Alone in the Dark review - a horror revival that emerges from the shadows

It’s been a long time since we’ve been graced with a new Alone in the Dark entry and it’s fair to say that this iconic horror series has had somewhat of a turbulent time since its inception in 1992 with mixed receptions and cancelled projects. Now Alone in the Dark is back with a series reboot, but can it step from underneath the shadows of other horror games that have since become iconic entries of its genre?

Long before the likes of Capcom’s Resident Evil and Konami’s Silent Hill, Alone in the Dark was bringing us ghouls, ghosts, cults and conspiracy way ahead of its competition but hasn't shared the same level of success as those it inspired. Not taking into account the cancelled multiplayer game on PC, Alone in the Dark: Illumination, the last single-player release came in 2008 with the same namesake as its predecessor and successor.

Check out the Alone in the Dark trailer below!

Alone in the Dark in 2024 shares the same premise as the original from 1992. Set in the early 1920s, you arrive at the mysterious Derceto Manor to investigate the whereabouts of Jeremy Hartwood, the uncle to one of the two playable protagonists of the game, Emily Hartwood played by Jodie Comer (Killing Eve, Free Guy). The other playable protagonist is private investigator Edward Carnby played by David Harbour (Stranger Things, Gran Turismo). Speaking of which, Alone in the Dark offers replayability by having a campaign each for Emily Hartwood and Edward Carnby. The two campaigns are not drastically different, but it is interesting nonetheless to see how Emily and Edward react and interact in certain key moments of the story,

Unlike the original game in the series, Alone in the Dark isn't played from a fixed camera perspective, but instead takes the over-the-shoulder approach made famous by the likes of Resident Evil 4 and Dead Space. Though there may be a few subtle nods in the game that old-school fans will appreciate. Alone in the Dark is a true throwback of yesteryear, and I would say it's more of a thriller-horror than survival horror.

I appreciate that Alone in the Dark doesn't overly rely on cheap jumpscares and instead generates its energy from its performances, soundtrack and map design. Alone in the Dark does have some classic survival horror elements, such as well-thought-out puzzles, plenty of backtracking, and resource management. It does lean towards action more than the original game, with functional firearm and melee combat mechanics. The combat is nothing spectacular and it serves its purpose, but can feel a little clunky at times, which perhaps leans into the element of panic that any good horror game strives to achieve.

THQ Nordic

You’ll have a few firearms at your disposal such as a handgun, shotgun, machine gun and, later into the game, a flare gun. Being an old-school survival horror fan, resource management is an instinct for me and, other than some of the more tricky enemies, I found that I was favouring degradable melee weapons. Shovels, crucifix crosses, wrenches, and the like were often preferable to firearms so I could save ammo and dispatch any foes that stood in my way.

Unfortunately, enemy variety is where Alone in the Dark struggles to shine, which is a little disappointing. The most common enemy you’ll encounter is kind of like a budget Molded from Resident Evil 7 and after an initial scare, the enemies of Alone in the Dark will not be giving you sleepless nights.

Yet, as cliché as it sounds, the real character of Alone in the Dark is the Derceto Manor. Mixed with the chilling soundtrack and environment sound design, not to mention the maze-like claustrophobic corridors of the mansion. The Derceto Manor will give you classic haunted house movie vibes and it will soon be apparent why the original game in this series inspired the likes of the Spencer Mansion of the Resident Evil series.

THQ Nordic

The visuals of Alone in the Dark are nothing to write home about and it’s far from the best-looking game that you’ll play on current-gen consoles. But as we know, a good game isn't determined by its graphics. It aims for a vibe and, thanks to excellent performances and design, it nails that vibe Yes, it’s clear that Alone in the Dark pales in comparison to Resident Evil in terms of budget, but with the AAA industry in disarray, it’s increasingly clear there’s more than enough space for games like this. It’s also worth noting Alone in the Dark gives you the choice of graphics or performance mode - I’d recommend going with the latter, as the frame rate dips were noticeable in graphics mode.

Alone In The Dark may not be the shiniest or glossiest game available right now. It doesn’t boast cutting-edge graphics, but, I urge you not to be put off by how a game looks. Sure, I’d be surprised if Alone in the Dark is a game of the year contender (though I think its sound design and acting are worth a shout for a nomination) but if you love old-school horror games, then Alone in the Dark could be your surprise contender for 2024. Despite some flaws, it wholeheartedly gets my seal of approval.

Pros: a throwback that horror fans will appreciate, superb cast of actors, fantastic sound design, decent replay value

Cons: gameplay is a little clunky, visuals could do with more polish

For fans of: Resident Evil, Silent Hill

7/10: Very Good

Alone in the Dark releases on 20 March 2024, for PC, PlayStation 5 (version tested), and Xbox Series X/S. Read a guide to our review scores here.