The subway tunnels in Alan Wake 2 are a part of the fourth chapter in the game ‘Initiation Two: Casey.’ This is also the second chapter where you will play Alan instead of Saga. Following Alan’s side of the story, this chapter takes you to the subway tunnels under New York to find a way out of the Dark Place.
While you need to solve many puzzles before entering the tunnels, navigating the tunnels can be more difficult for you to find a way out if you have no direction to follow. We’re here to help.
How To Complete The Caldera Station Scene
After you use the second light source in the underground entrance at the Caldera Station, you will finally see the entry gate where you can use your subway pass. As you approach the platform, you will turn left to trigger a piece of writing narrated by Casey (called ‘Echo’).
On the platform, you will see a dark and bright orb. The Echo is triggered by aligning the bright orb behind the dark orb in your field of view.
This Echo inspires Alan to rewrite his story, incorporating the ‘Missing FBI Agent’ Plot Element. Return to the writer’s room and add this Plot Element to the Caldera Street Station Scene on the Writer’s Board.
Before going any further, you can aim your flashlight at the window of the parked train (first window only) to discover more Words of Power.
When you add a new plot element to a scene on the Writer’s Board, you will change the scene’s layout in the game. Now, you will see a blood trail from where you first saw the Echo. Follow the blood trail to progress further into the tunnels.
Follow The Blood Trail Into The Tunnels
The blood trail will lead you to a pool of blood with an FBI detective badge. Follow the bloody footsteps into the tunnel until you reach dark shadows with a door on your left.
Take the staircase past this door into the next tunnel and reach its right end. Here, you will come across a saving checkpoint accompanied by a jumpscare.
Outside the break room saving point, you can collect the subway station map next to its door.
Follow the blood trail after saving your game. The blood trail will disappear behind a barricade next to a train. You need to enter the train and cross it to reconnect with the blood trail again. The blood trail will lead you to a new scene called the Collapsed Tunnel on your writer’s plot board.
How To Start The Collapsed Tunnel Scene
When a new scene appears in the plot, add the Missing FBI Agent plot element to the scene to change the area’s layout. However, you must find more plot elements to escape the Dark Place and investigate the tunnels further.
When you change the scene’s layout for the first time, the Blood trail will reappear, and you will hear another Echo near it. However, this Echo will not give you a new Plot Element this time.
To find the next Echo, take the new path on your right after the layout change. Here, you will find a light source that can be collected to change the closed area into another tunnel.
Before taking the light source, you can search the blue lockers inside the room behind the light for some extra loot. You will also find Words of Power on the shelf opposite the lockers. Shine your flashlight on the shelf to collect the Words of Power.
Inside the newly formed tunnel, you spot another Echo, which can be aligned by looking straight toward the tracks. This Echo will give you your second Plot Element called ‘Murder Cult.’ Head back to the blood trail and add the second Plot Element to the Collapsed Tunnel scene to shift its shape again.
Watch out for the dark shadows in the tunnel on your left. While the dark shadows in the tunnel with the Echo are harmless, the aberrations in the parallel tunnel will attack you on your way back.
Adding the second plot element to the scene will only change the setting of the Collapsed Tunnel by adding an alter with a Detective Casey book on the tracks. You must find another plot element for the scene to make a new path.
How To Complete The Derailed Tunnel Scene
Now that you have a new light source in your Angel Lamp, head back towards the dislodged train you crossed earlier. On your right, there is a door with a blue light. The passage across the door will be submerged in water. Use the light source here to open your path to the Shrine St. Platform.
As you exit the doorway and turn right, you can spot a set of lockers on the wall at the end of the hallway. You can loot these lockers to restock your supplies.
As you follow the hallway, you will hear a strange humming sound coming from the door on your right. If you follow this sound, you will encounter Sherif Breaker, who will share a map of the subways and some extra supplies with you.
How To Reach The Derailed Train
Follow the hallway to its end until you get to another door. As soon as you open this door, you will be ambushed by a dark shadow from the other side. Have your flashlight and revolver ready to target the dark shadow.
Moving forward, you will reach another save point where you save your progress. After saving your game, approach the television in the back to collect the Murder Sites – Writing. When you gather everything, climb the ladder on the left side of the save station. You will now reach the third scene, called the Derailed Train.
How To Rewrite The Derailed Train
As the name suggests, you have now encountered a Derailed Train blocking your way forward. You must apply a suitable plot element to the scene to proceed further. In this case, the Murder Cult plot element does the trick.
Although the Missing FBI Agent plot element will not rewrite the derailed train, you can apply it to find a walkie-talkie on the ground.
When you apply a Murder Cult Plot Element, the door to your right will open up a new path. Inside the room, you will be attacked by another hostile black shadow using dark projectiles to target you.
The best way to deal with this type of black shadow is to stun it with your flashlight and then target it with your gun.
After you have dealt with the dark shadow, you will encounter another Echo in the room, which can be aligned by walking to the left part of the area and aiming right. This Echo will unlock a new Plot Element called ‘Torch Bearers.’
Applying the Torch Bearers plot element to the Derailed Train Scene will change its condition. You can now enter the train and walk through it to move forward. Once you are at its end, walk through the door on your right outside the train and climb down using the ladder on your left.
Before you go any further, you can unlock more Words of Power by following the arrows on your right. Once the arrow trail ends, shoot the wooden board to reveal the words.
Follow the caved passage on your left to reach the abandoned station.
How To Complete the End of The Line Scene
As you enter the abandoned station, travel across the stairs in front of you. Here, you will encounter a area submerged in water. On your left, you will see a save station where you can replenish your resources. After you save, exit the save station and collect the light source outside.
Collecting the first light source does not affect the position of the save station.
To travel through this area, you must consecutively collect and place multiple light sources with your angel lamp to gradually reveal your way forward. Here is the sequence of light sources you need to capture.
- Get the light source outside the break room.
- Then, walk to your right and collect the light source on the other side of the gate.
- Turn left, walk over to the other side of the wall, and place a light source there.
- Follow the new path until you reach a gate. Place a light source across the gate, opening a path in the previous area.
- Now, go back and collect the light source you placed in step three.
You have now opened a path on your right. Move forward to finally reach the Shrine Street Station. You can turn right from here to reach the End of The Line Scene.
You can also loot around the station to find supplies and healing items, but watch out for the dark shadows lurking around. While some of them will be passive, others will be hostile.
Apply the murder cult scene to the End of The Line scene on your plot board to reveal another Echo. This time, you will get the Plot Element – Summoning Ritual by aligning the spots above the wall with the pages.
Apply the Summoning Ritual Plot Element to the End of The Line scene. Now, head back to the trains parked at the platform to cross the tracks.
As you return, be prepared to fight several dark shadows that will attack you as you approach the trains.
Use your remaining light source near the train cars to change the terrain. Then head to the other side of the tracks from your right. Once on the other side, collect your light source again and turn left. Head straight and walk through the door on your right.
How To Return To The Collapsed Tunnel Scene To Complete It
Once you enter, collect the Words of power on the wall before you. Now, walk across the next door on your right. Turn left and take the stairs to the upper platform on the right side. You will find a much-needed save spot on your right.
Before taking the stairs, you can explore the surrounding area to collect more loot, an Echo, and fight dark shadows.
After using the same spot, open the door before it, walk up the stairs, and open the next door. You will reach the main tunnel with the blood trail near the collapsed tunnel. Now, go back to the location of the Collapsed Tunnel Scene.
Apply the Summoning Ritual Plot Element to the collapsed tunnel scene and walk towards the altar. As you approach the altar, you will be attacked by the Dark Presence. You have no other option but to run to the train cars you just crossed earlier to reach the save spot on your left side of its other end.
Wait for the Dark Presence to go away and approach the altar’s location once again.
Be prepared to run because you are about to get chased again.
When the dark presence reappears, keep running into the caved tunnels until Alan jumps forward and dives into a small cave. Crawl through the small cave to finally reach the murder scene of FBI Agent Nightingale. This will trigger a cutscene and officially mark the end of the subway tunnels.