13 Alan Wake 2 tips we wish we knew before playing

Having some Alan Wake 2 tips to hand will stand you in good stead as you explore the Pacific Northwest as Saga or the Dark Place as Alan, providing handy pointers to help you survive the perils within. Having spent over 30 hours in Alan Wake 2, I've gathered 13 tips together that I really wish I knew before leaping into one of the best horror games of the year – covering help with combat and ways to expand your inventory, to the finer points of exploration, completing cases, and more. There's a lot to wrap your head around in this labyrinthine game, so these top Alan Wake 2 tips will help you make it through in one piece.

1. Use light to fight enemies

Almost every enemy you encounter in Alan Wake 2 is under the influence of the Dark Presence. So whether fighting the Taken as Saga Anderson or the Fade Outs as Alan Wake, you can't damage your aggressors until you banish the shroud of shadow that surrounds them. Hold R1/RB on the controller to focus the beam of your flashlight on an enemy, temporarily dispelling the darkness to allow you an opportunity to get in a couple of shots. Flares, flashbangs, and propane tanks are also lethal but limited resources.

2. Target weak points for more damage

If you want to help preserve precious ammunition then target weak points on your enemies. Head shots on smaller foes will cause them to stagger if hit in quick succession, while larger bodies will have glowing red orbs that you can hit for loads of damage. Getting a shot at these isn't always easy tough, so remember to dodge out of the way of lumbering attacks with L1/LB to give you enough room to maneuver.

3. Explore everywhere as Saga for supplies and upgrades

There's a lot off of the beaten path to help you if take the time to look. While exploring as Saga Anderson in the Bright Falls areas, you can expect to find hidden Alan Wake 2 Cult Stash locations which will refurbish your supplies, lunch boxes to help you level up your weapons, as Alan Wake 2 nursery rhymes that will award you with stat buffing charms. There's also plenty of general resources and fun interactions with the locals out there, so take the time to look around.

4. And look for Words of Power as Alan to improve abilities

With Alan trapped in the looping labyrinth of the Dark Place, survival is easier said than done. Thankfully, you are able to locate hidden Alan Wake 2 Words of Power across the New York City map, claimed by pointing your flashlight at the ring of prose. Once you have activated the word you can head to the Writer's Room at any time to invest the upgrade point.

5. Don't forget to upgrade your weapons

Given how sparse ammunition is throughout Alan Wake 2, you'll want to take every advantage that you can get. One of the most important boosts you can give Saga Anderson surrounds the Alan Wake 2 weapons, each of which can be upgraded from a workbench in the Mind Place. You'll need Manuscript Fragments to alter your arsenal, a crafting component hidden throughout the Bright Falls, Cauldron Lake, and Watery areas. If you don't want to search for these yourself, check out Alan Wake 2 lunch boxes guide for a little assistance.

6. Change up your reality

Alan Wake 2 features an ambitious narrative told across two realities – the Pacific Northwest, where Saga Anderson is investigating a series of ritualistic murders, and the Dark Place, where Alan Wake is trying to escape a looping nightmare. While you can play through each of these storylines linearly, the game does give you the option of jumping between the two characters once you've completed Act 2 of each respective journey. To alternate between realities and change up the story path you're following, be on the lookout for the Janitor's mop and bucket in certain safe rooms.

7. Manage your inventory carefully

Inventory space is limited in Alan Wake 2 so you'll need to pay careful attention to what you're carrying around on your adventure and keep an eye out for the Alan Wake 2 inventory upgrades you can find. If you're partial to exploring every shadowy corner of your environment, you'll quickly find yourself pretty flush with spare batteries, ammunition, and healing items. While the game does give you the option of discarding anything you no longer want to keep, remember that both Alan and Saga can store items in a Shoebox at Break Room locations.

8. Read manuscript pages for more story

As you explore with Saga Anderson, you'll no doubt start locating manuscript pages. Some are given to you throughout the story while others will be found in Break Rooms or around other areas of interest. If a page is critical to the narrative you'll get a small slice of narration from Alan, but to get the most out of them you'll want to head into the Mind Place and over to Saga's desk. It's here where you can enjoy the full narration, with each page offering insight into events that are yet to come or additional context to horrors that have already befallen you.

9. Look out for maps to find your way sooner

Getting around without a map can be tricky and it's possible to walk around blind if you aren't careful when visiting uncharted territories. Once you enter a new location, keep a sharp eye out for a map of the area which will be pinned to a nearby wall and can be completely missed if you're not paying attention. If you're struggling, we have a guide to all of the Alan Wake 2 maps and where you can find them sooner rather than later.

10. Prepare to backtrack as the world changes

As important as exploration is to Alan Wake 2, it's worth remembering that areas will continually open up over time – revealing new secrets, story, and collectibles. For Alan, once you complete a chapter you'll typically find that the Dark Place alters its shape around him, opening up new areas for you to creep through. As for Saga, completing an act of the story will usually see flooding recede in different areas of the Pacific NorthWest. If you can reach Saga's car, you can use it at pretty much any time to return to Bright Falls, Cauldron Lake, and Watery areas.

11. Use the Case Board frequently...

Progression through Saga Anderson's side of the story is dictated by the Alan Wake 2 case board. It's a mission tracker which can be accessed from the back wall of the Mind Place. You'll be introduced to it while looking at the Alan Wake 2 crime scene at the start of the game and you'll be using it throughout the game. Anytime you find a piece of information that can aid you – everything from the nature of the Dark Place, to the status of your murder investigations, to active tracking of side-quests and collectibles – it can be added to the Case Board and open up new opportunities in the world.

12. …and do the same with Alan's Plot Board

When you're playing as Alan Wake you'll be able to use the Plot Board, accessible from the Writer's Room at any time. As you navigate levels you will encounter scenes that you can manipulate in the world by discovering and changing plot elements on this board. When you come to work out how to complete the ritual in Alan Wake 2 for example, you'll be cycling through stories elements to remove some blocked paths and open up the way ahead.

13. Experiment with the Angel Light to find hidden areas and resources

As you explore the Dark Place you'll find that you're able to rewrite pockets of reality with the Angel Lamp, a new tool available to Alan Wake. While its use is mission critical to progression, it can also unveil new areas of the environment – unlocking new Echoes in Alan Wake 2, as well as hidden resources and Words of Power. Crucially, if you're wondering how to find the Dark Place shotgun in Alan Wake 2, it's with the lamp. The Angel Lamp can store up-to four charges of light, each drawn from the environment. As you explore, walk toward bright areas; if you see a reticule appear, this indicates that the light can be drawn into the lamp or deployed to a certain location to warp reality.

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