Alan Wake is an extremely well-done, suspenseful, and psychological horror story.

You take on the role of Alan Wake, an author struggling with writer's block, who decides to take a trip with his wife, Alice, to the secluded town of Bright Falls, Washington. He hopes to find some peace and inspiration, but things take a dark turn when Alice mysteriously disappears and Alan finds himself caught in a twisted nightmare.

The game play is simple: Keep moving to the next checkpoint. You don't have to kill everything, but sometimes you need to kill or destroy shadow-controlled living beings or objects. The mechanics are also straightforward: use light sources to eliminate shadows on living beings or inanimate objects, then use a gun to finish off living beings after shadow is gone.

It all sounds simple, but even on the easiest settings the game is punishing. The main difficulty lies in dealing with the number of powerful enemies, who can easily surround and flank you (some requiring considerable effort while in high-pressure situations). There were two ways to handle them and the first is being fearful, using light, running, and dodging to reach the next checkpoint. The second is to be brave, taking things slow and methodically. However, sometimes it gets so intense you can only run to reach the next checkpoint as soon as possible.

I spent a long time playing the six main episodes and two special episodes of this game, experiencing its story. It was sometimes overwhelming and difficult, which might be a downside for some. There's plenty of achievements in the game, and it's also highly replayable (but the story won't be fresh the 2nd time). It also plays on the Steam Deck without issue!

Overall, Alan Wake is an extremely immersive, intense, excellent, effective, and challenging psychological horror game that all fans of this genre should try at least once! If you enjoy it, check out Alan Wake's American Nightmare!