THQ Nordic has launched a free prologue demo for the latest installment of its survival horror franchise, Alone in the Dark, ahead of its full release on October 25.
The publisher made this announcement via the video game’s official Twitter account. The prologue demo, titled Grace in the Dark, is available to play now and Nordic shared links to his Twitter account for players on different platforms to access it.
Want to get a short glimpse of the horrors that await you in the full game? The Prologue to Alone in the Dark is now playable for free! See you in Derceto.#AloneInTheDark #ReturnToDerceto pic.twitter.com/8ve1K7MtEs
— Alone in the Dark (@AITDGame) May 26, 2023
In line with its status as a prologue, Grace in the Dark is a prequel to Alone in the Dark’s story.
Set in a private mental hospital named Derceto a few weeks before the events of the main story, the demo follows a young girl named Grace Saunders who tries to help Jeremy Hartwood post a letter to his niece, Emily Hartwood, against all odds.
The game’s synopsis gives us an insight into what to expect, saying:
Return to Derceto Manor in this reimagination of Alone in the Dark, a love letter to the 90’s 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.
The synopsis promises gamers will "encounter strange residents, nightmarish realms, dangerous monsters and ultimately unveil a plot of rising evil" and gamers will have an adventure that will challenge their core beliefs.
If the game can deliver on these promises, we're certain it will make for an unforgettable experience for fans of the survival horror franchise.
Alone in the Dark is a reboot of the first game in the long-running franchise. Although it is not a direct remake of the game, which launched in 1992, it will incorporate some of its features, including the ominous atmosphere, exciting puzzles, fights, and main characters – private detective Edward Carnby, Jeremy Hartwood, and his niece Emily Hartwood.
Alone in the Dark is also the seventh installment in the survival horror franchise. The last entry, titled Alone in the Dark: Illumination, launched in 2015 to a lukewarm reception at best.
During a recent Q&A, Nordic and the game’s developer Pieces Interactive promised fans that the forthcoming title will be different and mark a return to form for the iconic IP.
While it remains to be seen if they’ll stay true to their word, the fact that two veteran actors, David Harbour and Jodie Comer, will voice the title’s lead characters proves they are, at the very least, putting in the effort.
Alone in the Dark is currently available on digital pre-order for $59.99. For those who exercise that option, the game will come with a Derceto 1992 Costume Pack with skins that will have Carnby and Hartwood looking like their old selves.
The game also has a Deluxe Digital edition which comes equipped with a digital art book, a commentary track by Frederick Raynal – the series’ original creator, and a vintage horror filter pack.
Grace in the Dark is available on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC platforms. Alone in the Dark will be available on the same platforms when it makes its debut on October 25.
