The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 26, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Entertainment›Video Games›Alan Wake
Entertainment • Video Games

Alan Wake

Alan Wake is a 2010 action-adventure psychological horror video game developed by Remedy Entertainment and published by Microsoft Game Studios.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Alan Wake is a 2010 action-adventure psychological horror video game developed by Remedy Entertainment and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It follows bestselling author Alan Wake as he searches for his missing wife in the fictional town of Bright Falls, Washington, while events from a manuscript he does not remember writing begin to come true.

Gameplay

Alan Wake is presented as a third-person action-adventure game with psychological horror elements. Its gameplay is built around exploring environments, using light and weapons against hostile enemies, and progressing through a narrative structured like episodic television.

Plot

The story follows Alan Wake, a bestselling writer from New York City, who travels with his wife to Bright Falls and becomes involved in a supernatural mystery after she disappears. He encounters events from a manuscript he cannot remember writing, which appear to come to life.

Release and versions

The original game launched on Xbox 360 in 2010 and on Microsoft Windows in 2012. A remastered edition later updated the game for additional platforms, and the series continued with later entries.

Legacy

Alan Wake is regarded as an important title in Remedy Entertainment's catalogue and is connected thematically and narratively to later games in the studio's shared universe. Its success led to additional works in the franchise, including a standalone spin-off and a sequel.

Key facts

  • Alan Wake is a 2010 action-adventure psychological horror game developed by Remedy Entertainment and published by Microsoft Game Studios.
  • The story follows author Alan Wake investigating the disappearance of his wife in Bright Falls, Washington.
  • The game was first released for Xbox 360 in 2010 and later for Windows in 2012, with a remastered version in 2021.
  • The franchise expanded with Alan Wake's American Nightmare and Alan Wake 2.
🍁
Canadian context

Alan Wake is relevant to Canadian readers through the broader North American video game market and because it is part of Remedy Entertainment's internationally distributed catalogue; no specific Canada-only connection is established in the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

What type of game is Alan Wake?
It is an action-adventure psychological horror game with third-person gameplay.
Who developed Alan Wake?
It was developed by Remedy Entertainment.
Who published Alan Wake?
It was published by Microsoft Game Studios.
When was Alan Wake first released?
It was first released in 2010 for Xbox 360.
What is Alan Wake about?
It follows writer Alan Wake as he searches for his missing wife and confronts supernatural events in Bright Falls.
Did Alan Wake receive later versions or sequels?
Yes. It was remastered in 2021, and the series continued with Alan Wake's American Nightmare and Alan Wake 2.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Wake
    Supports: Original release, genre, premise, developer, and protagonist details.
  2. Wikipedia — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Wake
    Supports: Development, publication, and story premise.
  3. Alan Wake official site — https://www.alanwake.com/
    Supports: Series background, character status, and franchise context.
  4. Wikipedia — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Wake
    Supports: Release dates, remaster information, and sequel/spin-off mentions.