Alan Wake 2 New Game Plus: How It Works
Yes, Alan Wake 2 has a New Game Plus mode, and it is not just a simple replay with your upgrades. It is called “New Game Plus� and it unlocks after you finish the main story, offering a fresh playthrough that carries over your weapons, upgrades, and collectibles, while also adding a new ending and a harder difficulty. Here is everything you need to know about how it works, what carries over, and how to access it.
What Is New Game Plus in Alan Wake 2?
New Game Plus is a post-game mode that lets you start the story over from the beginning while keeping progress from your completed save file. In Alan Wake 2, this mode is designed for players who want to experience the story again with all their upgrades and gear, but it also adds a twist: a new ending that you can only see in this mode. The mode is available for both the main campaign and the Night Springs expansion, though the expansion’s New Game Plus works slightly differently (more on that later).
How to Unlock and Start New Game Plus
To unlock New Game Plus, you must first finish the main story of Alan Wake 2. Once the credits roll and you return to the main menu, you will see a new option appear. Here’s how to start it:
- Complete the final chapter of the main story (the chapter called “Return� – the finale).
- From the main menu, select “New Game Plus� instead of “New Game� or “Continue.�
- Choose your difficulty. You can pick any difficulty, but the game recommends “Nightmare� for a real challenge. Note that you can only select a difficulty equal to or higher than the one you completed the game on; you cannot drop down to an easier setting.
- Select the save file you want to carry over. The game will use your most recent completed save, but you can choose any completed save slot.
- Confirm and start. The game will begin from the very first chapter, but with your carried-over progress.
If you have not finished the game, the option will be grayed out. Make sure you are on the latest patch, as the mode was added in a free update shortly after launch.
What Carries Over and What Resets
Understanding what transfers is key to planning your run. Here’s the breakdown:
- Weapons and upgrades: All weapons you unlocked (like the revolver, shotgun, crossbow, and flare gun) and all their upgrade levels carry over. You keep every weapon upgrade you purchased with manuscript fragments.
- Inventory and resources: Your inventory, including ammunition, first aid kits, batteries, and other consumables, carries over. However, you start with a fresh inventory at the beginning of the game, so you’ll have to re-collect items as you progress.
- Collectibles: All manuscript fragments, lunch boxes, nursery rhymes, and other collectibles you found in your first playthrough are carried over. This means you don’t have to re-find them for achievements, but you can still find new ones if you missed any.
- Character progression: For Alan, his “Writer’s Journey� upgrades (like the ability to carry more items) carry over. For Saga, her “Case Board� and “Profiling� upgrades also carry over. However, you do not carry over any “Weapon Charms� or “Inventory Charms� – those are tied to specific playthroughs.
- Story progress: All story progress resets, so you start from the very beginning. You’ll have to redo all story missions, but you’ll have all your gear.
One important note: you do not carry over any “New Game Plus� exclusive items from a previous New Game Plus run. Each NG+ run is self-contained; you can’t stack multiple NG+ runs to get infinite upgrades.
New Ending and Exclusive Content
The most compelling reason to play New Game Plus is the new ending. The original ending of Alan Wake 2 has a post-credits scene that hints at more. In New Game Plus, you get an extended ending that adds a new scene after the credits, which sets up the story for the upcoming DLC and the next game. This new ending is only available in New Game Plus, so if you want to see the full story, you have to play it.
Additionally, New Game Plus adds a new difficulty level called “Nightmare� that is only available in this mode. Nightmare makes enemies tougher, reduces your resources, and changes some enemy placements. It’s designed for players who want a challenge after mastering the base game.
Does New Game Plus Apply to the Night Springs Expansion?
Yes, the Night Springs expansion (which is a separate campaign with three episodes) also has a New Game Plus mode. However, it works a bit differently. Night Springs is a shorter, more arcade-like experience, so the New Game Plus there does not carry over any upgrades (since the expansion has its own progression system). Instead, it simply unlocks a harder difficulty and lets you replay the episodes with any unlocked characters or weapons from that expansion. To access it, you must first complete all three episodes of Night Springs on any difficulty.
Common Problems and Misconceptions
Players often run into a few issues or misunderstandings with New Game Plus:
- “I finished the game but the option is grayed out.� This can happen if you didn’t actually complete the final chapter, or if you are on an older patch. Make sure you have the latest update installed.
- “I lost my save file.� New Game Plus requires a completed save file. If you deleted it or started a new game without finishing, you won’t have the option. Always keep a backup of your completed save.
- “I can’t choose an easier difficulty.� That’s by design. You can only choose a difficulty equal to or higher than your previous completion. So if you finished on Normal, you can pick Normal or Hard, but not Easy.
- “My collectibles don’t show as collected.� They do carry over, but the game may not show them on the map until you revisit the area. The achievement/trophy for collecting all of them will pop when you have them all, even if you don’t re-find them.
- “Can I play New Game Plus multiple times?� Yes, you can, but each run is independent. You can’t stack upgrades from multiple runs.
Is New Game Plus Worth Playing?
If you loved Alan Wake 2 and want more, absolutely. The new ending alone is worth it for story completionists. The challenge of Nightmare difficulty adds replay value for those who enjoy a tougher combat experience. And since you keep your upgrades, you can steamroll through early sections, which can be a fun power fantasy. However, if you’re not interested in the story or the challenge, it’s not required. The base game’s ending is satisfying on its own, and the NG+ ending is more of an epilogue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I unlock New Game Plus in Alan Wake 2?
Finish the main story. After the credits, the option will appear in the main menu. If it doesn’t, update the game.
Q: Do I keep my weapons and upgrades in New Game Plus?
Yes, all weapons, weapon upgrades, and character upgrades carry over. You also keep collectibles, but you start with a fresh inventory of consumables.
Q: Is there a new ending in New Game Plus?
Yes, there is an extended ending with a new post-credits scene that is only available in New Game Plus.
Q: Can I change the difficulty in New Game Plus?
You can choose any difficulty equal to or higher than your previous completion. You cannot go lower.
Q: Does New Game Plus work for the Night Springs DLC?
Yes, but it doesn’t carry over upgrades. It just unlocks a harder difficulty and lets you replay episodes.
Q: Can I play New Game Plus more than once?
Yes, but each run is separate. You cannot carry over items from one NG+ to another.
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