Do you need to play Alan Wake before Alan Wake 2 Alan Wake 2 guide, walkthrough

Wondering if you need to know the plot of the first part before playing Alan Wake 2? This page of the guide will dispel your doubts.

Last update: 27 October 2023

Alan Wake 2 is a direct continuation of the game originally released on Xbox 360 in 2010. More than a decade of difference between the installments may cause potential customers to be confused in understanding the series' plot. On this page, we will explain how Remedy's latest game relates to the events presented in Alan Wake (2010), and we will also briefly outline the connection between the titular writer's story and the universe created by the studio.

• Is it necessary to know the plot of the first game?
• Story context in Alan Wake 2
• Is playing Control necessary?

Is it necessary to know the plot of the first game?

The simplest answer to the question in the headline is - yes. Knowledge of the most important facts related to the plot of Alan Wake (2010) will be necessary to properly understand the context of the sequel. Although people unfamiliar with the universe will be able to understand the most important plot assumptions from the context, the lack of even superficial knowledge about the story and ending of the previous game may result in misunderstanding of certain aspects of the sequel.

Another problematic thing is that Alan Wake 2 offers no summary of the story told in the series so far. The story is told in such a way where it assumes that the player is familiar with the plot of the first game.

For this reason, we especially recommend that new players interested in playing Alan Wake 2 to familiarize themselves with the plot of the first part. If playing the original is not an option, it might be a good idea to read or watch a short plot summary of Alan Wake (2010), such as this one published by the developers themselves:

Story context in Alan Wake 2

The plot of Alan Wake 2 takes place 13 years after the dramatic events known from the first game. FBI agent Saga Anderson arrives in the Bright Falls, the town known from the first part, to investigate a series of mysterious murders. Soon after, it turns out that the dark mystery is somehow related to the mysterious manuscript pages, which prophesize future events.

The story also focuses on the titular writer, who has been trapped by the demonic power of the Dark Presence for years. Isolated from the real world, he uses his writing talent to break free from the shackles of darkness once and for all.

Is playing Control necessary?

Finally, it is worth mentioning a rather interesting correlation between the dark series about the writer and another game from the same studio - Control released in 2019. As the plot of Control shows, the above-mentioned games by Remedy Entertainment share the same universe.

In the adventures of Jesse Faden, it is revealed that the mysterious disappearance of Alan and the dark events from Bright Falls caught the attention of the Federal Bureau of Control. The plot point was further developed in the expansion titled AWE.

Although you don't need to know it to understand the context of the story in Alan Wake 2, observant fans of the studio's games will certainly appreciate the subtly built universe. Moreover, according to the developers, Alan Wake 2 will also include references to Control, including: fan-favorite janitor Ahti.