Alan Wake 2
Officially Alan Wake II
Remedy Entertainment psychological survival-horror (Oct 27, 2023 PS5/Xbox/PC) — dual protagonists Alan Wake + FBI agent Saga Anderson investigating serial murders in Bright Falls. First Remedy game with survival-horror mechanics + full-motion video hybrid. GOTY-nominee 2023.
What is Alan Wake 2?
Alan Wake 2 is a psychological survival-horror game developed by Finnish studio Remedy Entertainment + published by Epic Games Publishing, released October 27, 2023 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (Epic Games Store — exclusive digital-only release). Sequel to 2010's Alan Wake — 13-year gap. Directed by Sam Lake + Kyle Rowley. Dual-protagonist structure: FBI Special Agent Saga Anderson investigates ritualistic serial murders in Bright Falls / Watery / Cauldron Lake (Pacific Northwest, 2023); meanwhile Alan Wake, trapped in the Dark Place since AW1, attempts to write his way back to reality via a shifting nightmare New York. Players can freely swap between the two protagonists after Prologue + Chapter 2, each with distinct mechanics: Saga uses 'Mind Place' investigation board + Profiling; Alan uses 'Plot Board' to re-write scenes. First Remedy game with true survival-horror pacing — limited ammo, shadow-monster 'Taken' enemies weakened by light, deliberate combat. Extensive use of full-motion video hybrid — live-action + in-engine cutscenes seamlessly integrated. Sets up Remedy Connected Universe with Control (2019). 1M+ units first month; nominated for Game of the Year at TGA 2023 (won Best Narrative + Best Game Direction + Best Art Direction).
Quick facts
Category
Video Games
Type
Individual
Players
1–1
Duration
~60 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇫🇮 Finland
Estimated origin
Released Oct 27, 2023 PS5/Xbox Series/PC — sequel to Alan Wake (2010)
Olympic
No
Popularity
major
How it works
Objective
Solve Cauldron Lake ritualistic murders (as Saga); escape the Dark Place (as Alan); ultimately reunite the narrative to break the loop.
Match structure
Single-player dual-protagonist horror; ~10 chapters swappable between Saga (Bright Falls) + Alan (Dark Place New York). 2 DLC episodes.
Rules
Basic rules
Light weakens shadow enemies
Taken enemies are protected by darkness; use flashlight to strip shadow before shooting.
Limited ammo + resource management
Survival-horror pacing; save ammo + batteries for tougher encounters.
Dual-protagonist swap (post-Ch2)
Swap between Saga + Alan freely after Chapter 2; each has unique mechanics.
Advanced rules
Saga's Mind Place
Investigation-board room where Saga pins clues, profiles suspects, builds cases.
Alan's Plot Board
Rewrite scene plot points (Location/Story Element) to reshape the Dark Place level around him.
Word of Power collectibles
Alan-side collectibles that permanently boost weapon damage/reload/handling.
Scoring
Chapter progression + collectibles + Nightmare difficulty for NG+.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Chapter completion | Story progression + collectible unlocks |
Win condition · Complete both protagonists' final chapters. 100% = all collectibles + Nightmare difficulty + both DLC.
Equipment
PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (Epic exclusive)
Digital-only release; no physical PC copy. Physical PS5/Xbox editions came later 2024.
Standard controller (recommended)
Uses DualSense haptics on PS5.
Positions & roles
Saga Anderson (FBI Special Agent)
×1Bright Falls investigator; uses Mind Place + Profiling.
Alan Wake (Bestselling horror author)
×1Trapped in Dark Place; uses Plot Board to rewrite reality.
Officiating
Single-player only.
- Speedrun.com moderators
Penalties & fouls
Penalties
Death (ammo/resource depletion)
Reload autosave; combat is unforgiving but no permadeath.
Missed collectibles/manuscripts
Some chapter-locked collectibles require chapter select replay or NG+.
Strategies
Flashlight burn timing
Fully burn shadow shield with flashlight before switching to firearm — hasty shots waste ammo on shielded enemies.
Mind Place clue-pinning
As Saga, pin every clue immediately; Case Board evidence chains unlock optional lore + easier puzzle solutions.
Plot Board scene-swap tactics
As Alan, cycle Location + Plot Element swaps to reveal hidden Words of Power + enemy-free paths.
Terminology
- Taken
- Shadow-possessed shambling enemies weakened by light
- Dark Place
- Otherworldly prison Alan is trapped in
- Mind Place
- Saga's mental investigation room
- Plot Board
- Alan's scene-rewriting mechanic
- Manuscript page
- In-universe collectibles that foreshadow scenes
- Cauldron Lake
- Central mythic location near Bright Falls, WA
Major competitions
The Game Awards 2023 (Best Narrative + Direction + Art)
annual · global · since 2014
Speedrun.com Alan Wake 2 leaderboards
ongoing · global (community) · since 2023
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Remedy Entertainment
Founded 1995 · Espoo, Finland
Epic Games Publishing
Founded 2020 · Cary, North Carolina
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Sam Lake (creative director)
- Kyle Rowley (game director)
- Ilkka Villi (Alan Wake actor)
- Melanie Liburd (Saga Anderson actress)
- Petri Alanko (composer)
Records
1M+ units first month
Remedy / Epic — 1 million+ units sold in first month across all platforms (2023)
TGA 2023 3 wins
Remedy — Won Best Narrative, Best Game Direction, Best Art Direction at The Game Awards 2023 (2023)
First survival-horror from Remedy
Remedy — Studio's first true survival-horror after 30 years of third-person action games (2023)
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Prologue + Chapter 1
Learn flashlight + firearm combo + Saga's Mind Place.
intermediate
- 1
Mid-game (Ch 3-6) + both protagonists
Learn Alan's Plot Board; balance both storylines.
advanced
- 1
Nightmare difficulty + both DLC + all collectibles
Full 100% with harder combat + Night Springs + Lake House episodes.
Frequently asked
Do I need to play Alan Wake 1 first?+
Highly recommended but not strictly required — AW2 includes 'Previously On' recap. AW1 remaster + AW1 DLC (American Nightmare) provide essential context for Alan's arc.
How does AW2 connect to Control?+
AW2 is part of Remedy Connected Universe with Control (2019) — Federal Bureau of Control (FBC), Alan's manuscripts, + Cauldron Lake all appear in both. Alan Wake 2 Lake House DLC bridges directly to Control 2 (upcoming).
Is Alan Wake 2 scary?+
Yes — psychological horror with jump scares + dread atmosphere. Not gore-focused; more Lynchian/Kingian tone. Difficulty modes affect combat intensity, not scare intensity.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Alan Wake 2— Wikipedia