Green21551 Alan Wake 2 Review

I didn’t expect this game to change my life. I picked up Alan Wake 2 after seeing the “Champion of Light” musical performance at The Game Awards. It looked cool, weird, and stylish—so I followed the rabbit hole. What I found was so much more. This was my first Alan Wake game, and it completely captured me. The atmosphere, music, dual storytelling, and themes of identity and healing hit incredibly hard. It made me reflect on my own flaws—my anger, my grief—and even helped me better understand what my girlfriend was going through. Through the game’s spiral of darkness and self-confrontation, I found the words to help pull both of us a little closer to the light. That said, the game isn’t perfect. While the story is brilliant, the gameplay can feel a bit unclear. There were several times where I genuinely didn’t know what I was supposed to be doing. I would do things out of order, not realizing I’d missed a key step, and end up having to backtrack a long way. If I hadn’t used a guide, I might not have finished it at all. But even with those flaws, I still wholeheartedly recommend Alan Wake 2. It’s confusing, intense, and emotionally raw—but when it all finally clicks, it’s not just a game you finish. It’s one you carry with you.