Although 2023 is already packed with Game of the Year contenders (both released and unreleased),Alan Wake 2has propelled itself right into the conversation. At a behind closed doors gameplay preview during Summer Game Fest 2023, developer Remedy Entertainment showed that the 13-year wait for the return of Wake was worth it.
The gameplay portion shown is set early on in the game and seesFBI agent Saga Andersoninvestigating a series of ritualistic murders in Bright Falls. At present, her connection to Alan Wake is unclear, but things begin to materialize as her investigation continues, culminating in a reveal that is sure to have fans’ jaws on the floor.
Remedy is looking to create a sense of unease withAlan Wake 2that feels more in line with survival horror than a straight third-person shooter. The combat sequences on display were not as much of a shooting gallery as in the first game, with Saga only having to contend with one or two foes. However, their presence was just as menacing and required careful use of light to first weaken them, before gunfire could do the real damage.
Remedy didn’t expand on the combat too far beyond what was included in thegameplay trailer at the Summer Game Fest Live show, but the developers did say there will be ways to augment Saga’s abilities and her arsenal. What was on display, including a really cool boss fight, did enough to show that theAlan Wake 2devs have evolved the combat to meet modern expectations while still keeping the framework from the first game.
Where things get really interesting is with the investigation elements of the game. As an FBI agent, Saga has a few mechanics available to her that allow her to collect evidence and clues, which open new objectives and paths forward. At any point in the game, players can send Saga into her Mind Place, a small cabin with Case Board and a few other interactive elements. With the Case Board, the player will arrange clues and details to point Saga in the right direction. It’s an interesting concept that helps give the player agency in the narrative that’s unraveling. They will essentially be solving the mystery right along with Saga.
Saga can also do some profiling in the Mind Place, which allows her to contemplate the motivations and thoughts of her subject. In this case, her trail on a suspect had gone cold but through the Profiling mechanic, she could ask scripted questions that eventually led towards a new objective.
Alan Wake does factor into the central mystery of it all, but it’s not worth spoiling those details. All that’s worth saying is that Saga doesn’t just feel like a female Alan Wake and she’s not a side character either. Remedy has seeminglydeveloped a two-pronged storythat will allow newcomers to discover the world of Bright Falls while also giving fans answers to the questions they have been asking for over a decade.
Narratively and mechanically,Alan Wake 2hit all the notes of a compelling preview, but it was no slouch visually either. This is an incredible-looking game, with character designs that border on photo-realistic, environmental details like ankle-deep water that are stunning to look at, and some stylistic touches that will have players questioning reality. That sense of unease manifested throughout the entirety of the preview.
Arguably the biggest challenge forAlan Wake 2isn’t making a compelling gameplay experience – if this preview was any indication, then Remedy have done that. It’s contending with all the other high-profile games that are releasing around it. So let us get ahead of that and say that Alan Wake 2 is on track to be a must-play experience that should not be missed.
Alan Wake 2releases July 27, 2025 for PC, PS5, and Xbox X/S.
