After originally intending to launch in October 2023, the upcoming series reimagining of Alone in the Dark is now just a few weeks away from its release. The game's first delay to January 2024 was due to the absolute deluge of high-profile titles releasing late last year, but its more recent delay comes courtesy of developer Pieces Interactive wanting employees to enjoy the holidays without stressing over the game's launch. A reimagining of one of the original survival-horror franchises, Alone in the Dark is set to be a much larger experience than the original game, according to the developer.
The Best War Games recently spoke with key members of Pieces Interactive, as well as publisher THQ Nordic, about Alone in the Dark in depth, and the game's length indicates that players are in for two lengthy campaigns that each take more time to beat than the first game in the series. Taken as a whole, beating both Edward and Emily's separate campaigns will make the experience roughly three times as long as a playthrough of the original Alone in the Dark from 1992.
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Alone in the Dark Dev Compares its Length to First Game
Most survival-horror games can be completed in roughly 3 to 8 hours, and Alone in the Dark (1992) is no different. An average playthrough of the first Alone in the Dark tends to come out to roughly 4.5 hours, with that length varying greatly depending on the player's ability to solve puzzles in a timely manner.
According to THQ Nordic producer Andreas Schmiedecker, a single playthrough takes double that, with there being an incentive to play both characters (unlike the original game).
An initial playthrough with one character will take you about 6-10 hours, depending on your playstyle – how much time you take for the puzzles, whether you find and read all the clues, etc.
Of course, the second playthrough will likely be fast, but players will not be repeating the campaign on a 1:1 scale. Each campaign has unique offerings per Alone in the Dark character, including cutscenes, collectibles, and unique elements that encourage even more than two playthroughs. As Schmiedecker explained,
...the main incentive will be to play through both campaigns and experience the story from Emily’s and Edward’s perspective. They both feature unique cutscenes and levels and together form a whole story. Additionally, players will only be able to find all collectibles (“Lagniappes” as we call them) on multiple playthroughs. And last, but not least, there might be secret endings and cutscenes only to be found by the most attentive players after multiple playthroughs.
Like the original Alone in the Dark, players who are adept at discovering solutions to puzzles will likely be able to clear the game closer to the 6-hour mark, while those who struggle with puzzle-solving or hope to find all the collectibles might err more toward 10 hours. As a result, completing a single campaign offers a deeper experience than the original, and doing both and then some far exceeds the 1992 experience.
Alone in the Dark
- Released
- March 20, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Alone in the Dark weaves a chilling tapestry of psychological horror and Southern Gothic charm, reimagining the iconic game that set the benchmark for the genre. We invite you to join us on a journey into madness, where each encounter could be your last. With each step you take closer to unravelling Derceto's mystery, the eyes that watch from the darkness grow hungrier.
Every bullet means the difference between survival and an unthinkable end. The next door you unlock could lead to a nightmarish realm offering nothing but slashing claws, grasping tentacles, and frayed sanity. Journey to interbellum Louisiana, where an era of decadence hides a darker tale - of escape from past traumas and an intolerant society, into the waiting grasp of something darker, something that has patiently lurked for impossible eons.
This is Alone in the Dark as you've never seen it - a skillfully-woven narrative of Southern Gothic elegance and eldritch madness that pays homage to its legendary origins while taking the next step forward in survival horror storytelling.
- Developer(s)
- Pieces Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- THQ Nordic
- Franchise
- Alone in the Dark
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
