Alan Wake 2 Reviews
In a year that’s been packed full of incredible games, Alan Wake II is yet another strong contender for Game of the Year and is an experience that’s not to be missed, whether you’ve played the original game or not. It fully delivers on the promise of what Remedy has been building towards for decades, and sets a new high bar for what games can and should be. If horror isn’t necessarily your thing, turn the difficulty down to “Story” mode and get in there anyway; it’s an amazing game that will take you on a ride you will never forget, and I’m willing to bet it’ll make a Remedy fan out of nearly anybody who plays it. This is a truly special, genre defining, studio defining game that only comes along once in a very long while. I cannot overstate just how good this game is; whether you are a longtime fan, or if this is your initiation into the universe of Alan Wake, this is an absolute must play game that will leave you thinking about it long after you reach the ending credits. Alan Wake II is Remedy’s masterpiece, and it is glorious to behold.
Alan Wake 2 is not for everyone, but for fans of the Remedy Connected Universe since 2010's Alan Wake, it's exactly the game that we've been waiting for. While the game still follows conventional Resident Evil-like survival horror elements, there are enough unique mechanics here and blend atmospheric visuals and trippy live-action sequences to make this a genuine Remedy Entertainment experience that only the Finnish developers could deliver. It's also one of 2023's best games and a definite contender for GOTY, even in a year filled to the brim with phenomenal games.
Alan Wake II is Remedy’s most significant achievement so far, and if it can carry the same aura into the winding halls of the Bureau in Control’s upcoming sequel, then there is little doubt that Remedy Entertainment will deserve to be heralded in the upper echelons of single-player mastery with the likes of Insomniac, Santa Monica Studio, and Naughty Dog.
Alan Wake 2 pushes the Alan Wake franchise and the horror survival genre as a whole to new heights. Excellent game design, intuitive game mechanics, and a stellar narrative make this one of the best games of the year and Remedy’s best outing to date.
Alan Wake 2 will please Fans of the previous projects from Remedy Entertainment and it is one of the best games this year, in terms of atmosphere. Besides that, the game suffers from pacing problems, framerate drops and terrible gameplay decision when it comes to action elements and navigation. Despite being better than the previous game, it stil can't compete with the big players in the genre.
Review in German | Read full review
Alan Wake 2 will completely astonish you with its phenomenally written and mind-altering story, creativity, level designs, transitions, art direction, photorealistic visuals, eerie atmosphere, haunting audio, brain-challenging puzzles, exciting but nervy combat, and much more. Alan Wake 2 is simply a must-buy; you’d be crazy not to get it, and you’ll be missing out on something special if you don’t. It was worth the thirteen-year wait, but hopefully, the next sequel won’t take nearly as long to arrive.
Alan Wake II is an outstanding piece of work. An amazing combination of a game with live-action elements that presents a brilliantly written story and characters with engaging and innovative gameplay, which is accented by a phenomenal audio system and a beautifully composed soundtrack. The new game from Remedy is a strong contender in the race for Game of the Year.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Alan Wake 2 is an incredibly rich narrative driven experience with such impressive visuals and performance that truly feels like a next-generation experience.
Nevertheless, it is among the productions that horror game lovers should not miss, especially before Halloween. Yes, it won't be the game of the year, but it also guarantees that you will have an enjoyable time.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Alan Wake 2 is a masterful work of craftsmanship that pushes the boundaries of audiovisual and story presentation to the next level. Sure, It lacks in some ways - especially in the gameplay, which could still use more. All in all, though, it's a unique experience that won't get lost in the wave of other big titles this year.
Review in Czech | Read full review
With all its strengths and only a handful of minor shortcomings, I'd confidently declare that Alan Wake 2 stands as one of the standout releases of this year. Every moment you'll invest in the game will undeniably be time well spent.
Alan Wake 2 is one of the greatest adventures of this generation; a game capable of finally daring from a narrative point of view, giving us a complex, layered, peculiar story full of pathos as in the best David Lynch stories. Sam Lake and his Remedy team have packaged an authentic work of art, surrounded by stunning visual impact and gameplay, which in its simplicity, works from start to finish. Were it not for the several bugs encountered on PC, we would be talking about a virtually perfect title. But Alan Wake 2 is nonetheless destined to become a milestone that we will talk about for many years, like a fine classic book or one of whose art films is so dazzling, it appears like a dream from which it is difficult to wake up.
Review in Italian | Read full review
It’s probably the only game in Remedy Entertainment’s catalog to compete with Control and Max Payne 2 with its deep storytelling, enjoyable mechanics, and visual audacity. Whether it’s the frontrunner or dark horse, Alan Wake 2 demands a place in " Game of the Year " conversations.
Yes, Alan Wake 2 is very linear and we have actually seen more dynamic fights. But the two main characters are just as compelling as the profound story, which in its best moments reminds us of great role models like Stephen King or Twin Peaks. If you're more interested in interactive artful storytelling than breathless dye action, you're in the right place.
Review in German | Read full review
Even though it’s been 13 years since Alan Wake, Remedy Entertainment returns to Bright Falls with a powerful force. The story is fantastic, the characters are phenomenal, and the story is frightening, comical, creepy, heartwarming, and often tragic; I couldn’t put it down and found it difficult to stop playing. The macabre nature of Alan Wake 2 is phenomenal, and I loved every second. It was an absolute pleasure to rejoin Alan in Alan Wake 2 and to see Saga traverse through this unreal journey. It’s one I’m going to fondly remember for a long time. Remedy gave me the best gift right before Halloween.
Alan Wake 2 proves to be worth the wait. This sequel is an upgrade in nearly every way, and while player influence on the story can feel limited at times, the engaging narrative more than compensates. From the challenging, tense combat to the excellent environmental storytelling, Alan Wake 2 will have no trouble hooking players from start to finish.
Alan Wake 2 is a visual and technical showcase that brings some fresh ideas and mechanics to the series. Some evolve into fun activities while others get repetitive. The game is also marred by some awkward live-action sequences that feel out of place. But there's no doubt a captivating horror to enjoy under the surface. It is the strangest game you'll play this year in all the best ways.
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.
With a playtime that deserves all praise, easily clocking in at over 20 hours if you don’t rush through it, Alan Wake 2 is absolutely worth the time and money. It’s a remarkable achievement that is meant to be both devoured and enjoyed slowly, despite what this sounds like, plunging into all the details, exploring every beat of the locations without rushing through the main goals, as to appreciate the colossal work that has gone into it. This is a terrific television series gone videogame, with a sophisticated plot that grips every fan of survival horror and never lets go. The fantastic looks help, but the perfect pacing and intriguing mysteries keep you going despite some frustration that may arise from the Angel Lamp puzzles. It’s one of the greatest survival horror games ever made, this shouldn’t be skipped. A fantastic example of how different types of media can crossover and create a very special outcome, it was absolutely worth the wait for Alan Wake to come up with a plan to escape the Dark Place and write an outstanding story about it for us to read, watch, play, and above all, enjoy.
Remedy's trademark intricate narrative has evolved even further, combining with survival horror-style action to deliver a more immersive experience than ever before. In particular, the expanded lore developed over the past 13 years adds a unique appeal. However, issues with subtitles and bugs seems to be promptly addressed post-launch, and I have high hopes for improvements in this regard.
Review in Korean | Read full review