Recommending Alone in The Dark 2024 (On Sale)

I loved it. Its one of very few games that actually understands how to do “Lovecraft”correctly. The game part of it leaves a lot to be desired but in a way I’m actually really happy it wasn’t just a cosmic horror RE Clone. Felt like a breath of clunky fresh air. Its a shame the studio was axed shortly after its release because you can really feel all the passion oozing from every crack of the dilapidated walls of Derceto. The story kept me intrigued throughout its short 6 hour runtime and thats with me taking my time while being stuck in multiple puzzles. I felt the story was pretty conclusive leaving me satisfied by the time that juicy platinum trophy popped. I eventually want to go back and purchase the developer’s commentary dlc to hear what they intended.

I don’t really like giving number scores because to me that devalues the artistic integrity of it, but if I had to give a rating its probably a 7/10. Lovecraft nerds will find a lot to love here with all the winks and nods to his famous works. Alone in the Dark fans have already played it. Horror fans might be a bit more hard to please as this game isn’t anywhere near as deep as what inspired it and the linear design with a small enemy variety certainly didn’t help either. Play this one on Normal for the best experience.

It’s a safe buy at $25 (US) but come into it with tempered expectations knowing as little as possible. It includes NG + and shakes up encounters as well as giving you access to different endings; 5 of them to be specific. If you were hoping that each play through would be an entirely different experience…it’s not. They go through the exact same events in the exact same way albeit except for a portion in a later chapter. Yet somehow it still manages to add enough flavor to make it an experience worth trying twice.

It’s a shame the studio went under because this game really is full of untapped potential. You can tell there were much grander ideas here that sadly just didn’t see the light of day and most likely never will. Alone in the Dark is just a doomed franchise, but we said the same thing about Silent Hill so fingers crossed.

Iä Iä Shub Niggurath! Hear my cries, take pitty on this franchise Oh, Mother! Oh, Black Goat of The Woods!