Alan Wake 2 Strikes Back With Strong New Gameplay Trailer

This fall, an epic cult hit will invade our gaming platforms (and minds). Alan Wake 2 continues its dark story around the tortured author. What is the franchise about, what new features await you in the new part, and what is Max Payne up to in AW2? All details at a glance.

Alan Wake 2 is a survival horror shooter and the next stroke of genius from Remedy Entertainment. The game’s release date is October 17, 2023, and will come out for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Just in time for Halloween, and will once again provide you with a thrilling mix of psychological horror and shooter action.

According to the developers, you can enjoy the new part without prior knowledge. Still, it would be a shame to ignore the first installment because it contains many cool details in its story, which will be woven further in Alan Wake II. So let’s have a quick look at this title first.

Alan Wake is a dark vacation in Bright Falls

The first installment is a 2010 game about a best-selling thriller author who suffers from nightmares and writer’s block. So he travels with his wife Alice to the fictional old mining town Bright Falls in Washington State to get a recharge for his profession.

Before arriving, Alan is haunted by a nasty dream in which shadowy figures try to kill him. The reception in Bright Falls is strange, and only a short time later, after Alan and Alice have moved into a wooden cabin on a small island in the middle of Cauldron Lake, the horror breaks out in full force. Some mysterious energy source from the lake swallows Alice; Alan faints in an attempt to save her and suddenly wakes up on a roadside.

What happened? Alan Wake now wanders on a dark path between reality and hallucinations to bring light into this darkness. On his way, he has to fight many shadowy, murderous things similar to those from his fever dream. It turns out that they are the townspeople controlled by a dark entity and that the terrible events are somehow connected to his writing activity.

Many references to David Lynch’s iconic TV show Twin Peaks

If we look at the setting and the plot, it just becomes clear how much Remedy Entertainment was inspired by David Lynch’s famous show Twin Peaks: an idyllic village turns out to be a strange place and harbors a dark secret that needs to be uncovered. Related locations, such as a diner, a gas, and a police station, are also included. Reality and dreams merge in Alan Wake, just as they do in Twin Peaks – and surprises await you constantly. This horror recipe is incredibly effective. You get the nerve-racking feeling that you can never be sure!

Full force immersion

Apart from the story, the game also includes gripping action sequences in which – besides the shooting – you must master the ‘Fight with Light’ combat mechanic not to be devoured by the darkness. So how did it come about?

In his childhood, Alan was afraid of the dark. So his mother gave him an old light switch called ‘the clicker.’ Whenever fear came up in Alan, he could conquer it with the help of the light. This technique catches up with you in the fight against the monsters. The game doesn’t just stay with the narrative but also throws you right into the middle of the pulse-pounding action.

Alan Wake Remastered is the perfect foundation

New to the series? Then it would be best if you played the Remastered Edition first. A perfect way to pass the time until the sequel Alan Wake 2. ‘Alan Wake Remastered’ is available for PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. You can get it for PC via the Epic Games Store or, for a discount, via Kinguin (affiliate link).

New Gameplay Reveal Trailer for Alan Wake 2

We get a brief but impressive glimpse into some areas, such as an incredibly detailed, realistic-looking coastal city with its cloudy skies. And, of course, many nasty monsters are also back in town to make sure to scare the hell out of you. Lean back, and check it out over on YouTube.

It’s not about a single story in AW2

The trailer also reveals a big new gameplay feature: in Alan Wake 2, you can now play two characters. Alan and an FBI agent named Saga Anderson, who gets to the bottom of ritual murders in Bright Falls.

Moreover, Remedy promises that you can play through the story of both in any order you want, allowing you to experience the horror in different fashions. This way, a more complex story is spun from different viewpoints. A pretty neat addition!

Alan Wake II wants to climb the throne

Remedy’s Entertainment Communications Director Thomas Puha intends to leverage the visuals properly, making the title the ‘best looking game in 2023.’ To keep his promise, the game will unfortunately not be released for PS4 and Xbox One. This way, Remedy Entertainment doesn’t need to limit the title’s visuals. This is a daring and exciting thesis due to upcoming blockbusters like Spider-Man 2.

The Alan Wake 2 trailer in the PlayStation Showcase was 100% running on PlayStation 5. I want to really point that out. We did say in 2021 that we are gonna push the graphics hard on this one. I think we'll have the best looking game in 2023 #AlanWake2 #alanwake #PlayStation5

— Thomas Puha (@RiotRMD) May 24, 2023

What about Max Payne in the Alan Wake Sequel?

There is one thing that especially triggered us. The trailer shows another FBI agent who reminds us of a well-known game character, Max Payne. And there is some truth to it. Remedy developed ‘Max Payne’ and ‘Max Payne 2’ before selling the franchise to Rockstar. And it’s no coincidence that the shown person at 0:55 has the same Max Payne voice actor. So the agent at least ‘symbolically’ embodies this character and delivers a tribute to the popular franchise.

Pre-order Alan Wake 2 now

With this thrilling story in mind, Alan Wake 2 promises to be a nerve-wracking action horror, which has a great chance of surpassing itself once again in terms of staging. We remain curious and keep an eye on the light switch, err, the release date. You can get the game in two editions. Find a quick overview of the different options below:

Standard Edition

• Full game
• Pre-Order Content (Ornate Revolver Skin for Alan & Survival Resources Pack for Saga

Deluxe Edition

• Full game
• Pre-Order Content (Ornate Revolver Skin for Alan & Survival Resources Pack for Saga
• Expansion Pass
• Crimson Windbreaker for Saga
• Celebrity Suit for Alan
• Parliament Shotgun Skin for Alan
• Lantern Charm for Saga

If you love this kind of game

Jumpscares and bloody gore are one thing? So if you love these thrills, you should check out Layers of Fear, which will release in June.

If you are looking for scary moments with friends, our Co-op Horror Games ranking is a great inspiration. Do you want to know what are the best games this year? Check our Best PC Games 2023 or Best PS4 & PS5 Games in 2023 ranking.

What do you think of Alan Wake 2? Does it have what it takes to be the best-looking game in 2023? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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