In Alan Wake 2, while there isn’t a single item officially named the “Forgotten Secret Evidence File,” there are several hidden, missable, or “secret” pieces of evidence in Saga’s Mind Place that players often lose track of or fail to complete.
Depending on which mystery you are trying to solve, the “forgotten” file usually refers to one of the following:
1. The Identity of Mayor Setter (The Most Missable)
This is a “secret” case on the board that many players never finish.
- The Mystery: Throughout Bright Falls and Watery, there are six campaign signs for “Mayor Setter.” If you interact with all of them, a new deduction appears in the Mind Place.
- The Reward: You must then go to the Suomi Hall in Watery to find Mayor Setter (who is actually a very good dog). Petting him grants you the Mayor Setter Charm and completes the “Identity of Mayor Setter” evidence on your board.
2. The Watery Lighthouse Evidence
Many players find their Case Board incomplete because they miss the evidence hidden inside the Watery Lighthouse.
- How to Unlock: You must open all 22 Cult Stashes across the game. The final stash you open will contain the Lighthouse Key.
- The Clue: Inside the lighthouse, you’ll find manuscript pages and FBC documents that provide unique evidence for the “Cult of the Tree” and “The Story” boards.
3. The “Father” Doll (Nursery Rhymes Secret)
The ultimate “secret” of the Nursery Rhymes case is the Father Doll.
- The Process: You must solve all 17 Nursery Rhyme puzzles. Once the final one is completed, you must head to the Witchfinder’s Station in Cauldron Lake.
- The Evidence: A final, complex puzzle triggers there that rewards you with the Father Doll and a piece of evidence that effectively “solves” the paranormal nature of the rhymes on Saga’s board.
4. The “For Later” Bug (The “Forgotten” Clues)
A common point of frustration for players is a set of evidence pieces (specifically in “The Story” and “Fact vs. Fiction” cases) that stay stuck with the tag “For Later.”
- The Reality: For a long time, these were considered bugged. However, in the Final Draft (New Game+), many of these clues finally become placeable as you uncover the expanded ending and Alice Wake’s final messages.
- Note: Clues like “How does the Dark Presence corrupt people?” are notoriously difficult to trigger and often require specific profiling of Cynthia Weaver or Tor Anderson at exact narrative moments.
5. The “Identity of the Cult” (Parade Float Clue)
A specific “forgotten” mistake occurs in Return 3: Local Girl. If you collect the items for the Parade Float (the knife and the cassette player) before examining the float itself, you are permanently locked out of two clues for the “Cult of the Tree” board. The game fails to register that you “investigated” the need for these items, leaving a permanent gap on your board.
6. Final Draft Secret Evidence
In the Final Draft (NG+), there is a unique piece of evidence involving a photo of Alan with a Bullet of Light in his forehead. This appears as an “Echo” or a physical item that Saga can use to reach a new deduction regarding the loop (or spiral) Alan is trapped in.
GGC