I. Alan Wake 2 Trophy Roadmap: Your Path to Platinum
- Estimated Trophy Difficulty: 2/10
- Approximate Platinum Time: 15-25 hours
- Offline Trophies: 67 (1, 0, 1, 65)
- Online Trophies: 0
- Missable Trophies: Technically all except story-related if no save before Point of No Return. Realistically only 3 missable with a Point of No Return save: The Koskela Brothers, The Trail of the Writer (due to specific collectibles), and All Smiles (weapon upgrade focused).
- Glitched Trophies: None reported as of Patch 1.000.005 (previous weapon trophy bug fixed).
- Difficulty Affects Trophies?: No, all trophies achievable on Easy difficulty.
- Minimum Playthroughs: 1
- PS4/PS5 Autopop & Save Transfer: No PS4 version available.
- PS4/PS5 Crossbuy: No PS4 version available.
- Free-Roam / Chapter Select After Story?: No chapter select. Manual save before Point of No Return recommended for missed collectibles.
- Manual Saves Supported?: Yes, 3 manual save slots + 1 quick save. Saving only in designated ‘Break Rooms’.
- Release Date: October 27, 2023
Introduction: Welcome to Bright Falls Trophy Hunters
Welcome to the definitive Alan Wake 2 Trophy Guide, your comprehensive roadmap to achieving the Platinum trophy in this highly anticipated survival horror sequel. Alan Wake returns, plunging players back into the eerie and atmospheric world of Bright Falls, this time with a dual protagonist narrative. You’ll step into the shoes of both the titular writer, Alan Wake, and FBI agent Saga Anderson, each navigating their own interwoven stories across 9 compelling chapters.
This trophy guide is designed to help you effortlessly navigate your journey to 100% completion. Earning the Platinum in Alan Wake 2 is a relatively straightforward endeavor, estimated to take between 15 to 25 hours. It requires a single playthrough on any difficulty setting and focuses on strategic collectible hunting, minimal combat challenges, and a few miscellaneous trophies. While Alan Wake 2 features a chapter-based structure, it also incorporates semi-open world exploration, allowing for freedom in how you tackle objectives and collect items.
To ensure a smooth trophy run, it’s crucial to be aware of missable collectibles. While most of the game’s trophies are obtainable until the Point of No Return, certain collectibles, specifically Saga’s Commercial and Alan’s Writer’s Journey videos, are missable and can necessitate an additional playthrough if overlooked. As there is no chapter select feature, diligent collection during your initial playthrough is strongly advised. Utilizing manual saves in separate slots is a wise strategy, providing a safety net to revert to if you miss any crucial items or wish to revisit earlier sections.
Understanding Chapter Structure in Alan Wake 2
Alan Wake 2 adopts a unique chapter structure that differs from traditional linear progression. Both Alan and Saga have their own distinct chapter sets: Saga’s chapters are labeled “Return,” while Alan’s are “Initiation,” each consisting of 9 chapters. The game’s initial phase progresses linearly through the first five chapters (Return 1-2, Initiation 1-3). Upon completing Initiation 3: Haunting, the game unlocks the ability to freely switch between Saga and Alan in Break Rooms. This non-linear structure allows you to experience their stories in your preferred order.
It’s important to note that chapter completion trophies unlock upon finishing specific story segments within a chapter, but the next chapter officially begins only when you reach the designated location for it. For example, defeating a boss in Return 2 will grant the chapter completion trophy, but you will remain in Return 2 until you physically move to the next chapter’s location. This guide will adhere to the in-game chapter naming convention as reflected in save game files for clarity and ease of navigation.
Step-by-Step Trophy Roadmap
To efficiently secure the Platinum trophy in Alan Wake 2, we recommend following this structured roadmap:
Step 1: Initial Playthrough until Initiation 3: Haunting
Begin your Alan Wake 2 journey on any difficulty setting. Focus on playing through the initial five chapters in linear order: Return 0 – Return 2 and Initiation 1 – Initiation 3. During this phase, prioritize collecting all collectibles as you progress through each area. Refer to a comprehensive Alan Wake 2 Collectible Guide to ensure you don’t miss any essential items, particularly the missable ones. Consistent collectible gathering during this early stage minimizes the risk of needing a second playthrough.
Remember to create manual saves periodically in alternating slots as you progress. This practice provides valuable backup points should you need to backtrack or replay sections.
Once you complete Initiation 3: Haunting, you will unlock the ability to seamlessly switch between Alan and Saga in Break Rooms. This pivotal point marks the shift to a more flexible, non-linear gameplay experience.
Step 2: Continue the Story and Collectibles until the Point of No Return
With the ability to switch between characters unlocked, you can now tackle the remaining chapters in any order you prefer. However, for optimal collectible acquisition and story flow, following a structured Alan Wake 2 Collectible Guide is still highly recommended. This ensures you systematically explore each area and gather all items without missing anything.
As you approach the conclusion of Return 6: Scratch, the game will present a clear Point of No Return prompt, forcing a manual save before proceeding. This is your final opportunity to explore and collect any remaining items in Saga’s storyline. Ensure you have thoroughly explored all locations and obtained all desired collectibles before advancing past this point. Be aware that the game world will be permanently set to nighttime after the Point of No Return, which can slightly impact navigation.
For Alan’s storyline, the Point of No Return occurs at the end of Initiation 8: Zane’s Film. However, unlike Saga’s, this point does not trigger a save prompt. Instead, the game automatically switches back to Saga’s perspective, preventing further progress as Alan until Saga’s Point of No Return is surpassed. Therefore, it’s vital to complete all Alan-specific collectibles and activities before reaching the end of Initiation 8. Pay special attention to the four missable Writer’s Journey videos located in Initiation 4: We Sing, Initiation 5: Room 665, Initiation 7: Masks, and Initiation 8: Zane’s Film. Collect these videos when they first become available to avoid missing them.
Step 3: Final Story Completion and Platinum Trophy
After diligently collecting all collectibles with both characters and reaching their respective Points of No Return, create a final manual save. This save will serve as your backup should you wish to revisit the game world after completion. Proceed past the Point of No Return and focus solely on finishing the main story. From this stage onwards, only one collectible remains in Return 8: Deerfest. Beyond this point, your primary objective is to complete the narrative.
Upon completing the game, you will find that Alan Wake 2 lacks both Chapter Select and New Game Plus features. If you missed any collectibles or trophies, you will need to revert to your pre-Point of No Return save to rectify this. However, by following this Alan Wake 2 Trophy Guide and collecting diligently throughout your playthrough, you should unlock the Platinum trophy upon completing the final chapter.
Essential Tips and Tricks for Trophy Hunters
- Difficulty Doesn’t Matter: Feel free to play on Easy difficulty to streamline your trophy hunting experience.
- Collectibles are Key: Focus on grabbing collectibles as you progress to avoid missable trophies and extra playthroughs. Utilize a detailed Alan Wake 2 Collectible Guide.
- Manual Saves are Your Friend: Regularly create manual saves in different slots, especially before major story points or entering new areas.
- Weapon Upgrades: Prioritize fully upgrading a single weapon for the “All Smiles” trophy due to limited upgrade resources.
- Explore Thoroughly: Take your time to explore each area, as many collectibles and resources are hidden off the main path.
- Listen to Dialogue and Observe: Pay attention to in-game dialogue and environmental details, as they often provide clues to puzzles and collectible locations.
Alan Wake 2 Trophy Guide: Detailed Trophy Breakdown
Below is a comprehensive list of all trophies in Alan Wake 2, categorized for easy navigation and with detailed descriptions and strategies for unlocking each one.
| Trophy Name | Icon
