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Alan Wake Remastered Review: Is It Worth Playing?

Alan Wake Remastered improves the presentation of Remedy’s 2010 thriller and includes The Signal, The Writer, and optional Sam Lake commentary. The story remains compelling, but the gameplay is largely unchanged.
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Alan Wake Remastered is worth playing if you are new to the series or want the 2010 psychological thriller on a newer platform. Its story, characters, and eerie atmosphere remain the draw; the remaster sharpens the presentation and bundles both story expansions, but leaves the core gameplay largely unchanged. It is a remaster, not a remake, so owners of the original PC game have less reason to buy it again.

What do reviews say about Alan Wake Remastered?

Reviews find that the original game’s narrative, characters, dialogue, and unsettling atmosphere still work. GameSpot scored it 8/10, praising the experience for newcomers and returning fans while noting that much of the gameplay is unchanged. Its review also reported frame-rate stutter in cutscenes and lighting artifacts during some extended cinematic moments on PS5. Those were observations on the reviewed build, not a guarantee that every platform or current version has the same issues.

The key distinction in the reviews is between the strength of Alan Wake itself and how much the remaster adds for someone who already played it. Metacritic’s review page surfaces the same split: a cited review calls it a good experience for newcomers but cautions original-game players not to expect significant changes. See GameSpot’s review and Metacritic’s review page.

As a separate measure from critics’ reviews, Metacritic displayed a 7.3 user score from 1,110 ratings, while the US PlayStation Store displayed 4.17/5 from 25,038 ratings when accessed in 2026. These are different user-rating pools, and their averages and counts can change; they should not be treated as a combined critic score.

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What’s different in Alan Wake Remastered?

Remedy describes the core game as unchanged: “It is the same game as before.” That refers to the content and gameplay, not the presentation. The remaster updates character models, facial animation and lip sync in redone cutscenes, environmental detail, visual effects, and lighting, and refreshes the front end. It also includes The Signal and The Writer, the two story expansions that were originally sold separately, plus an optional commentary track featuring writer and creative director Sam Lake. The commentary triggers as you progress. Remedy’s official Alan Wake FAQ describes what changed and what is included.

Is Alan Wake Remastered a remake?

No. It is a remaster of the 2010 game, not a remake that rebuilds the gameplay or story. The narrative and basic gameplay remain familiar; the changes are principally visual and presentational, with the expansions and commentary included in the package. That makes it a more substantial first purchase for newcomers than a new version of the game for many returning players.

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Which platform version runs at 60 fps?

Remedy’s technical specifications distinguish the resolution the game renders at from the output resolution after temporal upscaling. In particular, 4K output on PS5 or Xbox Series X does not mean the game renders natively at 4K. Modes and figures below are from Remedy’s official technical specifications.

Platform Mode and resolution Frame rate
PlayStation 5 1440p render resolution, 2160p/4K output; 4x MSAA 60 fps
Xbox Series X 1440p render resolution, 2160p/4K output; 4x MSAA 60 fps
Xbox Series S 1080p render and output 60 fps
PlayStation 4 1080p 30 fps
PlayStation 4 Pro Performance: 1080p; Quality: 1296p render resolution, 2160p/4K output, 4x MSAA Performance: 60 fps; Quality: 30 fps
Xbox One 900p 30 fps
Xbox One X Performance: 1080p; Quality: 1440p render resolution, 2160p/4K output, 4x MSAA Performance: 60 fps; Quality: 30 fps
PC Supports 4K; resolution depends on system and settings Unlocked frame rate

PC features and limits

The PC version supports DLSS and 21:9 ultrawide displays, but prerendered cutscenes remain 16:9. It requires a 64-bit system and DirectX 12, and does not support ray tracing. Remedy says ray tracing and HDR were not added because adapting the existing engine and technology would have taken resources away from other critical areas. Check the technical page for the complete PC requirements.

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Is Alan Wake Remastered worth it for you?

If you are new to Alan Wake

It is a good entry point if you want the original story with updated presentation. The two expansions are included, so you get the additional story content alongside the main game without buying them separately.

If you already played the original

Consider it if higher-resolution or higher-frame-rate modes, refreshed models and cinematics, Sam Lake’s commentary, or access on a newer platform matter to you. If you own the original PC version and are satisfied with it, the gameplay changes are too modest to make a second purchase an automatic upgrade; weigh the visual refresh and bundled content against what you already have.

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If you are choosing a platform or edition

Use the mode table to decide whether you prefer 60 fps or a quality mode with 4K output on PS4 Pro or Xbox One X. Remedy lists physical console editions and a digital-only Switch edition. The FAQ dates the PC, PlayStation, and Xbox release to October 5, 2021, and the Nintendo Switch release to October 20, 2022. Store listings and upgrade eligibility can vary by region and edition, so confirm the terms for the version you plan to buy. The PlayStation Store listing includes PS4 and PS5 versions and describes no-cost PS5 digital access for eligible PS4 owners, subject to conditions for disc owners and disc-free PS5 consoles. Check its current listing for those conditions and current availability.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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