Return 1: Invitation

Follow our comprehensive walkthrough for Alan Wake 2: The Lake House's 'Return 1: Invitation' mission. Uncover clues, find collectibles, and progress through Saga Anderson's investigation at Cauldron Lake.

Walkthrough:

1. After the opening credits, Saga Anderson and Alex Casey arrive at Cauldron Lake. Examine the map on the noticeboard where Alex is standing to unlock the Cauldron Lake map and a related trophy.
2. Open your inventory (△ button) to find a pistol, 12 bullets, and Logan's Charm (1/18), which increases Saga's maximum health. Finding all 14 unique Charms unlocks a trophy.
3. Follow Alex along the path to meet Mulligan, then Deputy Thornton at the crime scene. Learn that the victim's heart was removed and that witnesses are at the sheriff's station.
4. Climb through the hole in the fence and head north. Saga will mention the Case Board. Open the Case Board (touchpad right) to enter the Mind Place.
5. In the Mind Place, examine the pictures on the Case Board. There are no immediate actions here. Close the Case Board (touchpad again) to leave.
6. Follow Alex down the stairs and jump down. Examine the Mirror Peak sign if desired.
7. Continue down the slope to a wider track. The left path is blocked. Turn right up the track, then left down another trail to a viewing platform.
8. Follow the trail of colored stones to find an Alex Casey Lunch Box (1/21) in the corner. Open it for two manuscript fragments, used for weapon upgrades. You can view potential upgrades in the Mind Place, but you'll need at least 12 fragments for any. Finding all 21 lunch boxes unlocks a trophy.
9. Examine the Mortar Falls sign if desired. In the Mind Place, add the 'Alex Casey Lunch Boxes' case to the Case Board and answer the questions, adding the lunch box photo to the 'Cauldron Lake Area' question.
10. Rejoin Alex and continue down the slope. At a fork, take the left path towards the General Store.
11. Find Deputy Thornton at a picnic table. Go inside the General Store, switch on your torch (◯ button), and search the table for notes.
12. In the next room, collect playing cards and poker chips to recover a clue.
13. Back outside, follow the trail north past the blockage to find another Alex Casey Lunch Box (2/21) by fallen trees. Open it for one manuscript fragment.
14. Return to Alex and Thornton and follow them to the murder scene.
15. Examine the body to obtain a Key Image.
16. Go to the Mind Place and place the 'Cauldron Lake Murder Scene' key image on the Case Board to start the 'Murder at Cauldron Lake' investigation. Add the 'Consistent with Prev. Murders?' question.
17. Leave the Mind Place. Examine the body again for clues: bruising on wrists, heart, chest trauma.
18. Back in the Mind Place, add these three clues to the 'Consistent with Prev. Murders?' question. Saga concludes the murder is consistent with previous cases, unlocking 'The Victim?' and 'The Killer(s)?'.
19. Return to the crime scene. Speak to Thornton to identify the victim as Robert Nightingale, a former FBI agent.
20. Examine the victim again, noting blood spatter. Examine footprints by markers