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Alan Wake 2 Difficulty Settings explained

Ready for the challenge?

Alan Wake 2 offers players a selection of three difficulty settings, each with its own set of unique challenges. Here’s an overview of the difficulty settings in Alan Wake 2 and what you can expect from each one.

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All difficulty settings in Alan Wake 2 

As mentioned, Alan Wake 2 offers three distinct difficulty settings: Story Mode, Normal Mode, and Hard Mode. Here’s what you can expect in each mode: 

Story Mode

The first difficulty setting in Alan Wake 2 is aptly named “Story Mode.” In this mode, combat encounters will be non-threatening, allowing players to focus on solving the game’s mystery. If you prefer a more relaxed and story-driven experience, where combat poses little challenge, then Story Mode is the perfect choice for you.

Normal Mode

For those who prefer a more well-rounded gameplay experience, Alan Wake 2 offers the Normal difficulty setting. In Normal Mode, combat encounters are more challenging than in Story Mode, requiring strategic thinking and resource management to overcome the threats that await you. It strikes a delicate balance between mystery-solving and survival, offering an experience that caters to a wide range of players.

In Normal Mode, you’ll need to make careful use of items and resources to stay alive. Batteries and ammunition are limited, so conservation becomes crucial. Every decision matters as you navigate through the game’s immersive environments and face off against formidable enemies.

Hard Mode

If you’re an experienced gamer who loves a big challenge, then Hard Mode is totally for you. In this mode, combat gets way more intense. Enemies will be super tough, always attacking, and have loads of health, making every fight a real test of skill and strategy. Hard Mode is made for players who know their way around survival horror games and are ready to take on tough enemies and not much stuff to work with. 

Nightmare Mode

For those people who want an even bigger challenge beyond the first difficulty settings, there’s a great surprise from Remedy Entertainment. The game includes a New Game Plus mode, which lets players start a new playthrough with all the weapons and upgrades they’ve unlocked before. And the best part? There’s a Nightmare difficulty within the New Game Plus mode that promises to be super scary and intense. 

Although we don’t know all the details yet, the name Nightmare makes it feel really intense. It makes you think that there will be fewer resources, tougher enemies, and a much harder time surviving than ever before.

How to change the difficulty in Alan Wake 2?

You can change difficulty modes whenever you want. All you have to do is pause the game and select the Difficulty option. This will bring up a difficulty menu where you can switch between modes based on your preferences and skills. However, if you decide to switch difficulty modes during battles, you will have to start again from a recent checkpoint.


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Image of Karan Yadav
Karan Yadav
Karan is a freelance writer who devotes his time playing games and covering informative guides across various publications, including Destructoid! His favorite games include Genshin Impact, The Legend of Zelda, and GTA V.