A horror game with intertwined plotlines
Alan Wake 2 is a paid horror survival game and sequel to Alan Wake, a title that was first released in 2010. It features the intertwined stories of the titular character and writer Alan Wake as well as FBI agent Saga Anderson. Although the game is a sequel, players don’t have to play the prequel or even Control to get the full experience.
It’s a stand-alone title, after all. Like some of the Resident Evil games, Alan Wake 2 plays in third-person mode—with your character using a weapon like a pistol to defeat enemies that run amok in the area.
Follow the stories of two playable characters
In Alan Wake 2, you can choose to go through either Alan’s or Saga’s story. Regardless of your choice, both stories will feature foreshadowing —requiring you to pay extra attention to the plot. In the former, you’ll see Alan trapped in the Dark Place, a dimension where art becomes a reality. He then writes a story as an attempt to escape the Dark Place. However, the narrative can feel convoluted.
The latter, meanwhile, centers on Saga investigating murders and the mysterious death of FBI Special Agent Robert Nightingale in Pacific Northwest’s Bright Falls along with Alex Casey, the pair discovers that the pages belonged to Alan. Never did they realize that Alan was writing about Saga herself. Apart from the base game, it will also include two premium expansions: Night Springs and Lake House.
Horror redux and expanded options
Alan Wake 2 has received significant updates and additional content. The 2024 major “Anniversary Update” added accessibility options and gameplay assists, improved controller haptics, infinite‑ammo/test modes, and options like “quick turn,” “auto complete QTE,” and infinite flashlight — giving players flexibility to tailor horror intensity or accessibility. While the sequel features puzzles and other interactive elements, it is not going to be as combat-intensive as the first Alan Wake game.
This game is primarily a story‑driven game. Once you finish the main campaign, replay value depends on your interest in uncovering all collectibles, exploring alternate endings, or diving into expansion content. That said, the developer has added post‑launch support: A “Chapter Select” option lets players go back to specific missions, useful both for replaying favorite moments or hunting collectibles. For those who want more than pure horror, it offers variation through difficulty, secrets, and expansion content.
Different characters, different experiences
As mentioned, Alan Wake 2 features two protagonists, Alan and Saga, and these characters offer similar and different gameplay experiences for the player. Regarding the similarities, both characters use a flashlight to dispel the darkness from The Taken, enabling them to defeat these entities using their weapons.
Moving on to the differences, Saga’s gameplay is grounded on exploration and detective work with a sprinkle of combat. This means the player is expected to find and investigate clues as well as interact with NPCs. You also have access to the case board in the Mind Place. Plastered on the case board are pages and photos connected with a string, and you can help Saga piece the puzzle to her investigation by reviewing and rearranging them. The Mind Place is also where you can profile characters, read manuscripts, and check background cases and collectibles, to name a few.
Alan’s gameplay—on the other hand—centers more on the surreal and the unsettling. Using the Angel Lamp, he can open up new paths that can leave the player bewildered. The counterpart of Saga’s Mind Place is Alan’s The Writer’s Room. In The Writer’s Room, Alan can use the plotboard to rewrite reality and escape from the Dark Place. Players are free to switch between characters or stick to either Alan or Saga’s storyline to completion.
Delve into the Remedy Connected Universe
Of course, players can complete Alan Wake 2 and call it a day. However—if you want to learn more about the Remedy Connected Universe—it’s recommended that you play Control and The Foundation and AWE expansions as well as Alan Wake: Remastered and its DLCs, namely The Signal and The Writer. If you own a PC or Xbox 360 console, another title you should pick up is the standalone expansion Alan Wake’s American Nightmare.
The three protagonists of Night Springs
Night Springs is the first expansion of Alan Wake 2, with 12 new achievements for completionists to work on and brag about with their friends. Desperate to escape from the Dark Place, Alan Wake bends the very figment of reality by writing a TV show titled “Night Springs.”
The DLC is composed of three episodes, each one offering a unique, poignant experience and featuring a character that may feel familiar, yet refreshingly new to the player. Number One Fan is about Rose Marigold’s lookalike, The Waitress, a shotgun-wielding fan and savior of The Writer. This episode, however, is topped with gore and pure action.
The North Star centers on The Sibling looking for her brother at Coffee World, a coffee-themed amusement park. There, the protagonist solves puzzles and eliminates peculiar shadows that haunt Coffee World’s menacing grounds. The Sibling looks similar to Control’s director of the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC), Jesse Faden. Finally, Time Breaker puts you into the shoes of The Actor, who bears similarities with Tim Breaker — the sheriff of Bright Falls. In this episode, you become the hero who must triumph against the antagonist Master of Many Worlds.
Play as an FBC agent in The Lake House Expansion
The Lake House is the final expansion for Alan Wake 2, bringing players back to the core survival horror elements of the main game. Set at the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC) research facility on the shores of Cauldron Lake, the DLC focuses on exploration and eerie encounters. As you explore the facility, you will encounter unsettling and unique experiences on every level.
Kiran Estevez, a field agent appearing in the main game, is now a playable character. Armed with a new weapon, she provides a fresh perspective as she uncovers new mysteries within the facility. This expansion also deepens the Remedy Connected Universe, offering more insight through Estevez’s point of view. The haunting soundtrack by Petri Alanko and Poe further enhances the game’s chilling atmosphere.
Owners of the Deluxe Edition of Alan Wake 2 can access the DLC through the Expansion Pass, which unlocks automatically. In contrast, players with the Standard Edition need to upgrade to the Deluxe Edition to gain access. You can enter the expansion at any point through the main menu or by asking Estevez about the Lake House during the mission Return 06.
A dual-layered horror epic
Alan Wake 2 delivers a rich, narrative-driven survival horror experience that intertwines the surreal struggles of Alan with the investigative journey of Saga Anderson. The game balances combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving, enhanced by atmospheric visuals, haunting audio, and the interconnected Remedy universe. With major updates, accessibility options, and two substantial expansions, the game offers varied replay potential, though its complex story and DLC requirements may overwhelm newcomers.
