Alan Wake 2: Do You Need to Play the Original Alan Wake Before Playing the Sequel?

Remedy Entertainment’s highly anticipated video game, Alan Wake 2 was finally released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on 27 October 2023 after being in development for almost 13 years. Since the game is a sequel to Alan Wake (2010), gamers are now wondering if they will have to play the first game in order to understand the premises of the second one. Many people who played the game back in 2010 have faint memories of the game, so is playing the game once again really worth your time?

Technically, no. Remedy Entertainment has set up Alan Wake 2 in such a way that it also introduces new players to the franchise. However, one can play Remedy Entertainment’s Control video game and Alan Wake (2010) before Alan Wake 2 for a better understanding of the universe.

Also read: Alan Wake 2’s Sam Lake Wants to Move onto a “crazy, huge budget, dark gothic fantasy” Game, Potentially

Do you need to play Alan Wake (2010) to understand Alan Wake 2?

Fans finally got the sequel of Remedy Entertainment’s 2010 video game Alan Wake after 13 long years. With positive reviews, 2023’s Alan Wake 2 has been crowned as one of the best games of 2023 by many esteemed video game critics, so naturally, many games are trying to understand its hype, but now the question arises: Is it necessary to play Alan Wake (2010) to understand Alan Wake 2?

Thanks to the dual protagonist concept in the game, gamers will not have to play Alan Wake (2010) to understand the sequel. The second game introduces the player to FBI Agent Saga Anderson who goes to Bright Falls, Washington to investigate some ritualistic murders. So, with a completely new story, it is not really necessary to play the previous game.

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Gamers can also play Remedy’s Control to understand the universe

There is no harm in understanding how Remedy Entertainment set up its universe. To have a better understanding of Alan Wake 2‘s Federal Bureau of Control, one can play Remedy Entertainment’s 2019 game Control. In the game, players control Jesse Faden, the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC)’s new Director, who explores the Oldest House – the FBC’s paranormal headquarters.

Another Control game is currently in the works and gamers will have to wait at least until 2025 in order to play the game. For now, gamers new to the franchise can experience the latest Alan Wake game without playing Control or Alan Wake.

Related: Remedy’s Sam Lake hints that Alan Wake May Have Been in the Dark Place Longer than we Think