Sam Lake Hasn’t Given Up on His Biggest Fantasy That Hints it’s Much Darker Than Alan Wake 2 and Max Payne

Sam Lake is one of the most consistent video game auteurs in our industry. Each new creation only hones his game design philosophies and profound method of storytelling. The man’s portfolio, from Max Payne to Alan Wake 2, speaks for itself, after all.

So when the man says that he wants to try his hand at a genre tailor-made for him and that he already has an idea for how it plays out, we can’t help but wonder what’s stopping him from diving right in.

Sam Lake Might Take On One of the Most Ill-Utilized Genres in Gaming

Let’s talk for a minute about Sam Lake’s work and expertise in game design. With Max Payne, the game’s dark, gritty narrative and intense action sequences set a new benchmark for storytelling in video games overnight, utilizing different formats and gaming’s own strengths in a way that prestige media could only hope to compete with.

The Alan Wake duology continued this trend by combining psychological horror with intricate storytelling. The two games’ collective narrative, inspired by Lake’s love for thriller novels, along with David Lynch and Stephen King’s works, delivers a compelling and eerie experience with one of the most jaw-dropping endings in recent memory.

A big shoutout to Quantum Break, too, which, while modest in gameplay, paved the way for Alan Wake 2’s most insane moments with its infusion of prestige media with gaming.

Finally, in Control, Lake further pushed the boundaries of gaming once again with its surreal and mind-bending narrative. The game’s blend of supernatural elements, which created a richly atmospheric experience, along with action set-pieces, gripped players and didn’t let go of that grip all the way to the end.

So, keeping all this in mind, when Lake revealed in a GQ Interview, set in the most odd circumstances, that he has plans to explore Dark Gothic fantasy—a genre that aligns perfectly with his penchant for dark and immersive storytelling—it’s difficult not to wonder why there isn’t already a game such as this made by him:

“One was this crazy, huge budget, dark gothic fantasy, which I haven’t used for anything yet…”

The genre’s potential for exploring themes of horror and existential dread is basically giving Lake a canvas for one of his most ambitious works yet. Seriously, how he can continue to sit on such an idea is beyond anyone’s guess, but if he does go for it, you can be sure that we’ll be the first ones to support him.

People Need to Appreciate the More Artsy Side of Gaming and Sam Lake More

In an industry increasingly focused on loot boxes and live service models, Sam Lake’s commitment to artistic storytelling stands out as a beacon of creative integrity.

His games prioritize narrative depth and player engagement over profit-driven motives, offering experiences that are both thought-provoking and immersive.

This dedication to crafting meaningful stories and experiences is a rare and valuable trait in today’s gaming landscape, which is perhaps also why it fails to receive the recognition it deserves.

Lake’s work often contrasts sharply with the prevalent trend of monetization strategies that prioritize recurring revenue over artistic expression. His commitment to creating games with rich, immersive worlds and deep narratives showcases the potential of video games as an art form.

As Lake and his team at Remedy enter the full production phase for Control 2 and the Max Payne remakes, his planned Gothic horror game may still be quite far into the future and most probably a significant departure from RCU—though it could serve as a historical sequel to the entire universe, showcasing the proper origin point of all the paranatural phenomena we see in the Remedy’s current outings.

Keeping all that tinfoil-hat stuff out of the way, however, it should be clear to just about anyone that Sam Lake’s contributions to the gaming industry extend far beyond mere entertainment.

His work challenges players to think deeply and engage with complex narratives, making his future projects something truly exciting to look forward to.

With that said, what are your thoughts on Sam Lake making a Gothic horror game? Would you be interested in giving it a shot? Let us know in the comments below.