Alan Wake's American Nightmare

 Xbox 360
Alan Wake's American Nightmare Image
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 72 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 187 Ratings

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  • Summary: After the events of Alan Wake, our eponymous hero finds himself embroiled in a new adventure in Arizona, where his own words again hold the key to defeating his evil twin, the malevolent Mr. Scratch, who spreads darkness where he goes. Now more experienced at dealing with the weird andAfter the events of Alan Wake, our eponymous hero finds himself embroiled in a new adventure in Arizona, where his own words again hold the key to defeating his evil twin, the malevolent Mr. Scratch, who spreads darkness where he goes. Now more experienced at dealing with the weird and horrific, Wake is determined to turn the tide. [Microsoft]… Expand

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Mr. Scratch - Alan Wake's American Nightmare Teaser Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 48 out of 72
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 72
  3. Negative: 0 out of 72
  1. ZTGD
    Feb 29, 2012
    95
    This is what I hope the future of downloadable games will be; top notch AAA production values in the form of small $12-$15 packages. Alan Wake's American Nightmare is an excellent game, which will surely whet the appetite of fans of the original for the sequel.
  2. Pelit (Finland)
    Feb 13, 2012
    86
    Interesting and understandable plot, less running in a dark forest but more action. New Alan shows how XBLA games should be done. [Feb 2012]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Gaming Nexus
    Mar 23, 2012
    83
    Fans of Alan Wake and the paranormal should immediately add American Nightmare to their download queue.
  4. Gamereactor Sweden
    Feb 21, 2012
    80
    A bite-size chunk of great downloadable action and horror.
  5. XGN
    Mar 1, 2012
    75
    Alan Wake's American Nightmare provides us with a new story and an arcade mode. It is the arcade mode that stands out and makes us want to play the game over and over. It is however to bad there isn't a multiplayer included. The story is short and it repeats itself but remains worthwhile. American Nightmare is quite enjoyable, but we'd rather play a proper sequel.
  6. Thunderbolt
    Mar 1, 2012
    70
    This is a game for the fans, featuring an appreciative amount of exposition even if it's fairly inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.
  7. Metro GameCentral
    Feb 23, 2012
    50
    A downloadable spin-off that, while reasonably good value for money, manages only to underline how shallow and repetitive the combat was from the first game.

See all 72 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 38
  3. Negative: 5 out of 38
  1. Hobiologe
    Feb 22, 2012
    10
    Well, it makes a lot of fun and the Horde Mode as well as the Story is pretty cool. Especially the weapons are much more better than in AlanWell, it makes a lot of fun and the Horde Mode as well as the Story is pretty cool. Especially the weapons are much more better than in Alan Wake and the atmosphere is just amazing; as it used to be in an Alan Wake title. Makes much fun, looks fantastic, feels awesome and a 100% recommendation. Fair Price!

    If you like Alan Wake you will love the Nightmare!    … Expand
  2. jaastin555
    Feb 23, 2012
    10
    The story of Alan wake was goood , but it was too easy. I dont understand why there is no nightmare mode in story too. But the game was stillThe story of Alan wake was goood , but it was too easy. I dont understand why there is no nightmare mode in story too. But the game was still very great. Fight till dawn was good too.… Expand
  4. MegWhiteley
    Apr 11, 2012
    10
    Two years later of the apparition of Alan Wake on Xbox 360 appear this "spin-off", and is amazing, Alan is most "wild", the story is epic, andTwo years later of the apparition of Alan Wake on Xbox 360 appear this "spin-off", and is amazing, Alan is most "wild", the story is epic, and obviusly because Alan Wake is a fantastic game. This is a great game.… Expand
  5. tiger
    Feb 22, 2012
    8
    Great XBOX Arcade game! However, I did find that having to find manuscript pages to fill in the back story, left the over all delivery of theGreat XBOX Arcade game! However, I did find that having to find manuscript pages to fill in the back story, left the over all delivery of the story to be a bit disjointed. Though I found the Rod Serling sounding narrator effective, making Night Springs very reminiscent of The Twilight Zone, I prefer Alan Wakes' voice actors narration in the first game. The combat is improved thanks to a larger selection and more dynamic weapons, and the evade maneuver works as well as ever! The environments work well, but the games trippy, surreal atmosphere has been toned down and the game loses some of the tension because of it. In the end, this is a great effort on behalf of Remedy considering the constraints of a down-loadable title. As a huge fan of the original Alan Wake and previous Writer and Signal add on's, I only hope that American Nightmare sales well enough to warrant the full blown sequel Alan Wake deserves!… Expand
  6. JwGaming
    Apr 22, 2012
    8
    American Nightmare is not a full sequel, but its OK because for an Arcade title its really big, beautiful and worth your money, Remedy made aAmerican Nightmare is not a full sequel, but its OK because for an Arcade title its really big, beautiful and worth your money, Remedy made a great job the game looks as good as the first game there are more weapons this time and free roaming takes bigger part i absolutely enjoyed it for an arcade title and i recommend it to all of the fans plus there is a survival mode that works well :P… Expand
  7. Larux18
    Jun 19, 2012
    8
    This has been a completely different experience than the original Alan Wake, the first game was just epic in my opinion and i see this one asThis has been a completely different experience than the original Alan Wake, the first game was just epic in my opinion and i see this one as a great sequel though it could be better. The story is something that needs to be talked about, this game apparently takes place in an episode of Night Springs two years after the first game and resumes Alan's battle with Mr. Scratch. I expected the story to be less developed since the main focus is clearly action but it seems to have succeeded even though it could have explained more. The setting changed a lot, it is apparently a desert in Arizona which changes a lot from the forest in the first game. I didn't find myself to be as immersed as I was in the first game but it still does a good job. The story mode is about 4-5 hours and you play in three main areas, however, those three areas are revisited three times which is repetitive and can get annoying. A whole lot of weapons have been added giving more firepower and better alternatives of defeating enemies. The enemies themselves vary a lot more than in the first game and are quite tougher this time making the need of better weapons critical. An arcade "survival" mode has been added which consists of fighting hordes of enemies for ten minutes and then you unlock another map, there are ten maps total and there is a high replay value. Overall this is a great game that, despite some story flaws, manages to stand as a proper sequel to the original, Remedy has done well and I would love to see what they have for us in the future.… Expand
  8. Broyax
    Jan 29, 2020
    1
    Mouais bah... je me rappelle plus trop de ce Sieur Wake (je suis pas bien réveillé sans doute) mais il ne m'avait pas semblé aussi chiant queMouais bah... je me rappelle plus trop de ce Sieur Wake (je suis pas bien réveillé sans doute) mais il ne m'avait pas semblé aussi chiant que ce "cauchemar" amerloque ici présent plus ou moins ambulant et déambulatoire. A moins cela dit que les souvenirs n'enjolivent forcément un peu (beaucoup) ce qui n'était pas si réussi à l'époque, jadis. Mais tout de même.

    En tout cas, je me suis bien fait chier dans cet "AW AN" et s'il reprend pourtant il me semble les mêmes mécaniques, ça ne fonctionne plus ou alors c'est tombé en panne... La répétition s'installe en effet trop rapidement tandis que la pseudo-histoire est... inexistante. Lampe-torche, tire, esquive, lampe-torche, tire, recharge le flingue, recharge la putain de lampe, esquive ou... du moins, essaye parce qu'avec cette caméra dans les endroits un peu confinés, bonjour les dégâts...!

    Du coup, depuis ce "jeu" et celui d'avant et même "ceux" d'avant et vu ce qu'ils ont fait après et bien après, y compris cette grosse merde de "Control", je me rends compte (quand même) qu'il faut bien se rendre à l'évidence : Remedy fait un peu trop souvent de la merde !    … Expand

See all 38 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

88
#88 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2012
59
#59 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2012
76
#76 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2012