• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
This is an image from the video game “Alan Wake 2.” The OSV News classification is L -- limited adult audience, material whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Entertainment Software Rating Board rating is M -- Mature. (OSV News photo/Epic)

Videogame Review: ‘Alan Wake 2’

March 28, 2024
By Adele Chapline Smith
OSV News
Filed Under: Movie & Television Reviews

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Well-crafted but intense and unsparing, the survival horror game “Alan Wake 2” (Epic) presents a narrative that delves into the human psyche in a sophisticated way. Only those grown-ups willing to encounter graphic content, however, should grapple with it.

Immersed in a world where nightmares are made manifest and alternate dimensions intertwine, players follow the investigative activities of FBI Special Agent Saga Anderson (voice of Melanie Liburd). Anderson has been tasked with unraveling the range of mysteries that surround the disappearance of the titular novelist (voice of Matthew Porretta).

The mayhem encountered along both characters’ paths is frequent and sometimes gruesome. Gamers see explosions, blood splatter effects and gaping wounds.

The game plays on the often blurred lines between reality and illusion, which makes for an intriguingly mysterious experience. As they shuttle between Anderson’s sleuthing and the grim trials befalling Wake, players are left to wonder how much of what they witness is actually happening.

While “Alan Wake 2” avoids overtly occult or demonic material, it does incorporate unsettling imagery and subject matter that may disturb some gamers. Yet, in a way reminiscent of the Netflix series “Stranger Things,” it offers a gripping experience that will linger in the minds of those few for whom it’s suitable long after gameplay concludes.

Mature fans of the genre will appreciate this title’s masterful storytelling and atmospheric design. But both kids and those among their elders who are on the lookout for light entertainment should steer clear.

Playable on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and Windows.

The game contains mature themes requiring discernment, strong combat violence with gory images, brief full male nudity and frequent profane and foul language. The OSV News classification is L — limited adult audience, material whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Entertainment Software Rating Board rating is M — mature.

Read More Entertainment News

Movie Review: ‘Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight’

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

Catholic ‘American Ninja Warrior’ fights world hunger, one obstacle at a time

Movie Review: ‘Smurfs’

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

Movie Review: ‘Eddington’

Copyright © 2024 OSV News

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Adele Chapline Smith

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Detroit archbishop fires theologians Ralph Martin, Eduardo Echeverría from seminary

  • Warsaw archbishop ‘devastated, crushed’ by priest’s arrest in brutal murder of homeless man

  • Archdiocese of Baltimore offers resources for parishes to assist migrants

  • Conference of Major Superiors of Men Men’s religious leaders confront change with fraternity and faith

  • Third annual gun buyback scheduled for Aug. 9

| CURRENT EDITION |

CR digital edition

| Vatican News |

Jubilee of Digital Missionaries

Festival of digital missionaries celebrates faithful witness in the digital age

jubilee 2025

World will hear young people’s joy, shouting for peace on earth, pope says

RUSSIAN-ORTHODOX-meeting

Pope Leo meets with top Russian Orthodox cleric amid war, strained relations

Pope welcomes young people to Rome for jubilee, thanks media for promoting truth

Parishes need to launch ‘revolution of care’ for the elderly, pope says

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

| Movie & Television Reviews |

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

Movie Review: ‘Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight’

Catholic ‘American Ninja Warrior’ fights world hunger, one obstacle at a time

Movie Review: ‘Smurfs’

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

| En español |

‘No tengan miedo de hacer lo que El Señor quiere para nosotros’

Dios quiere ayudar a las personas a descubrir su valor y dignidad, dice el Papa

El ‘Padre Migrante’ nos relata su vida sirviendo a comunidades inmigrantes

El ‘Obispo Bruce’ forjó fuertes lazos con Baltimore en tiempos difíciles y tenía corazón de pastor

El Papa León comienza su pontificado pidiendo una ‘Iglesia unida’ en un mundo herido

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Loyola University Maryland receives $1 million gift supporting aspiring educators, creation of reflection space
  • Festival of digital missionaries celebrates faithful witness in the digital age
  • Sister Miriam Jansen, former director of international programs at Notre Dame of Maryland, dies at 86
  • Movie Review: ‘Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight’
  • New law will help families access America’s Catholic schools
  • Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon
  • How to grow in faith for back-to-school
  • US prelates head to Japan on ‘Pilgrimage of Peace’ amid nuclear fears old and new
  • World will hear young people’s joy, shouting for peace on earth, pope says

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en