Uploaded November 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
An analysis of why I love Alan Wake, despite hating actually playing it.
Support the show on Patreon - patreon.com/writingongames
Podcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescast
Second Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A
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Potential spoilers for the first Alan Wake. No spoilers for Alan Wake 2.
Alan Wake, as a story, absolutely rocks. As a gameplay experience, I struggle to think of a game I've enjoyed playing less in recent times. That said, I simply can't bring myself to say it's a bad game—with every quirk and mechanical decision being narratively justifiable in a way that actually enriches the overall experience for me. In this analysis/critique, let's talk about how this fact got me to examine my own role as a critic, and try to find the good within the bad of Alan Wake!
0:00 - Alan Wake's story is incredible
1:34 - Shame I hated playing it
4:33 - But I can't call Alan Wake bad
5:42 - Alan Wake's mechanics make sense
7:33 - Alan Wake is not a great author and that's OK
9:14 - Giving Remedy the benefit of the doubt
10:10 - Can a game like this be called bad?
11:38 - Outro
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Max Payne footage from Raycevick - youtube.com/watch?v=fK5PRRITJu8
Sudden Stop footage from Edaym - youtube.com/watch?v=dPuJzq3oIU8
American Nightmare footage from Gamesradar - youtube.com/watch?v=zCqW580xXuQ
Animated text intro by Isaac Holland - twitter.com/drazgames
An analysis of why I love Alan Wake, despite hating actually playing it.
Support the show on Patreon - patreon.com/writingongames
Podcast - http://anchor.fm/writingongamescast
Second Channel - youtube.com/channel/UC1xxfS_HILi09yaELQdmV1A
---
Potential spoilers for the first Alan Wake. No spoilers for Alan Wake 2.
Alan Wake, as a story, absolutely rocks. As a gameplay experience, I struggle to think of a game I've enjoyed playing less in recent times. That said, I simply can't bring myself to say it's a bad game—with every quirk and mechanical decision being narratively justifiable in a way that actually enriches the overall experience for me. In this analysis/critique, let's talk about how this fact got me to examine my own role as a critic, and try to find the good within the bad of Alan Wake!
0:00 - Alan Wake's story is incredible
1:34 - Shame I hated playing it
4:33 - But I can't call Alan Wake bad
5:42 - Alan Wake's mechanics make sense
7:33 - Alan Wake is not a great author and that's OK
9:14 - Giving Remedy the benefit of the doubt
10:10 - Can a game like this be called bad?
11:38 - Outro
---
Max Payne footage from Raycevick - youtube.com/watch?v=fK5PRRITJu8
Sudden Stop footage from Edaym - youtube.com/watch?v=dPuJzq3oIU8
American Nightmare footage from Gamesradar - youtube.com/watch?v=zCqW580xXuQ
Animated text intro by Isaac Holland - twitter.com/drazgames
