap between flashlight and gun attacks. Easily dismissed as just another horror game, Alan Wake’s detailed environments and open geography create a world that is both full of foreboding and inviting to investigate.

Play StylePlay Style

This is an Adventure and Shooting game with Action, Narrative and Traversal elements. This is a single-player game.

DurationDuration

Play Time: This game will take between 16 hours and 35 hours to complete.

Age RatingsAge Ratings

Content Rating

Rated PEGI 16 for Violence. The Alan Wake's American Nightmare content was rated PEGI 18 for violence.

Rated for younger players in the US. Rated ESRB TEEN for Violence, Blood, Use of Alcohol And Tobacco, Language.

Skill Level

13+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Still, it's important for parents and guardians to consider the maturity required to process the game content. You need some proficient shooting skill. To understand the interwoven fact-fiction story you also need good comprehension and understanding ability.

CostsCosts

Alan Wake usually costs £4.69 to £24.99.
 

Alan Wake

XBox Store Xbox One £14.99
Steam Store PC £11.39
XBox Store Xbox Series X|S -

Alan Wake Remastered

XBox Store Xbox One £24.99
PlayStation Store PS5 £24.99
PlayStation Store PS4 £24.99

Alan Wake's American Nightmare

XBox Store Xbox One £6.75
Steam Store PC £6.19

Alan Wake: The Signal

XBox Store Xbox One £4.69

Alan Wake:The Writer

XBox Store Xbox One £4.69
There are the following additional costs associated with this game:
  • In-Game Purchases: Additional in-game purchases are offered for items that enhance the experience.
 
There are two additional chapters you can buy. "The Signal" and "The Writer" that add new narrative and challenges to the game. 
 
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
 

DetailsGame Details

Release Date: 14/05/2010

Out Now: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S

Content Rating: PEGI 16

Skill Rating: 13+ year-olds

Players: 1

Genres: Adventure, Shooting (Action, Narrative and Traversal)

Accessibility: 0 features documented (Tweet Developer)

Components: 3D Third-Person

Developer: Remedy Games (@RemedyGames)


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Taming Gaming Book Written by parents for parents, the database complements the in-depth discussion about video game addiction, violence, spending and online safety in the Taming Gaming book. We are an editorially independent, free resource without adverts that is supported by partnerships.

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