Classic Horror Game Alone In The Dark Gets A New Reboot For Next-Gen

Alone In The Dark was one of those classic horror games that basically paved the way for so many others after it. And after numerous reboots through the years, it's getting a new one - roughly 30 years after the original game first released.

(Photo : Steam )
alone in the dark steam

THQ Nordic, the newest owners of the IP, has announced a new Alone In The Dark reboot coming exclusively to next-gen (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC). And according to Kotaku, the reboot is going to be as faithful to the original 1992 game as it can: the original setting, time frame, and its two original characters. Here is the announcement trailer for it:

The upcoming Alone In The Dark reboot is set once again in the creepy Derceto Manor, and the trailer is doing its overall vibe a lot of justice. It starts with a little girl in a room full of dolls hanged by their necks, singing the song House Of The Rising Sun. Then, a few other characters come into play, along with some snippets of the game's over-the-shoulder, third-person gameplay.

Here's an excerpt detailing some aspects of the game's story, which the developers say is "a love letter to the 90s cult classic horror game":

Deep in the 1920s south, Emily Hartwood's uncle has gone missing. Together with private investigator Edward Carnby, she embarks on a journey to Derceto Manor to uncover the secrets of this mysterious place and the circumstances of her relative's vanishing.

Developer Pieces Interactive says that despite its original setting and characters, the game will tell an original, brand-new story that "reimagines" a lot of the elements of the original title (via IGN). The story is being helmed by former Amnesia: The Dark Descent writer Mikael Hedberg.

Aside from that, they've also confirmed two playable characters for the rebooted Alone In The Dark: private investigator Edward Carnby, and Emily Hartwood - the niece of the missing owner of the manor.

No release date for the game has been revealed yet.

What Is Alone In The Dark?

Unless you're an avid horror game or retro game fan, you've probably never heard of Alone In The Dark before. Well, here's a bit of a backstory.

The first AITD game, as previously mentioned, was released in 1992. It was launched for the PC via MS DOS, and it was hailed as a cross between an old point-and-click game and a nonlinear horror game of the modern era (via GoombaStomp). It was also the first 3D title in the survival horror genre, which basically meant that every other game after it took in some way from it.

Here's a snippet of gameplay:

When it released, Alone In The Dark was praised for its execution of the overdone haunted house trope. You don't come into Derceto Manor guns blazing, but rather as a PI who's almost always underequipped. It is, by all means, a survival horror title that scares you by making you feel defenseless against everything. Its fixed camera angles and overall atmosphere also added to just how hard to beat the game is, as well.