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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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How It Works • Games & Tech

Alan Wake

Alan Wake is a 2010 action-adventure psychological horror video game developed by Remedy Entertainment and published by Microsoft Game Studios.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Alan Wake is a 2010 psychological horror game from Finnish developer Remedy Entertainment. It follows a bestselling author whose missing wife is tied to a supernatural manuscript that is coming to life.

What it is

Alan Wake is a third-person action-adventure game built around a core combat mechanic: using light to weaken enemies before finishing them off with weapons. The story unfolds across six episodes, complete with recaps and cliffhangers, mimicking the structure of a television series.

Why it matters

The game is a foundational title in Remedy Entertainment's catalogue, connecting thematically to later games in the studio's shared universe. Its success led to a remaster in 2021, a spin-off (Alan Wake's American Nightmare), and a long-awaited sequel (Alan Wake 2).

Key details

The story centres on Alan Wake, a bestselling writer, who travels to the small town of Bright Falls, Washington, with his wife Alice. When she vanishes, he must confront the Dark Presence, a supernatural entity that can bring his writing to life. The game originally launched on Xbox 360 in 2010 and later on Windows in 2012.

In short

  • Developed by Remedy Entertainment and published by Microsoft Game Studios.
  • First released in 2010 for Xbox 360.
  • Combines third-person shooting with light-based combat mechanics.
  • The franchise expanded with a remaster, a spin-off, and a sequel.
Canadian angle

Alan Wake is relevant to Canadian readers through the broader North American video game market and because it is part of Remedy Entertainment's internationally distributed catalogue; no specific Canada-only connection is established in the provided sources.

Quick questions

What type of game is Alan Wake?
It is an action-adventure psychological horror game played from a third-person perspective.
Who developed Alan Wake?
It was developed by Remedy Entertainment, a Finnish studio.
Did Alan Wake receive a sequel?
Yes. The franchise continued with Alan Wake's American Nightmare and a direct sequel, Alan Wake 2.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Wake
    Supports: Original release, genre, premise, developer, and protagonist details.
  2. Wikipedia — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Wake
    Supports: Development, publication, and story premise.
  3. Alan Wake official site — https://www.alanwake.com/
    Supports: Series background, character status, and franchise context.
  4. Wikipedia — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Wake
    Supports: Release dates, remaster information, and sequel/spin-off mentions.