For the most part, every chapter of Alan Wake 2 follows the same format. In her chapters, Saga will frequent her Mind Place to come up with new leads that take her to an Overlap. While the reason changes each time, the mechanics stay the same. Since Return 4 is a very brief chapter, it has been combined with the walkthrough for the next chapter, Return 5: Old Gods. This next chapter is a lengthy one, but here is what Alan Wake 2 players can expect as they progress through Return 5: Old Gods.
Look For Casey
After the cutscene ends, players will take control of Alan. Head towards the door to leave the room. The way outside the building is blocked, so continue to follow the trail of blood. This leads out to the back of the building where players can pick up a shotgun and a flashlight.
The way forward is blocked by darkness. Use the flashlight to clear it out. The moment the darkness clears, players will be attacked by a Taken, so be ready for that by dodging the moment the darkness clears. Go deeper into the forest and loot the box attached to the lamp post. Ammo will be very scarce here, so players must make sure not to miss a single shot.
Continue following the trail and look for Casey. Eventually Alan will pass out again. A cutscene will play, and then this chapter will come to a close as Saga encounters the FBC.
Go to Valhala Nursing Home
As the next chapter begins, open the map to get familiar with the area. Rather than going back to Watery, players will head to a different part of Bright Falls where the Valhala Nursing Home is. Follow this path and make use of the save point if needed.
Further up the path, players will be attacked by two Taken wolves. Deal with them and continue toward the nursing home. There are two buildings on the premise. The first is the Manor and the second is the Wellness Center. Ignore the Wellness Center for now and approach the Manor. Despite the fact that the chapter has already started, it will appear on the screen once players ring the doorbell on the Manor.
Find Odin and Tor
Rose answers the door, and though she seems unwilling to have Saga see Tor and Odin she does agree to let Saga in. Talk to the other residents in the nursing home to learn more about where Odin and Tor are.
There is lots to find here, including Rose's old shrine dedicated to Alan Wake in the Admin's Office on the first floor. There is also a map in the same room. Make sure to loot the various chests and draws throughout the nursing home, as the ammo will be useful later. There is also a save point in the Recreation Room on the second floor.
To progress the story, go to Tor's room on the second floor. His room is trashed. Thoroughly search it and then go to Odin's room and attempt to speak to him. Try talking to him twice to gain the option to profile Odin. There is a different reaction when players profile Odin, and then three more options come up. Completely profile Odin and then place the gathered evidence onto the Case Board.
After that, go toward the trophy room on the second floor to find an old woman looking out the window. Turns out she is a Taken, just like Nightingale and the Deputies. Go downstairs and talk to Rose again.
Search the Wellness Center
Rose will open the door, giving players access to another part of the Nursing Home. The door to the Wellness Center will open. Grab the Wellness Center map that is on the wall just inside. Go into the Patient area and search Patient Room 102. There will be a bed with bloody bandages on it and two pieces of evidence that can be gathered.
The Dispensary contains a save point and a shoebox for storage. When ready, continue south through Rehabilitation. Attempting to follow Tor results in a jumpscare followed by the door locking. Go out into the hallway and toward the office.
From the office, go north toward the Workshop and Security Room. In the Security Room, there is a computer that requires a password to unlock. While there are hints around the room, the password is 170823. One of the dates circled on the August 2023 calendar. Use the computer to unlock the door. Before doing anything else, leave the Security Room and head north toward Ward Reception.
Go to the Staff Lounge and enter the check in station to find a door knob below the desk. Insert this door knob to open the door to the workshop where the Rifle is. Return to the door that got locked while pursuing Tor, and be ready to encounter a very disturbing Taken. Shoot it till it disappears and then remove the darkness blocking the door. Be vigilant, as the Taken is still alive. Shoot it a couple more times and it won't get back up.
Find Tor
Based on the hammer embedded on the wall and the bandages on the floor, it appears that Tor went through the kitchen. This path leads back outside where a cutscene occurs. After it is over, approach Rose who is sitting on the nearby bench. She doesn't give any answers, but she does become an option for profiling. Investigate all leads and then talk to Rose again.
Rose gives players a key that provides more access to the rest of the facility. In addition, another option for profiling Odin unlocks. In order to open the way into another Overlap, players must track down a record that is in the museum.
Go back into the nursing home and go to the second floor toward Room 207. With Rose's keyfob, players will have no trouble gaining access to this room. On the ground is a collectible where the record would have been. After a jumpscare, players gain the ability to profile Cynthia. Do this three times and then head to Cynthia's room on the third floor. Cynthia is bound and determined to keep players out, and the power goes out when players attempt to unlock her room.
Restore Power
Per Ahti's advice, go down to the basement. In order to enter the basement, go outside to the location depicted in the image above. There will be a door here. Go down into the basement and look for a fusebox. Once again, players will have to find a fuse to replace the broken one. On the north side of the basement, look for an open crawlspace. This leads to the storage room where there is a locked box with fuses in it.
The code for the lock box is in the laundry room. There is note in this room that reveals that the code is 273. Return to the lockbox and open it to get a fuse. Return to the fusebox and insert the fuse to restore power to the nursing home. While heading back upstairs, use Rose's keyfob to open a small side room with supplies in it. Head back up to Cynthia's room and use the keyfob to go inside.
In this room, players will find some references to the story of the first Alan Wake along with several pieces of evidence. After throughly searching the room, profile Cynthia again. To progress the story, enter the bathroom and use the flashlight to burn away the darkness that covers the bathtub. Pick up the record.
Perform the Ritual
Return to the Stage on the first floor. Keep an eye out for two Taken that roam around on this floor. Insert the record into the jukebox and then go outside to where the bright light is. Go into the pond and approach it to enter the Overlap.
Explore the narrow corridors. At one point, players will end up in a loop that begins with seeing the message "Beware of the Drowned Lady" on the wall. When this happens, turn around and go the other way to get out of the loop. Follow this path to eventually reach a generator. This allows players to activate the nearby switch, which turns on lights and changes the environment like in one of Alan's chapters.
Open the gate to proceed. As usual, this begins the loop part of an Overlap. This time, when players end up at the part with the looping corridor with the message they will come across a dead end. Turn around and go back to end up in a new area. Look for a crawlspace and go through it. There will be some supplies on the other side. Go back and then go up the stairs to come across another light switch and a locked cabinet that requires a key.
Flip the switch, look around for more supplies, and then flip the other switch. One of the nearby cabinets will have the key in it. Turn the first switch off to bring back the locked cabinet and use the key to obtain the Bolt cutters. Turn off the other light to reveal the gate that can only be opened by using the Bolt cutters. Go down the ladder and up the nearby stairs to begin the next loop.
Get the Lights On
Follow this route to reach a new area. Attempt to use the control panel in the middle of this room. There is a lot of water in this room, and players will not want to spend much time in it. Quickly move to each little platform to avoid Cynthia. Go out to the outer ring of this room and head left. Move from one safe spot to another. Follow this path to eventually reach a generator. Activate it and then run to the right to get up onto a platform that leads back to the center.
Drop down and run as fast as possible to the platform in the middle of the room. Activate the switch to turn on the lights remove all the dark water. Not only does this make it safe to move around the area, but also it opens up a stairwell that leads further down. But be ready for a fight.
How to Beat Cynthia
As soon as players enter the lower floor, the dark water returns and Cynthia finally goes on the offensive. She will float around in the air and launch projectiles at players. Run around and dodge these projectiles. The flashlight can destroy the projectiles as they home in. Keep shooting Cynthia between attacks and eventually she will land on the ground. Destroy her shield with the flashlight and damage her until she goes back up. Repeat this process until she dies. After the cutscene, talk to Tor.
He will tell Saga to speak to him inside her Mind Place. Profile every option provided for Tor to progress the story. Then talk to Tor and then use the Bolt Cutters to open the nearby gate. Head back to the save point to the east. This walkthrough will shift back to Alan's next chapter.
Alan Wake 2 is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
