20 Great Video Game Franchises That Became UNPLAYABLE
8. Alone In The Dark
Alone in the Dark once stood as a pillar of survival horror, popularising the genre during the early nineties. Infogrames' first few titles relied on mood over spectacle, so the sense of fear didn't just come from the enemies, but from the unknown factors and lack of resources.
Rather than sticking to their guns, later entries stressed action-heavy mechanics and shock-value. In-your-face scares replaced slow-burn tension, and cinematic ambition came at the expense of tight design. The 2008 reboot tried to modernise the franchise with flashy physics and experimental ideas, but suffered from technical problems and poor controls. And when the Illumination sequel was hailed as one of the worst games ever, Alone in the Dark seemed to be on its last legs.
Having said that, the 2024 reimagining had potential, thanks to its powerhouse cast (David Harbour and Jodie Comer) and its return to its Lovecraftian roots.
But due to the uneven gameplay, repetitive backtracking, and abundance of bugs, it was obvious Alone in the Dark had lost touch with what made the series special in the first place.