Dead Island 2 & Alan Wake 2 – Will 2023 Be The Year Of Horror Games?

If you’re a fan of survival horror games, you’re in for a treat in 2023. This is because two of the most anticipated titles ever in this genre are being released. Fans have speculated about Alan Wake 2 for years, since the first title was released in 2010, and a remastered version was released in 2021.

Dead Island shares a similar story since it was released in 2011, and fans have been waiting since. Even though gamers are eagerly anticipating these titles, does it mean that they will mark this year as a great horror-gaming year? Let’s find out.

They Come in Different Flavours

Credit: Deep Silver

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Both Dead Island 2 and Alan Wake 2 are survival horror games. This means that they share some game mechanics besides horror elements. In such games, you basically try to survive (hence the name) different enemy monstrosities by different means.

Some games are more combat-heavy, while you’ll need to rely on your stealth skills to survive in others. Both Dead Island 2 and Alan Wake 2 lean to combat, but even then, they’re two different beasts.

Alan Wake 2 continues the story from the original, where Alan Wake, a writer, deals with otherworldly creatures via different weapons such as revolvers or shotguns. Dead Island 2 will likely keep the core concepts from the original game, where you need to send zombies to oblivion via weapons, naturally.

However similar they may sound, the two games couldn’t be more different. Dead Island games are open-world and brutal while sharing a fair amount of comedy, too. Alan Wake games, on the other hand, work like a television show where the games are divided into episodes and have a more introspective nature.

Even though both game releases are major news, how popular is the genre overall? Let’s take online casinos as an example.

Horror in Casino Games

Horror games are not exclusive to gamers in the traditional sense. They enjoy a growing presence in the iGaming world, too. You may have noticed them whenever you’re checking out the best online casino table games and wondering whether they’re worthwhile when compared to regular video games.

Even though it’s a matter of preferences, some are well-developed games with interesting mechanics and even storytelling elements.

One of the most popular titles on the light side of horror is Immortal Romance. This venerable slot is far from being “just another” themed slot. The characters in it have backstories that you can read in-game and have unique abilities each.

There are many other examples of the genre and slot-like mechanics: Mythic Maiden, Wild Blood, and Succubus Offers are some worthwhile options. Mental is a horrifying slot with a mental asylum setting with creepy symbols and background that fans of the genre will surely appreciate.

That said, and just like video games in general, many slots are little more than reskins of other games.

2023 as a Horrific Year

Credit: Pexels

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Dead Island 2 and Alan Wake 2 aren’t the only horror games set for release in 2023. Amnesia: The Bunker comes out in May and continues with the Amnesia series, this time in a World War I bunker. This time, the world is less linear than in previous games, which will add exciting ways to solve puzzles.

Greyhill Incident is another interesting title that will be available in June, featuring grey aliens as part of an alien invasion in the 90s. This is a welcome respite from zombies and other demonic monsters you normally face in the genre.

Another major title coming up is Silent Hill 2 Remake. This is one of the most anticipated games of the year and will be available at some point in 2023. One of the new features is an over-the-shoulder camera.

As you can see, it’s shaping up to be a great year for horror games. And perhaps one of the best features in 2023 is variety. Long gone are the days of hacking zombies mindlessly. Besides fighting aliens, there’s an incredible blend of old and new ideas that bring freshness to the genre.

You’ll be able to play bizarre titles like Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game, based on the eponymous movie. Autopsy Simulator is also arriving, and as you can imagine, it’ll be a bit different than Goat Simulator. There’s even a horror strategy game releasing. It’s Terror: Endless Night, where you manage a ship in search of two doomed vessels.

Summing Up

There’s enough horror in 2023 for fans to be thrilled with upcoming games. Whether another genre will overcome horror is a matter of perspective, and only time will tell. That said, 2023 is strong for horrifying experiences thanks to great comebacks such as Alan Wake, Dead Island and Silent Hill 2 Remake and new ideas.

Whatever your preferences are, from movie-inspired games to aliens and terror in the ocean, the only thing you’ll need is extra time to enjoy the many offerings coming up.

What do you make of this feature? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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