Alan Wake 2 review – a confidently strange horror thriller

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC; Remedy Entertainment/Epic Games
With two protagonists exploring different worlds, this thriller is a thoroughly entertaining blend of detective procedural and narrative weirdness

Inspired by Twin Peaks, The Twilight Zone, and Stephen King 2010's Alan Wake told the story of an author with a case of writer's block so severe he became literally haunted by his own creations. It was an ambitious but muddled psychological thriller that struggled to overcome the inherent silliness of its premise.

Alan Wake 2 is no less ridiculous, but this time the tale is penned more assuredly. For the sequel, Finnish developer Remedy Entertainment splits the story between two different perspectives, using them to alternately ground and embrace the game's narrative absurdities. The result is a thoroughly entertaining blend of detective procedural and surrealist survival horror, one that powers through some mechanical weaknesses with strong characterisation and endlessly inventive imagery.