Alan Wake

 Xbox 360
Alan Wake Image
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 100 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1463 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • Summary: Alan Wake is a psychological action thriller, a unique new take in the world of gaming. The game is set in an idyllic all-American small town and its surroundings in the state of Washington. Alan Wake, the game's protagonist, is a bestselling horror writer, who writes a novel about hisAlan Wake is a psychological action thriller, a unique new take in the world of gaming. The game is set in an idyllic all-American small town and its surroundings in the state of Washington. Alan Wake, the game's protagonist, is a bestselling horror writer, who writes a novel about his darkest nightmares. In the game, those nightmares come true. As with Remedy's previous games, story and atmosphere are fundamental elements. The game features a massive, open world for the players to explore. The game design is mission based with the player as the driving force behing the action, and as with their previous games, Remedy again focuses completely on delivering the best possible single player experience. The use of light is a significant gameplay element. Remedy has developed proprietary new technology to support the gameplay of the title and to push the high definition visuals to the next level. [Remedy]… Expand
Buy Now
Buy on

Trailer

Play Sound
Please enter your birth date to watch this video:
You are not allowed to view this material at this time.
Alan Wake Official Trailer 3

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 87 out of 100
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 100
  3. Negative: 0 out of 100
  1. The Escapist
    100
    A brilliantly told story, excellent voice acting, and an atmosphere so unnerving you'll sleep with the lights on for a month. If only it came with a bottle of instant amnesia so that you could play it for the first time more than once.
  2. Console Monster
    90
    Despite it's flaws, Alan Wake is not a game you can miss out on.
  3. Computer and Video Games
    90
    While its not the generation defining game the epic development schedule might've hyped, Alan Wake is still a fantastic, 10-hour-plus play-it-on-the-couch linear action game - with brains required or not depending on your preference.
  4. NZGamer
    85
    A challenging and genuinely frightening experience...As a survival horror, Alan Wake succeeds admirably, and comes highly recommended. But as a self-proclaimed "psychological action thriller", it falls short of its ambition.
  5. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    80
    Alan Wake is a strange beast - a great story, told clumsily and strewn with odd characters saying vaguely unbelievable things in an earnest way that might or might not be a joke. However, as baffling as it can be, it really does hold its own, keeping you nervous, excited and rolling your eyes indulgently so regularly that it simply won't occur to you to stop playing.
  6. Total Video Games
    80
    There’s certainly a feeling throughout the experience that what the game gives you with one hand, it quickly takes away with the other. Ultimately though, the survival-horror genre is in desperate need of a new poster boy, and Alan Wake just about fills that remit.
  7. Wired
    60
    When presented with an infinite number of possible resolutions, any answer is going to feel arbitrary. Alan Wake starts strong but finishes weak; neither the gameplay nor the story deliver on their potential by the time the credits roll.

See all 100 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 150 out of 198
  2. Mixed: 35 out of 198
  3. Negative: 13 out of 198
  1. Zepo
    May 28, 2014
    10
    One of the first games i played on my Xbox 360. I just was like WOW so great games are on a console. I loved story and gameplay ! Remedy canOne of the first games i played on my Xbox 360. I just was like WOW so great games are on a console. I loved story and gameplay ! Remedy can make something like that on a new console as well !… Expand
  2. Skalinos
    May 1, 2012
    10
    This game sucked me in for three days... and I don't regret even one second spend in this masterpiece. It was like reading one of early King'sThis game sucked me in for three days... and I don't regret even one second spend in this masterpiece. It was like reading one of early King's works. Unique story, combat mechanics are enjoyable to (till) the end. Overall - 10 out of 10. There were some flaws, but that wasn't enough to spoil the fun.… Expand
  4. GunGraveTZA(JackW.)
    May 18, 2010
    10
    This game is truely a masterpiece. It has one of the most exciting and satisfying stories for any video game (and the ending isn't crap This game is truely a masterpiece. It has one of the most exciting and satisfying stories for any video game (and the ending isn't crap nor does it require the DLC, it just doesn't answer some questions clearly, and that's great as it opens up the ending to interpretation and makes it even more interesting), the gameplay is simple yet always fun, and the graphics are really wow for a game that's been in development for 5 years. Truely one of the best games of this generation.… Expand
  5. LostNexusGamer
    Jul 20, 2014
    9
    This game is not a masterpiece, but superb in many ways. The story's confusing time to time, but that's what made this thriller great. TheThis game is not a masterpiece, but superb in many ways. The story's confusing time to time, but that's what made this thriller great. The mechanics worked fine, and the graphics for its age are stunning. My only con on the game is each chapter seemed to drag out. Some would say the gameplay was repetitive (which it is) but I didn't care so much while playing the game. This is a game that had me hooked most of the time till the end. It may not vary from other 3rd person games, but it sure does offer a new feeling.… Expand
  6. SilentDogwood
    Dec 15, 2011
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Alan Wake does a lot of things right and a lot of things wrong. It gets so caught up in this supposedly epic storyline it ends up giving an ending that just confuses more than resolves. Questions are left unanswered, and overall it feels as though you just wasted spending 15 hours becoming connected to Alan, only to have an abrupt and unlikeable ending forced upon you. Not to mention the meh graphics due to a long development period.
    But it is still a solid thriller, with some actual thrills and scares. They don't come often, and they're not scream inducing, but Alan Wake does something many games nowadays don't, and that is to try and revive the dead horror franchise of gaming, since such classics as the original Resident Evils and Silent Hill.
    It's a good combination of horror and action, and it manages to pull of this mix well.    … Expand
  7. MDG397
    Apr 4, 2013
    8
    Alan Wake is a very unique game, but also a repetitive one. It has one of the best stories I've heard in a while, and it's told in a uniqueAlan Wake is a very unique game, but also a repetitive one. It has one of the best stories I've heard in a while, and it's told in a unique way similar to television. Instead of doing something like missions or going from point A to point B, the game's played in episodes. There are six episodes and each episode is about two to three hours long. When you start each episode, there's a short cutscene that goes "previously on Alan Wake" just like you see on TV that recaps important plot points from the previous episode. The gameplay is good except for the fact that it can get pretty repetitive after a while, I thought that it was fun at the beginning but I got a little bored towards the end of the game. The combat was a bit too easy and ammo and other supplies were too common. I still found the combat to be satisfying when you killed all enemies and the game's brightness lit up and it went into slow motion for a short time and you could just watch the last enemy disappear. The story is what kept me engaged to finish the game. It would be easy to recommend Alan Wake to someone who likes a game with a great story, but not to someone who likes action. Either way, I really enjoyed it and I loved the story.… Expand
  8. drewcedarwild
    Jul 7, 2023
    0
    There's really nothing like it, yes it's strange and the line delivering from the characters are intentionally blocky, but this game nailsThere's really nothing like it, yes it's strange and the line delivering from the characters are intentionally blocky, but this game nails atmosphere like no other! Scarier than any Resident Evil or Dead Space, despite the lack of any gore. A must play!… Expand

See all 198 User Reviews

Trailers

Related Articles

  1. Games

    30 Games That Emerged from Development Hell

    30 Games That Emerged from Development Hell Image
    Published: June 23, 2011
    After 15 years in development limbo, Duke Nukem Forever finally arrived in stores last week, though game critics aren't rejoicing. We look at that and other long-delayed games that eventually managed to shed their vaporware status, with results ranging from maligned to sublime.
    More »
  2. Games

    Alan Wake: Inside the Reviews

    Alan Wake: Inside the Reviews Image
    Published: May 10, 2010
    The embargo is over, and reviews are pouring in for the moody new thriller "Alan Wake," one of the year's most-anticipated 360 exclusives. Does the game live up to the hype?
    More »

Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2010
6
#6 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2010
4
#4 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2010