Do you need to play Alan Wake 1 before Alan Wake 2?
If you’re excited about Alan Wake 2 but not sure if you need to play Alan Wake 1 first, we’re here to break down all your options so you can decide beforehand.
With a sequel finally here after 13 years, you may be wondering whether or not you need to play Alan Wake 1 before Alan Wake 2, so we’re here to provide you with some stellar advice to help make your mind up.
Before the sequel, players would have to rely on some of the best games like Alan Wake to get their fill of macabre murder mysteries, and during its 13-year hiatus, it may be a little tough to remember exactly what went on during the events of the first game.
So, we’re here to answer the question of whether or not you need to dive into the first Alan Wake before checking out the sequel.
- If you’re curious about the PC requirements for Alan Wake 2, be sure to check out our guide to ensure you can run the game as smoothly as possible
Do you need to play Alan Wake 1 before Alan Wake 2?
While it would certainly be helpful (and I’d advise it), you don’t strictly need to play Alan Wake 1 if you’re looking to dive straight into Alan Wake 2.
As you progress, various blanks get filled in as to how Alan and Saga, a new addition to the series, came to be in their various circumstances.
While it doesn’t always stand alone without the original game, various elements from the previous iteration are explained through detective reasoning and narrative beats.
Additionally, Remedy Entertainment kindly provides a recap, above, so that players can get a TL;DR of the story so far after 13 years.
However, the original is an absolute masterclass of storytelling, and so easy to get hold of now… as you’ll see as you read below.
- If you’re looking for more ways to play, find out if you can play Alan Wake 2 on Steam Deck
How to play Alan Wake 1 right now
If you do decide you want to play Alan Wake 1 before you play Alan Wake 2, and you don’t own the original hardware it came out on, your best option is to pick up Alan Wake: Remastered, which was released in 2021.
With updated graphics and even haptic feedback used on the PlayStation 5, it has rapidly become the definitive way to play the original game. It is available on the following platforms:
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series X|S
- PlayStation 4
- PlayStation 5
- Nintendo Switch
- PC
With this wide range of platforms to play on, you’ll have ample opportunity to play Alan Wake 1 before Alan Wake 2 and explore Bright Falls at your own pace.
That’s everything you need to know about whether or not you have to play Alan Wake 1 before Alan Wake 2. Hopefully, this guide has proved helpful before you dive into Cauldron Lake. While you’re here, check out all the difficulty settings you can expect to find in Alan Wake 2 so you’re prepared for the spooky journey.
About The Author
Jack Roberts
Jack is a Guides Writer at GGRecon. With a BA (Hons) & MA in English and Creative Writing, he was also the Gaming Editor for The Indiependent. When not pondering which game has the best cup of coffee (and drinking far too much of it himself), he can often be found playing Dead by Daylight, Street Fighter or making yet another build in Bloodborne.
