Alan Wake 2. The best games of 2023 – the ultimate list
Table of Contents
Alan Wake 2, Epic Games, 2023
- Release date: October 27
- Platforms: Windows PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
- Our score: 8.5/10
We expected that Alan Wake 2 would be reminiscent of the old franchise from the Xbox 360 era, in which good atmosphere and storyline somewhat paled in comparison to poor gameplay mechanics and bombastic, intrusive advertisements smuggled into the game world as "product placement." We also expected it to fix a few shortcomings – overall it would almost certainly be a better than the original. But I don't think anyone predicted that it would turn out to be one of the contenders for the GOTY title. Nobody expected such an amazing experience!
The story of the missing crime stories writer is much more complex in the sequel, the new characters are equally interesting, and the way Remedy combined their previous works with Alan Wake 2 with various details is probably unrivaled in the industry. Some media even compared Remedy's work to the most successful installments of the Silent Hill series – and this is probably the best advertisement for this survival horror game, in which a bit more emphasis was placed on narrative and atmosphere than on combat and survival.
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.
Matt Buckley, Alan Wake 2 review
