Xbox Game Pass: 10 Essential 360 & Xbox Games You Must Play

Alan Wake is an odd, odd game, especially as its somewhat satirical, ironic take on the horror genre is oftentimes missed by some. The product of a rather elongated and arduous development cycle, it is something of a miracle that the game emerged from comparative development hell as the excellent story-driven title it is.

You play Alan Wake, a crime fiction bestselling author afflicted with writer's block, who travels with his wife Alice to the small town of Bright Falls, Washington. Suffice to say, things go strangely awry.

There's an almost postmodern inflection to Alan Wake, enough that even David Foster Wallace might have approved. And while all that might sound rather lofty, I must also add that across its episodic narrative, Alan Wake proves itself to be good horror fun to play. It isn't terrifying, but then again, it isn't trying to be.

After the decidedly lukewarm Quantum Break, it is nice to go back to Alan Wake and experience Remedy at their best.