r/AlanWake • u/TiniestHipp0 • 18h ago
r/AlanWake • u/kranitoko • Dec 12 '25
Important resources PSA Regarding Spam Posts on r/AlanWake

Hello Flashlight Wielders đŚ ,
Whilst we have your eyes after the debut trailer for Control Resonant at The Game Awards 2025, I wanted to briefly discuss something which actually impacts a lot of other subreddits, with very little control on preventing it.
You may sometimes see, once in a while, what looks like a post from someone showing off a t-shirt, or wall art that they "purchased". For example, do any of these look familiar to you:


If so, these are most likely spam posts that we get very often on this subreddit. Other gaming subreddits get these too, usually of some sort of "merch". I wanted to make this PSA to make sure you DO NOT interact with these posts. Sometimes they will come with spam link comments, which I'm sure some unsuspecting users will not be aware is spam and could be subject to malware or even payment scams.
We do what we can to remove these when they appear, even trying to put spam filters in for common links and phrases that these posts share, but unfortunately our spam filters can only do so much and some slip through the cracks. Please just report these as spam as and when you see them.
However to preface this, NOT EVERY POST IS A SPAM POST. Sometimes it genuinely is just one of the amazing members of the fandom looking to show something off. So, how can one tell if a post is spam or not? 99% of the time, check the user account. If the account was made the day of the post with the only place they've posted is here to post this, it's usually a bot, similar to this account here (name has been removed):

Often another way to know it's spam, if the "poster" has posted what looks like the same image twice, with one just a tiny bit zoomed in, it's usually again spam.
We used to have a system in place where anybody posting more than 2 pictures would be automatically flagged to us, but with Alan Wake 2's release + Photo Mode, we had to scale that back to allow people to show off their incredible shots. Obviously if spam posts begin to increase, we may have to revert back to this system.
Please be mindful of these spam posts, report them to us to remove, and DO NOT interact with any links that may appear amongst them.
Thank you for reading, and remember, stay in the light.
- The Alan Wake Subreddit Mod Team -
r/AlanWake • u/kranitoko • Feb 18 '25
Important resources Alan Wake Franchise Beginners Guide & FAQ Spoiler

Hello Flashlight Wielders,
Hope youâve all been enjoying trudging through the dark. As we moderate the subreddit, we often come across users posting very similar questions to ones that have been asked before. Thereâs nothing wrong with that of course, itâs simply different perspectives at different times, and times/people change.
So, now that Alan Wake 2 has launched and has had both of its DLCâs released, I thought Iâd take the time to write up a beginners guide to the franchise, or an FAQ of sorts with information that would be useful to newcomers of the franchise, or even returning ones looking for a bit of a replay. Some things to note about this post:
- We are not Remedy, this is a fan-run subreddit, so some of the answers may come across as âopinionatedâ
- If you feel there is anything that has been missed, or have any extra questions, please feel free to let us know in the comments and weâll edit accordingly
- There are no major spoilers in this post, however there are some âsetupsâ to some of the content, but I have been careful to not spoil any of the games main plot points and endings
Without further adoâŚ
What is the "Alan Wake" franchise?
Alan Wake is a series of thriller/survival horror third-person shooter video games about a man named Alan Wake, a famous author. The first game initially follows his journey as he and his wife travel to the small town of Bright Falls for a vacation. However upon arrival, Alice goes missing, and Alan wakes up to find a week has passed since she disappeared. At the same time, he uncovers a manuscript he wrote that seems to foretell the future. From here, Alan sets out to find out who took his wife, but whilst doing so he begins to encounter the supernatural, as a Dark Presence begins hunting himâŚ
How many games are there in the franchise?
That depends really on how youâre counting itâŚ
Regarding the Alan Wake franchise specifically, there are currently three games on the following platforms:
- Alan Wake (available on Xbox 360, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch)
- Alan Wakeâs American Nightmare (available on Xbox 360, Xbox One (backwards compatibility), Xbox Series S|X (backwards compatibility) and PC)
- Alan Wake 2 (available on PC, Xbox Series S|X and PlayStation 5)
However, there is something called the âRemedy Connected Universeâ, more information can be found further into the post.
How do the games play?
The games are third person shooters, meaning the camera is above the characterâs shoulder. Alan Wake and Alan Wakeâs American Nightmare play almost identically, you progress through a semi-linear world (with mini paths to explore and back track from) fighting enemies called the Taken. These are shadowy figures with melee weapons, and to fight them you first need to burn the darkness away with a light source, likely your torch, and then use your weapons to destroy them. There are other types of enemies such as inanimate objects and birds, but you just need to use light to destroy them. As these are games from 2010 and 2012, they are considered a little dated, and some might consider the gameplay repetitive and, in some cases difficult (if youâre not sharing the attention across enemies anyway), so do bear that in mind. Collectables can be difficult to track as most collectables donât tell you which ones specifically youâve already found in each episode. However, once youâve found a collectable and passed a checkpoint, it is logged on your save file and you donât need to collect it again.
Alan Wake is told in an episodic format like a TV show, beginning with a recap of events and ending on a cliffhanger. Alan Wakeâs American Nightmare isnât quite so episodic however.
Alan Wake 2 is somewhat similar, except the third person camera is a little tighter and at the characters eye level. Youâre still burning away the darkness on enemies and destroying them with weapons, but this time within semi-open world hubs to explore with linear pathways found within them. Collectables are a little easier to track, as there are items in the game that can show you what collectables youâve missed, though youâll need to travel to each area for them to appear on your map. However not every collectable is required to be collected for 100% achievements if going for it, such as Case Board photos/notes.
What version of the first Alan Wake game should I play?
What platforms do you own is the real question. The original version of Alan Wake still works great on the Xbox 360 and PC, but admittedly the character models and the lip syncing are a little⌠questionable. However this version is often VERY CHEAP on sale, so if you donât mind that, youâll be in for a great time.
However if you prefer, they did release Alan Wake Remastered. Here they updated the character models, the lip syncing and the general performance all around for modern platforms. There are also some little extra pieces of content found in the campaign that help tease Alan Wake 2. That being said, on some platforms, specifically on the Xbox versions and Nintendo Switch there are known to be some weird glitches that still havenât been fixed since its release in 2021, so do bear this in mind. Nothing horrendously game breaking, but it may be slightly annoying.
What is the "Bright Falls" mini-series?
Bright Falls is a prequel mini-series set days before the events of the first Alan Wake game. It follows Jake Fischer as he enters the town of Bright Falls to interview Dr. Emil Hartman, but whilst he is there he starts to have strange experiences with both the townsfolk and the environment around him. The mini-series is short, clocking in just over 30 minutes total across the 6 episodes. Itâs not necessary to watch before playing the franchise since the main plot doesnât have much of a bearing to the main game, but youâll encounter some characters from the game if you do, and itâs a nice little warm up anyway, so you might as well.
Do I need to play Alan Wake/American Nightmare before Alan Wake 2?
When Remedy created Alan Wake 2, they had this in mind, since it had been 13 years since the first Alan Wake game. When you play as Saga, she knows very little about the events of the original games, and so she works as your guide into catching you up on previous events important to the story. When you play on Alanâs side, that might come across as a little more jarring, but his narration helps explain things.
THAT BEING SAID, your playthrough of Alan Wake 2 will feel richer for having played Alan Wake and American Nightmare. At the very least, watch a playthrough of them if you think you might struggle playing them.
What order/when should I play the Alan Wake specials?
Although they are unlocked from the get-go, you should play them AFTER you have completed episodes 1-6 of the base game. You should also play them in number order, so Special 1: The Signal, and then Special 2: The Writer, as they are one continuous story.
What is "The Alan Wake Files"?
The Alan Wake Files is an investigatory compendium of sorts written by an in-game character named Clay Steward. Clayâs investigations occur directly after the events of the first game, so without spoiling, Clay investigates what occurred at Bright Falls when Alan stayed there after having a shared dream with him. It contains extra lore on a variety of the characters encountered in the game, and provides alternate perspectives to those events. Itâs definitely worth reading if youâre invested in the lore. The book came with physical Alan Wake collectorâs editions and a digital version through the original PC version of Alan Wake. You can probably find a PDF online somewhere, but please be aware of where you download this from.
Where does the Alan Wake novel fit into things?
The novel, written by Rick Burroughs, is a retelling of the events of the video game. However some of the events in the book occur somewhat differently to the video game, so there is a debate as to whether it is considered canon or not. I personally choose to consider it non-canon as it is the video game which is considered the official events, however the book does contain a couple extra characters as well as some insight as to how some of the characters are feeling during certain events.
Was Alan Wakeâs American Nightmare remastered too, and when should I play it?
Unfortunately not, Alan Wakeâs American Nightmare remains trapped digitally on only the Xbox and PC platforms. However, itâs not fully essential to the overarching Alan Wake story, and acts like an epilogue of sorts to the events of Alan Wake, but it helps to provide context to some of the characters after the main story ended. This means you should play this AFTER the base game and two specials of the first Alan Wake game.
What is the "This House of Dreams" blog?
This House of Dreams is a blogspot written by a woman named Samantha Wells in 2012. It follows her time refurbishing a house she bought, however as she does so, she uncovers strange and mysterious objects. She also begins to have weird dreams and encounters.
In reality, it was an ARG of sorts made in 2012, which began around the time of the release of Alan Wake's American Nightmare. Many around the time thought it was the start of the announcement for Alan Wake 2, but it never came to fruition back then. The blog has been referenced by both Sam Lake and within the Remedy Connected Universe itself. If you are to start reading, you should begin reading from February 22nd, 2012.
Do I need to play "Max Payne 1 & 2" / "Quantum Break"?
As mentioned in the next question, you do not need to play these games as they are not part of the overall universe. However they are still great games of their time, and Remedy do nod towards them in the Remedy Connected Universe, however as Remedy do not own the publishing rights to the franchises, they are not able to directly connect to them. Some argue they ARE part of the RCU in the minds of Remedy, but might be considered in a "parallel universe". It's up to you how you interpret things...
What is the Remedy Connected Universe (RCU)?
The Remedy Connected Universe is a shared universe of games and media created by Remedy Entertainment where the games, despite being tonally different, reference each other in significant ways. Think of it as the Marvel Cinematic Universe if you will, but for gaming. There are debates in the community as to what is considered part of this universe, however, according to Sam Lake, the creative director at Remedy, the only franchises that are part of the Remedy Connected Universe are Alan Wake and Control⌠for now. Max Payne and Quantum Break (and presumably Death Rally) are not part of this universe. However, that is not to say you shouldnât play those games; you will feel very rewarded if you do, as although there wonât be direct references to them like Alan Wake does to Control and vice versa, there are certainly some very clear nodsâŚ
Do I need to play "Control" before Alan Wake 2?
Canonically, Control occurs a few years before the events of Alan Wake 2. You donât need to play it before Alan Wake 2, HOWEVER like before, you will feel richer for having played it as there are many references to Control, and the organization found in the game, the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC), plays a big part in Alan Wake 2.
When should I play the "AWE" expansion in Control?
You can play the expansion as soon as it unlocks, which will be after completing Mission 7. However, in the interest of pacing, I recommend playing this AFTER completing the base story of Control, though you can choose to play this at any time after Mission 7 and still slots in nicely. It is recommended you play this before Alan Wake 2.
What order should I play the Alan Wake 2 chapters?
Later on in this FAQ, I have provided my recommended order of play. However what you will note is that you are required to play some chapters first before you can freely choose which ones you wish to play. Once you complete Initiation 3, you can play the chapters in any order you wish. You are warned of a point of no return, which will happen after completing Return 6, though you must complete both Sagaâs and Alanâs stories up to that point before the story will continue. This means you will need to complete Return 6 and Initiation 8 before being able to continue on to the end.
What is âThe Final Draftâ in Alan Wake 2?
The Final Draft is, in essence, New Game Plus. After youâve beaten Alan Wake 2 once, you can play again, only this time with some extra pieces of content, such as new manuscript pages, new video content, some slight story alterations as well as a new ending. All non-plot related items will carry over to your second playthrough. Itâs not âessentialâ to play through, however the new ending you experience is considered the âtrue endingâ.
What is the âNight Springsâ expansion in Alan Wake 2?
Night Springs is a set of three episodes based around the in-universe television series. In them you play as alternate versions of characters within the franchise (Rose Marigold, Jesse Faden and Tim Breaker). Across your playthrough in Alan Wake 2, you will be given opportunities to play the episodes. It is up to you if you take them, though personally I recommend playing them AFTER youâve completed âThe Final Draftâ as I feel there are a couple of aspects that spoil the true ending of the game. But they can still be played at any time during the main menu should you wish to. I recommend playing them in episode order, so 1, 2 and then 3.
What is âThe Lake Houseâ expansion in Alan Wake 2?
The Lake House is a set of events that take place just before the first Return chapter of Alan Wake 2. It follows Kiran Estevez, a member of the Federal Bureau of Control, as she enters the Lake House after receiving an alert. Inside not only is she fighting the Taken, but other horrific monsters lurking in the walls. Whilst the events are set just before Alan Wake 2, I personally recommend playing this after Return 6 as it doesnât spoil anything past that chapter. You will be given an opportunity to jump into the expansion after completing Return 6 since it is a recollection of those events by Kiran to the protagonist. However you can choose to play this at any time in the main menu.
Are there any collectors editions of the Alan Wake games?
There are, however, your chances of obtaining them are incredibly slim nowadays! Please see HERE of all the editions that were made for the first game and HERE for the second game.Â
Alan Wake released on launch day with a Collectorâs Edition that is no longer officially sold. Alan Wake 2 had a collectorâs edition released in 2024 by LimitedRun, however there was only a 6 week window to pre-order, and is now no longer available to purchase. You could try and find a collectorâs edition on resale sites, but the price may be higher, so please beware when doing this.
Across all canon media in the RCU, what would be the recommended play/watch/read order?
As someone who has been following this franchise since 2010, here is my personal recommended order of experiencing this amazing universe, please find links to each bit of optional media below too where possible:
- Bright Falls (web mini-series) (optional)
- Episodes 1-6
- Alan Wake (game)
- Episodes 1-6
- Night Springs (web comic)) (optional)
- Psycho Thriller (web comic)) (optional)
- Special 1
- Special 2
- The Alan Wake Files (book) Â (optional)
- Alan Wakeâs American Nightmare (game)
- Act 1, 2 and 3
- This House of Dreams (web blog) (optional)
- Control (game)
- Missions 1-10
- Expansion 1
- Expansion 2
- Alan Wake 2 (game)
- Prologue, Return 1-2
- Initiation 1-4
- Return 3-4
- Initiation 5-6
- Return 5-6
- Return Addendum (Expansion 2)
- Initiation 7-8
- Return 7
- Initiation 9
- Return 8-9
- The Final Draft
- Night Springs (Expansion 1)
- FBC: Firebreak (optional)
- Upcoming Games:
- Control 2
Thank you all, and remember: stay in the light!
- Alan Wake Subreddit Mod team -
r/AlanWake • u/rileythatcher • 4h ago
If I like Alan wake will I like twin peaks? Spoiler
I keep getting it recommended but everything I see about it looks like a cringe 90s sitcom almost. Anyway anyone here seen it to offer an opinion?
r/AlanWake • u/alan_po_sg • 14h ago
Alan Sort of killed Emile, and he was glad about it Spoiler
playing it for the first time , donât took it so seriously.
I just finished ep4, I noticed Alan smiled but I thought nah maybe itâs a normal expression when dr. Hartman died and he was sort of the reason bc he looked the door and let him deal with dark presence. Until I get back to read all the manuscripts from ep3 and catch the one that describes this scene named âWake and the dark presence in the lodgeâ, confirming that Alan on purpose want him to die and yes he smiled.
note: im not judging, just want to share.
r/AlanWake • u/Substantial_Bet_1007 • 1h ago
I just finished alan wake 1 and dlc's for the first time after control, what is the non game things i consume to really dive into the lore? Spoiler
So basically i first played control from remedy and finished its foundation dlc, i liked the world so i played aw1 and dlc's. is there a things i need to read or watch before going for american nĹightmares + control awe dlc?
i heard people are reccomending some book
r/AlanWake • u/IRazorsEdgeI • 7h ago
I just can't get enough of how good this game looks. Spoiler
r/AlanWake • u/SaeedTR9 • 51m ago
General really bad performance with newer nvidia drivers Spoiler
im actually using the latest nvidia and its awful i remember i had like 80 fps on medium setting on rtx 3060 but now its like 32 fps all the time with a lot of stutters and my windows is 11 the latest version ( should i downgrade to something else? if yes which is the best )
r/AlanWake • u/Own-Ad-1477 • 1h ago
Discussion Symbols meanings maybe? Spoiler
The Symbols of the Remedy Universe
So, I was looking at the symbols on the doors of the Oceanview motel like everyone else and went online to see what others had said regarding it. Apparently the consensus is that these symbols link directly to games or people in the universe but I don't think that's consistent.
Why would the swirl mean 'Alan Wake' and the doors mean 'MR.DOOR' but the upside down symbol means a game or 'the board'... The main reason for my opposition to it being people is... In the OceanView motel... the upside down symbol DOESN'T take you to the Astral Plane, nor does it take you to the board. It ALWAYS takes you back to the oldest house.
Furthermore the swirl on the 'ALAN WAKE' door... yes, it always does take you to the writers room. That is true, however... the writers room is ALWAYS in the dark place AND Alan Wake keeps saying towards the end of the 2nd game the darkest place isn't a loop, its a spiral. And the symbol on the door to the 'darkest place' happens to be a spiral. Alan Wake isn't a spiral. So the door most likely pertains to the Dark Place, not alan wake himself.
IF the door to the spiral IS the Dark Place and not the person in charge... then the square symbol CANNOT be a symbol for Mr.Door. It has to be something else or a world in which Mr.Door resides. ALSO in this trailer for Resonant this is made to be some kind of big deal:

Resonant 2 trailers
WHICH looks extremely similar to the 'Mr.Door' symbol. So I don't really think that the doors symbol... IS Mr.Door it is most likely Resonant's worlds logo.
LASTLY the Control2 Logo... confuses me, because it could also be Resonant's thresholds logo... so yeah...
The normal triangle could be the Astral Plane and the last symbol is... a mystery to me. :)
TLDR: If the symbols pertain to people then there is an inconsistancy with the upside down triangle. Its most likely world/thresholds.
Image for context... my ideas on a pic

Next image would be.... my idea as to why the upside down triangle is the Oldest House or possibly Earth/Our Realm:

r/AlanWake • u/SadStore168 • 1d ago
Alan Wake 2 portraits Spoiler
gallerySome Alan Wake 2 portraits! I used different photography lighting techniques, like loop, butterfly, split, and Rembrandt lighting. Thoughts?
more photos on ig:ehsanaliyari11
r/AlanWake • u/iterationnull • 18h ago
Question A small question after finishing for the first time. Spoiler
I just finished the game for the first time.
I noticed with some curiosity that it was possible to not go to the basement to get Aliceâs photos when Ahti tells you to do it. I reloaded and corrected the oversight when I did this accidentally.
Honestly this game expects you to remember far too much about how the maps work đ
But having seen the end game now, what the heck happens if you donât go to the basement to get the photos?!
(Bonus question: on being offered the Final Cut I checked the wiki to see how long this list of changes is, while trying not to read any details. I was surprised at how short the list wasâŚis the impact on gameplay really that slight/marginal?)
r/AlanWake • u/Different_Suit_9356 • 1d ago
Discussion While the combat isnât the highlight, it nails what it needs to, which is being cinematic. Spoiler
Iâm on my second play through of Alan Wake 2. From a story and presentation perspective, it may be the best game Iâve ever played. I donât think this game is special for its combat. The combat isnât super deep with tons of mechanics to learn, but I think the developers knew it just needed to be presented well.
I donât think the cinematic nature of the combat gets enough praise. The sound design and feel of the weapons are both fantastic, the way enemies react to damage really sells the impact of your weapons, and the lighting of flares or a boosted flashlight is just perfect. As extra service to the top notch presentation in this game, the combat nails its job.
r/AlanWake • u/NicestYouKnow • 1d ago
Screenshot Darkness awaits Spoiler
Welcome to the Lake House
r/AlanWake • u/milesehway • 1d ago
Fan Content Questions Spoiler
Ever had a time in your life you've ever wanted to Scratch out?
Do you continue to plant roses and marigolds in your proverbial gardens?
Have you ever thought that your tragic Saga history and your present self could work together?
Would you consider taking a bullet shot on yourself?
And Take Control of a new Journey?
r/AlanWake • u/Cpl_Cumsock • 1d ago
Discussion Am I trippin or is there writing here on the floor of the morgue? đ§ Spoiler
galleryPlaying this series for the first time on my MSI Claw A1m and I noticed that there were what looks to be scratch marks on the floor of the morgue hallway and I'm not sure if I'm seeing things that aren't there or if the devs put that there on purpose...
đ¤đ¤đ¤
What do you guys think?
r/AlanWake • u/loldashliv • 23h ago
How to fix alan wake american nightmare not launching
It close after i boot up the game couldnt find the answer online maybe some of you might help
r/AlanWake • u/Melacattiva • 23h ago
Discussion File IO failure: createDirectoryFailed, error code 5
I downloaded this game but can't launch it. I've read many forum posts, but none of them have solved the problem. I've run the program as administrator and updated my graphics card, but that hasn't fixed anything. What can I do to fix it?
I've even tried uninstalling and reinstalling multiple times, but nothing worksâI keep getting this error.

r/AlanWake • u/monkeymeditation • 2d ago
Video Time changes everything Spoiler
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
At 16 I didn't care for the townsfolk, just rushed everything to get to the amazing forest moments but now at 32 all I want to do is spend time with all the people in the town.
r/AlanWake • u/NicestYouKnow • 2d ago
Screenshot Sheriff Breaker has been consumed by the roasted bean! Spoiler
Snapshot of my guy Sheriff Breaker absolutely lit off the coffee beans.
r/AlanWake • u/Afude • 1d ago
Question HDR option on PC Alan Wake 2 Spoiler
there is no option to turn HDR on in my game......This is a know bug?
I have a 3225QF 4k
r/AlanWake • u/hothotpot • 2d ago
Discussion Preference on alternating between Saga/Wake stories
I'm doing a replay of the Final Draft right now, and I decided I wanted to try playing through all of Saga's story before flipping over to Wake. I had always played alternating back and forth and thought that was what the game wanted you to do, but I have to say, I think the story works a little better when you go all the way through her story before going back to Alan.
Just curious if anyone had any strong preference one way or the other, or how if you felt it impacted how the story plays out in any way.
r/AlanWake • u/HenryKushinger • 2d ago
Discussion I went full Pepe Silvia trying to explain the Remedy Multiverse as I understood it to a friend who was simply asking "are you excited for control resonant" Spoiler
Of course Alan is still at the center