Review | Alone in the Dark (2024)

A short review

Alone in the Dark (2024) is a survival horror video game developed by Pieces Interactive and published by THQ Nordic. It's a reimagining of the original 1992 Alone in the Dark and the seventh installment in the series. While it builds on the original, it stands on its own, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Three years after the poor reception of Alone in the Dark: Illumination, Atari SA sold the franchise to THQ Nordic in September 2018. Pieces Interactive began development in late 2019, with Mikael Hedberg, who had previously worked on Soma and Amnesia: The Dark Descent, writing the game. Artist Guy Davis, known for his work with Guillermo del Toro and his comic series The Marquis, also contributed. Series creator Frédérick Raynal gave his blessing, praising the team for preserving the "core feeling" of the original.

Alone in the Dark was released on March 20, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. Upon release, the game received mixed reviews and failed to meet THQ Nordic's parent company, Embracer Group's sales expectations, leading to the closure of Pieces Interactive in June 2024. This was likely due to the technical issues (which were patched, at least on PlayStation) and the unpolished gameplay.

The very first detail I've noticed while playing was beard flickering. Yep, that is apparently a thing here! On occassions, the graphics are top notch, while on others the tehnical performance doesn't really serve the game its justice.

Story and the characters

The game is set in the 1930s, offering a single-player narrative where players can choose between Edward Carnby (David Harbour) or Emily Hartwood (Jodie Comer). The two protagonists venture into Derceto Mansion to unravel its mysteries. Both Comer and Harbour provided voice recordings and motion capture for their characters.

The story follows Edward and Emily as they investigate the disappearance of Emily's uncle, Jeremy Hartwood (Paul Mercier), at Derceto Manor, a home for the mentally fatigued. As they explore, they encounter hideous monsters, warped environments, cult conspiracies, and a mysterious entity known as "The Dark Man."

The overall story feels like a psychological horror-noir thriller, evoking the atmosphere of early horror films, which fits the original game's intended vibe. However, it also feels a bit familiar, perhaps due to Stranger Things influences (like Edward's actor and the dimension-hopping plot). While there are moments that leave you questioning what's happening, the plot is not particularly groundbreaking. Some characters feel oddly written, and the story leaves several unanswered questions. Still, I enjoyed the two main characters, even though their dialogue isn't exactly memorable.

All of the interriors are unique. The mansion is excelent, it will make you appreciate the exploration due to the presented level of details.

Game design, exploration

This is a classic survival horror experience, full of puzzles. I love the old-school mode, where you don't get any hints—it really feels like playing on a PS1 again. The mansion is filled with secrets, and solving the puzzles was one of the highlights of my playthrough.

You can play as either Edward or Emily, and while this gives the game some replayability, the difference between their paths is minor. I expected Emily's journey to be distinct from Edward's, but the mental challenges both characters face are almost identical, which felt odd. There are a few unique locations and collectibles, but overall, 90% of the game is the same regardless of which character you choose. It’s strange, especially when the dialogue doesn’t fully match the character you’re playing.

The major gameplay twist comes when you switch to the "other" reality, where enemies attack, and the scenery becomes much darker. However, there are no boss fights, just awkward combat encounters that make you wonder if this would have worked better as a TV series. The gameplay, especially the shooting mechanics, is the weakest part of the experience.

The progress feels like a mashup of a lot of similiar titles I've played. It's not a bad thing, but the lore here is not that interesting as in some other games.

Combat

You'll rely mostly on guns—pistols, shotguns, or machine guns. The shooting mechanics are clunky, with no customization options. I didn’t have trouble aiming, but reloading is painfully slow and easily interrupted. Dodging works fine, but movement is awkward, so enemies often hit you from weird angles.

There are environmental tools like Molotovs and bricks to help when you run out of bullets, or melee options like axes. But melee combat is even worse, with no clear cues when enemies are about to strike, making combos feel pointless. Stick to guns, and if combat gets too tough, running or stealth are your best options.

The lack of boss fights is a big downside, though considering how poorly the final boss is designed, maybe that’s for the best.

The most fun part is certanly the exploration in the mansion and the puzzles. It's really old school and at times really hard. It made me read the diaries to crack the codes.

Side Content

There isn’t much side content beyond collecting notes and artifacts that can influence the ending. I do like how different endings are triggered, though. The main campaign is around 5 hours long, extending to 7-8 hours if you explore everything. Exploration is fun, especially with the map showing items you’ve missed—though it’s weird how the map shows rooms as "completed" when there are branching paths exclusive to the other character’s playthrough. It feels like a design oversight.

Some collectibles were really tricky to find. 

Conclusion

Overall, I think Alone in the Dark is worth your time, especially if you're a fan of old-school survival horror. In version 1.05, I only encountered one bug that forced me to reload a save, but everything else ran smoothly in Performance Mode. The FPS was stable, though character model flickering during cutscenes was distracting.

At times, the game feels sluggish and unpolished, but once you push through, there's an enjoyable experience underneath. It may not be the best in the genre, but it’s definitely worth picking up during a sale, especially when you're craving some classic horror.

Prepare to not understand a thing. I know I'm still confused and I will probably not remember much from the story.