Yes—if you enjoy classic survival horror, Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare is worth considering. “Alone in the Dark 4” is its informal title: the 2001 game sends Edward Carnby and Aline Cedrac to Shadow Island on separate adventures. Its dark setting, exploration, clues, and flashlight-based combat are the main draws; its age and PC compatibility caveats deserve attention before you buy.
What is Alone in the Dark 4?
Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare is the fourth mainline Alone in the Dark game, released in 2001. Steam’s current PC listing credits Darkworks and Spiral House as developers and THQ Nordic as publisher. The story follows Edward Carnby as he investigates his friend Charles Fiske’s death near Shadow Island, off the coast of Maine, and searches for three ancient tablets.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Immersion, Narrative, and Gender Crisis in Survival Horror Video Games (Routledge Advances in Game... | $43.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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I Hate This Place - Nintendo Switch | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Away: The Survival Series | $24.44 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Project Songbird - PlayStation 5 | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
What do you do in the game?
You explore, collect items, look for clues, and face creatures in the dark. The flashlight is more than a way to see: Steam describes it as a tool for fighting those creatures, alongside weapons such as a pistol. You can also play as Aline Cedrac. Steam says Carnby and Cedrac’s adventures differ, offering two character paths through the game’s setting.
What do players say, and is it worth trying?
GOG displayed a 3.6/5 rating from 117 user reviews when its page was observed. That is a storefront snapshot, not a formal review study or a guarantee of what you will think. The individual review excerpts shown there reflect mixed reactions: one reviewer liked the controls, story, and graphics but warned of a progression bottleneck tied to ammunition; another praised the atmosphere and lighting but found later combat repetitive and the story less effective.
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#1 Best Overall
The clearest reason to try it is its combination of a tense island setting, exploration, and two distinct protagonists. It is a better fit if you enjoy older survival-horror design than if you expect modern controls or a remake. GameSpot displays a 6.4 score on its page, but that historical rating should not be treated as a current consensus.
Where can you play it now?
Steam and GOG currently list PC editions. GameSpot lists the game for PC, Game Boy Color, Dreamcast, PlayStation, and PlayStation 2; availability of original console copies depends on what is currently for sale, and their condition was not verified here.
Rank #2
- Classic Craft-Based Survival Horror - Scavenge every corner of Rutherford Ranch to stay alive. From haunted forests, a derelict town, to infested bunkers. Explore a world teeming with danger as you gather vital resources, craft essential gear, upgrade your campsite, and rebuild outposts to have somewhere to hide.
- Day Prepares You. Night Hunts You - A dynamic day-night cycle that changes the world. Use daylight wisely to explore, scavenge supplies, craft what you need, and prepare for what’s coming. When night falls, the real nightmares come out to play. More enemies appear, stronger and more aggressive than before. The landscape becomes harder to navigate with just your flashlight. Sometimes your best hope is to find shelter and hunker down till morning.
- Deadly Silence Goes A Long Way - Stealth and combat go hand-in-hand here as many of the twisted creatures in Rutherford Ranch hunt and stalk you by sound alone. Brute force will often just land you in an early grave. Use sound to your advantage, luring creatures away from your path or cleverly leading them straight into deadly traps you laid.
- 80’s Vibes Meets Comic Book Flair - Inspired by the award-nominated comic book series created by Kyle Starks and Artyom Topilin, I Hate This Place comes to life with bold colors, a punchy retro comic book style, and a heavy dose of '80s flair. A unique blend of horror, dark humor, and just the right touch of camp and gore where unsettling dread meets stylized charm.
- Languages – English in-game voice. English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Simplified Chinese, and Spanish (Spain) in-game text.
| Option | What the listing establishes | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Steam (PC) | Steam currently lists a PC edition and shows legacy minimum system requirements. | Steam’s note that its client has supported Windows 10 and later since January 1, 2024, is not a guarantee that this 2001 game runs reliably on every current Windows setup. |
| GOG (Windows) | GOG says the edition is DRM-free, can be installed using a fully offline installer, and does not require GOG Galaxy. | GOG explicitly says the game is not compatible with Windows 8 and newer; its listed supported systems are Windows XP, Vista, and 7. |
| Original console copies | GameSpot lists Game Boy Color, Dreamcast, PlayStation, and PlayStation 2 among the platforms. | Check that you have access to the relevant console and assess disc condition and completeness. Current stock and prices were not verified. |
Which version should you choose?
Choose based on the system you can use and the format you prefer. If offline installation and DRM-free play matter, GOG explicitly offers both, but its stated Windows compatibility warning is significant for modern PCs. Steam is another current PC storefront option, though its client’s Windows support statement should not be mistaken for a compatibility guarantee for the game itself. If you want an original console release, look for the specific platform you own and check the copy’s condition.
Store prices, sale terms, availability, and live review totals can change, so check the listing directly before purchasing. For a physical copy, a search such as “Alone in the Dark The New Nightmare PS1 game” may help locate PlayStation listings; no current inventory or seller condition is established here.
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Rank #4
- A dark, enthralling 4-5 hour narrative to keep you hooked and guessing until the end. Gorgeous visuals as you traverse numerous and diverse environments, presented with a cinematic, film-like aesthetic. Ranged and melee combat with upgradeable weapons to help you survive your nightmarish journey.
- A stellar voice cast, starring Valerie Rose Lohman (What Remains of Edith Finch, Wolfenstein: Youngblood), Jonah Scott (Dying Light 2: Stay Human, Date Everything), and Aleks Le (Persona 3: Reload, Marvel Rivals, Ghost of Yotei).
- A beautifully dynamic and haunting soundtrack composed and performed by Jacob Noska, and Jonah Henthorne: members of the band Auric Echoes.
- The puzzles you encounter are more than your standard key hunt. Project Songbird rewards those with an eye for detail, making each puzzle a challenge of creativity and wits.
- The combat of Project Songbird offers a variety of approaches inspired by the classics of the survival horror genre. Melee and gunplay is slow and weighty, and ammo is incredibly scarce. However, combat isn't your only option, as you have a multitude of tools at your disposal to aid in sneaking past any creatures that wish to do you harm.
Rank #3
- Fight or Flight- Hunt prey, fight larger enemies and use stealth and agility to sneak past apex predators unnoticed.
- Award Winning- Category winning of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP): Prestigious Playing For The Planet Green Games Jam 2021 Award and the 'Best in Play GDC Award.
- Explore a beautiful world- Explore a living, breathing world full of unique species of plants, insects, and animals. Run, jump, climb, and glide through beautiful environments
- Uncover Hidden Mysteries- Advance through the world and complete the main story, or explore of the beaten path and embark on side quests to uncover Away's hidden mysteries
- Photo Mode- Freeze the sugar glider anywhere and move the camera while the rest of the world continues in ambient motion
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.
