Alan Wake is a psychological action thriller, set in an idyllic all-American small town and its surrounding areas in the state of Washington. The protagonist, Alan Wake, is a bestselling horror writer who must confront his own nightmares come to life. Remedy Entertainment's focus on story and atmosphere are fundamental elements of the game design which allows players to explore an open world environment. There is also a mission based structure with light being used as a significant gameplay element that was created through proprietary new technology for high definition visuals.