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Longtime Alan Wake fans are looking forward to the sequel’s release this month, but newcomers might be wondering: Is Alan Wake 2 scary? We’ll answer the burning question here with details about the title’s genre and gameplay.
After 13 years in wait, Alan Wake 2 is finally set to launch this October. This significant time jump is reflected in the upcoming sequel, which picks up over a decade after the events of the original 2010 game. As Alan’s story continues in the Dark Place, we’re introduced to FBI Agent Saga Anderson in this dimension. While much of the plot is still being kept under wraps by developers, we can expect to see the two protagonists’ stories intertwine as supernatural forces threaten their lives in an all-out fight for survival. That said, Alan Wake 2 may not be for the faint of heart.
- Intense combat, where it takes more than bullets to banish the darkness
- Weaken ‘The Taken’ with light before finishing them for good
- Use lights in the environment as islands of safety in a world where darkness is deadly
- Find manuscript pages from a novel Wake does not remember writing
- Travel through a visually stunning and terrifying version of the Pacific Northwest, with newly remastered visual fidelity bringing a classic game to new platforms and players
Is Alan Wake 2 a Horror Game?
Without mincing words, Alan Wake 2 is a horror game for all intents and purposes. While the sequel and its predecessor have been described as thrillers and survival games, the series is chock-full of unmistakable horror elements, from narrative to atmosphere and jump scare laden combat.
Developers at Remedy Entertainment have gone so far to say that one Alan Wake 2 character’s gameplay serves as a breather after facing the horrors of the Dark Place. While Agent Anderson’s mission to solve cult-related murders is strung out with ritualistic practices and strange occurrences, Remedy made a point to lighten the mood a bit with this questline, which parallels Alan’s.
Is Alan Wake 2 Scarier Than the First?
Alan Wake 2 has been described as scarier than the original 2010 game. While its predecessor lacked the gory gameplay that’s become commonplace in the horror genre, its foreboding atmosphere stuck with fans. Both longtime players and newcomers will see this continued in the sequel.
Moreover, the new entry diverges into two storylines, which follow co-protagonists Alan Wake and FBI Agent Saga Anderson. Despite developer comments that Anderson’s plot is lighter on the thrills than her counterpart’s, horror fanatics know that some tropes may frighten some and bore others. Depending on player preferences, Alan Wake 2 is full of frights for all.
For more on Alan Wake 2, check out these additional guides from our team: Is Alan Wake 2 a Direct Sequel? Series Order Explained, Is Alan Wake 2 on PS5? – Answered, and Alan Wake 2 Pre-Order Bonuses – Are They Worth it?