How long is Alan Wake 2?

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October 8, 2025: We updated this guide as Alan Wake 2 is included in the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for October 2025.

If you want to know how long Alan Wake 2 is, the answer to that question will depend heavily on your approach to the game, and whether you plan to take in the sights across Bright Falls or blast your way through the shadow monsters as quickly as possible. There's a semi-open world structure to Alan Wake 2 and the option to switch between two linear story branches, with each featuring multiple maps that expand as you progress through the chapters and are filled with collectibles that may offer a significant distraction. Here's what you need to know about how long it takes to complete Alan Wake 2.

How long to beat Alan Wake 2?

Alan Wake 2 length — (Image credit: Remedy)

Having spent a lot of time with the game, here's how long it should take you to beat Alan Wake 2 by varying playstyles:

Just the story: 18-20 hours
Standard playthrough: 20-24 hours
Completionist: 28-30 hours
Standard playthrough and New Game Plus: 40+ hours

I completed the game to finish my Alan Wake 2 review and I was honestly a little surprised by just how long it took to beat. If you're shooting for a full completionist run, looking to collect all things like the hidden Nursery Rhyme locations in Alan Wake 2, then you can expect the game to easily push towards the 30 hour mark.

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The game's length also varies based on which of the Alan Wake 2 difficulty modes you pick, with higher difficulties adding extra time. If you're up for a serious challenge and for maximum game completion, you'll need to complete the game a second time in Alan Wake 2 New Game Plus mode which includes a new ending.

I will say, I personally think it's well worth taking your time with Alan Wake 2. Collectibles aren't just there for achievement hunters either, with all of the hidden Alan Wake 2 lunch boxes and mysterious Words of Power in Alan Wake 2 acting as the keys to improving your survivability. It's how you upgrade all of the Alan Wake 2 weapons that Saga can wield, and how you increase the stopping power of Alan in the Dark Place. Taking the time to really explore is also how you get the finer details of the story before you reach closing stage of the game with missions like the Alan Wake 2 come up with a new plan objective that start to funnel you into the end game.

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Josh West is Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar+. He has over 18 years of experience in both online and print journalism, and was awarded a BA (Hons) in Journalism and Feature Writing. Josh has contributed to world-leading gaming, entertainment, tech, music, and comics brands, including games™, Edge, Retro Gamer, SFX, 3D Artist, Metal Hammer, and Newsarama. In addition, Josh has edited and written books for Hachette and Scholastic, and worked across the Future Games Show as an Assistant Producer. He specializes in video games and entertainment coverage, and has provided expert comment for outlets like the BBC and ITV. In his spare time, Josh likes to play FPS games and RPGs, practice the bass guitar, and reminisce about the film and TV sets he worked on as a child actor.