Doom jazz and Southern Gothic horror – Alone in the Dark is back

Creaking doors, mysterious hallways, and the scent of malice in the air – Alone in the Dark is back. A deeply affectionate reimagining, this incarnation of Alone in the Dark is a love letter to the original game that birthed so many classic survival horror elements, and it’s certainly poised to live up to the original’s legacy. With hideous creatures, scarce supplies, jump scares, sinister NPCs, and the gaping hallways of the Derceto Manor, you’re in for a horrifyingly good time. 

Remember how you felt when you first experienced true horror? Alone in the Dark will take you right back to that moment, harnessing the creepiness and menace of the 1992 classic and giving it a modern upgrade with more fleshed-out characters and an all-encompassing sense of dread.

Whether you’re new to the series, or a die-hard fan raring to break through those manor doors once again, Alone in the Dark is the paranormal horror you’ve been waiting to sink your teeth into. Let’s take a look at what’s in store.

Two stories to choose from

Meet Emily and Edward. Played by Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) and David Harbour (Stranger Things), who lend their incredible acting talents to two beautifully written characters, this pair of protagonists each have different stories to tell. Their backgrounds, abilities, motivations, and personalities vary greatly, and each tries to survive the hidden horrors of Derceto Manor in their own way.

Emily’s uncle Jeremy has gone missing. She’s close to this case and wants it solved as soon as possible, hiring private investigator Edward to help her track him down. They follow the lead of her wayward uncle to Derceto Manor, a labyrinthine psychiatric hospital, home to an array of unusual inpatients. The peeling glamor of the manor soon gives way to unspeakable horrors amid the reticent residents, as Emily and Edward try to piece together the clues of Jeremy’s disappearance. The more doors are opened or corridors traversed, the more the lines between sanity and madness are blurred.

Alone in the Dark’s replayability lies in its non-linear narrative and the perspectives of the dual protagonists, who explore different routes through the story. Exploring the manor with these two characters in turn will reward you with hidden clues and knowledge. One playthrough is not enough, you’ll soon feel the manor calling you back.

Steeped in Southern Gothic

Beautifully rich and atmospheric, even in its darkest moments, the Alone in the Dark reimagining takes the decadent glamor and charm of the 1920s and the creeping Southern Gothic of the Louisiana Bayou to create a world that is wide-open, yet claustrophobic at the same time. Alone in the Dark is a real treat for the eyes – even from behind the sofa.

Couple this world of physically embodied fears with a soundtrack of lilting doom jazz – which flits from low buzzing notes to unexpected trills – and you’ve got the perfect recipe for edge-of-your-seat suspense. Every moment will make your skin crawl, as you try to uncover the manor’s secrets and make it through alive. The game will have you twisting in the wind, unsure who to trust, and fighting to stave off the psychological terror that surrounds you.

This careful reimagining of Alone in the Dark has both style and substance, boasting an incredible team featuring the talents of Mikael Hedberg, the writer of SOMA and Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Famed comic book artist and Guillermo del Toro collaborator Guy Davis also worked alongside original Alone in the Dark creator Frédérick Raynal to achieve a pitch-perfect setting.

Classic gameplay with a modern twist

Alone in the Dark also switches up the gameplay to give the game a more modern feel, while still paying homage to the classics. Controls have been modernized, now feeling much more intuitive, without sacrificing any of the suspense.

The once-fixed camera angle is now positioned over the shoulder, making everything from boss fights to quiet exploration feel much more natural and accessible. Entering doors gives you a split second of calm before new horrors unfold. Challenges like scarce supplies and intelligent enemies will keep you on your toes, never knowing what to expect, and feeling like your time is almost up even after a successful fight. Will you use that high-impact weapon now, or wait it out and see what lurks around the next corner? A combination of firearms and melee weapons are scattered around, but sometimes you’ll just have to use whatever’s lying on the ground to your advantage. Learn your enemies’ weaknesses and try to keep your head on straight.

Progressing through the manor is dependent on your survival skills, but the Alone in the Dark team hasn’t forgotten the game’s iconic roots. They’ve tipped their hat to the wonderfully complex gameplay of the original games, offering far more than a simple combat experience. Between genuinely challenging fights and bouts of tense exploration, you’ll be tasked with solving puzzles in the world around you, plumbing the hidden depths of Derceto Manor for clues and supplies.

Residents of the manor may share secrets with you, but you’ll have to decide if you think they’re trustworthy. The further you go, the more rooms will unlock, allowing you to explore at your own pace as long as you can keep your cool. Your investigative skills will need to be finely honed, as you’ll come up against conspiracies, cults, and otherworldly horrors, as you try to avoid falling into madness.

Grab your copy of Alone in the Dark for PC, Xbox Series X/S, or PS5 on March 20th and see what lurks in the mysterious Derceto Manor.