Alan Wake 2 is a horror game at its core, but it’s a very different type of horror game. Not many games within the genre tackle the complexity of the mind, which does make for an interesting story.
However, the first Alan Wake game did start a trend for games in the genre to play outside the lines, and be scary at the same time. If you want the nightmare to continue after playing Alan Wake 2, here are some games you might like.
6 games like Alan Wake 2 to keep the nightmare going
The physiological horror genre is growing, but some do miss the mark that has made games like Alan Wake 2 top tier. However, the following games seem to emulate the formula quite well and bring their interpretation to the mix.
The Evil Within
Borrowing horror elements of Resident Evil and psychological story beats like Alan Wake, you get The Evil Within. The reason why we consider it one of the best Bethesda games is that you get to have your cake and eat it. If you’re looking to take it easy, then try another game because its not for everyone. From start to finish you’ll be checking your shoulder. Just like Alan Wake 2, being overwhelmed with horror makes you not want to push on. The Evil Within and its sequel create the perfect atmosphere that you don’t know if anything is friend or foe — something both Alan Wake games have perfected.
Control
Putting this game on this list might seem like an outlier. While it’s not as scary as Alan Wake, Remedy Entertainment does use influences from the title. The psychological aspect is heavy and in your face more so. The fear is that your environment could be against you, and the deeper you go into the building the odder things become. Control is a good example of how you don’t need a scary game to feel strange. With nothing that it seems, the fear comes from the uncertainty of what’s coming next, this is very evident in Alan Wake.
Bioshock Infinite
Now I know the game has a bright and vibrant aesthetic, but that’s what makes things even scarier. The fear like in Alan Wake is less about showing you it and and more about leading you on. Most of the scary elements in Bioshock Infinite are in the underlying narratives, which has made the series a standout for the physiological horror genre. One moment Bioshock Infinite seems like a cookie-cutter shooter with powers, the next you’ll be figuring out if what you’re doing is reality. Horror movies use this trope quite a bit. But for games when you’re experiencing it first-hand, you start to understand the game might be against you.
Dead Space (Remake)
The series holds a special place in my heart. I think Dead Space 2 was the first horror game I played that pushed into the genre. The remake of Dead Space is more than meets the eye. Sure, on the surface it looks like a gory mess dealing with creatures, however, the fear is what goes underneath the surface. The mind games that are being played on Issac Clark make him go further and further into the darkness. This sounds a lot like Alan Wake. Dead Space is an excellent way to study a character who’s slowly losing it throughout his hero’s journey.
Alien: Isolation
Another banger of a horror game. While you play Dead Space, things go your way the further you progress. In Alien: Isolation, that’s different. Everything is against you, and when you are alone in space with nothing but your thoughts, the fear gradually sets in. Having an Alien A.I. that learns your moves every after encounter, makes the skin crawl. So now there’s no true escape because every time you learn something, your enemy will have already adapted. One of the things why Alien: Isolation is considered a very good horror game is that the atmosphere pulls you before you meet the alien. Alan Wake does this quite well, as soon as you hit Bright Falls for the first time, you can feel the uneasiness of the world.
Resident Evil 4 (Remake)
Considered one of the best horror games of all time, and the remake with new graphics and a better paint job cement that fact. You won’t be psychologically haunted as you would be in Alan Wake. What makes it number one on this list is that there is zero downtime. So you’ll be hit with scares from the get-go. What makes this a lot like Alan Wake is that the fear is nonstop, everything is dialed up to 11. The difference is that for Alan Wake everything is done subtly, things will pop up randomly. For Resident Evil 4, it’s the sheer volume of fear that will make you anxious. Both games do this well, but thankfully they both do it differently.
Alen Wake 2 is available now via Epic Games store.
