Fact Vs. Fiction is a Background Case in Alan Wake 2, viewable on the Case Board in Saga Anderson's Mind Place. It is available from Return 3: Local Girl onward and covers Saga's overarching investigation into the altered reality created by Alan Wake and Scratch's manuscript Return, as well as her own family history.
In the format below, text in italics is tooltip text that only appears when a relevant clue is hovered over on the case board.
Cases tab description[]
- Case in progress:
- According to Wake, the story is changing people's memories. What is fact and what is fiction?
- Case solved:
- Wake's story generated a strange and surreal alternate life for me. But it also revealed something: I DO have roots in this town.
FACT VS. FICTION[]
| Image | Description | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| FACT VS. FICTION According to Wake, the story is changing people's memories. That's why they think they know me. But I'm not a character, I'm real. Need to track what's part of the story and what isn't. |
Talk to the Koskela Brothers during Return 3 |
Wake says the story will change reality around us. If that’s true, then I need to know what’s real and what’s fiction. 
- ― Saga Anderson, case start (MP_METACASE_FAMILY_DEDUCTION_FAMILY_PHOTO_SAGA_24116)
WHICH PARTS ARE FALSE? WHICH (IF ANY) ARE REAL?[]
- Completion text:
- Left David, moved to Watery with Logan, left after Logan DID NOT drown.
- TRUE: Mom from Watery, Tor + Odin related to me, the Mind Place is family power, not technique.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Ilmo: Owned the trailer park where I supposedly lived. Calls me his "funniest resident." Finally someone appreciates my jokes. But seriously, what kind of life did I live here? Ilmo Koskela: "Uh, yeah, I’m pretty sure the owner of the Watery Lighthouse Trailer Park, me, can help with that. Good to have our funniest resident back." (QUOTE_M_FAMILY_ILMO_18026) |
Start the case | |
| Rose: Recognized me in the diner at Bright Falls. Says I moved away after Logan died. Logan is NOT dead. But what else did the story change about her life? Knowing might help me fight this thing. Rose Marigold: "She... drowned? Your daughter. That’s so weird you don’t remember." (QUOTE_M_FAMILY_ROSE_18027) |
Meet Rose during Return 1 | |
| Odin: Claims he is my grand-uncle and that Tor is my grandfather. So the story is giving me wacky relatives now? Still, there's something off about these guys... Odin Anderson: "He is your grandfather, and I am the All-Father!" |
Meet the Anderson Brothers during Return 3 |
- I know what is real, and what isn’t. A megalomaniac writer can’t make me doubt that. I have more family than I even knew, and I need to protect them all.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_METACASE_FAMILY_DEDUCTION_FALSE_VS_REAL_SAGA_24117)
MY LIFE IN WATERY...?[]
- Unlocked by: "Ilmo: Owned the trailer park where I supposedly lived"
- Completion text:
- The story says I left David and job for a trailer.
- This is not me.
- This is not my life.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Book of pun jokes from Ilmo Looks like it was a present... Were we close? |
Collect evidence from Saga's trailer bedroom in the trailer park | |
| Letter from Agent Marrow asking me to come back to work In the story I took a leave of absence from the Bureau. |
Collect evidence from Saga's trailer bedroom in the trailer park | |
| Utility bill addressed to me The bill is in my name, dated February 22, 2018. |
Interact with the kitchen table point of interest in Saga's trailer | |
| Casey: David and I took a break and I moved to Watery with Logan. Wake even ruined my relationship with David in his story? What the fuck? Alex Casey: "I remember you and David were having problems. You needed a break." (ORIGINAL_QUOTE_M_FAMILY_CASEY_48724) |
Optional talk ("You really forgot everything?") during Return 6 |
- I never did any of these things. It’s like some bad soap opera version of my life.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_METACASE_FAMILY_DEDUCTION_WATERY_LIFE_SAGA_24118)
LOGAN'S PART IN THE STORY...?[]
- Unlocked by: "Rose: Recognized me in the diner at Bright Falls"
- Completion text:
- Some things are real - things from Logan's life. Story mixes truth with lies? How?
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Poster in Logan's room for the musician "BON" Logan loves BON. I took her to a concert in DC for her 12th birthday. This isn't fake. |
Collect from point of interest in Logan's room in Saga's trailer | |
| Children's book - Nordic Tales and Folklore Mom gave to this Logan when she was a baby. The stories are a bit scary but she loved the pictures. This is real. |
Collect from point of interest in Logan's room in Saga's trailer | |
| Junior FBI Agent diploma: Logan Anderson I remember this - It was Take Your Daughter to Work Day. Logan was maybe... eight? This happened. |
Collect from point of interest in Logan's room in Saga's trailer | |
| Birthday card from Mom to Logan I don't recognize the card, but that's definitely Mom's handwriting. |
Interact with the birthday card on the dining table in Saga's trailer | |
| Yellowed clipping - drowning of Logan Anderson, age 9 Nope. Saga Anderson: "No. That is NOT going on the board." (GEN_RE_GUIDANCE_RE03_SAGA_24134) |
Interact with the newspaper in Logan's bedroom in Saga's trailer | |
| Logan is NOT dead No. This is just the story trying to hurt me. It's not real. |
Automatically added when the "yellowed clipping" clue is placed, covers it up | |
| Logan's drawings found in the trailer These drawings look like those guys I met outside - Tor and Odin. |
Interact with the drawings in Logan's bedroom in Saga's trailer |
- Some real things are mixed in with the fiction. Doesn’t matter. It’s not real. It’s not.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_METACASE_FAMILY_DEDUCTION_LOGAN_STORY_SAGA_24119)
CONNECTION TO TOR & ODIN...?[]
- Unlocked by: "Odin: Claims he is my grand-uncle and that Tor is my grandfather"
- Completion text:
- Tor + Odin related to me. Evidence adds up. Wow.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Mom never talked about her family Anytime I asked Mom about her home or family, she shut down. I have no idea who my grandparents are. |
Place the clue that unlocks this question | |
| Tor and Odin have the same last name as me Not exactly an uncommon surname, though. |
Optional talk ("Your name is Anderson?") with Thor and Odin after meeting them in Return 3 | |
| A painting of Mom and I with Odin and Tor in Odin's room This looks exactly like Mom. And that's me. Is this still part of the story? |
Collect clue from the painting in Odin's nursing home room | |
| Tor and Odin understand the true nature of the Mind Place They know more about the Mind Place than I do. They know ME. |
Would be obtained after completing the question "Communicating in the Mind Place?" | |
| Tor, Odin, Freya, Saga - we all have Norse first names, too Could be a coincidence. A pretty big one, but... hm. |
Place "Tor and Odin have the same last name as me" on the case board | |
| Odin spoke directly to me in the Mind Place It felt different. Clearer. Like a conversation. What does this mean? He called me a "seer." |
Profile Odin (topic: "Hangover") | |
| Odin: Mom moved away with me because of Tor. Tor wanted to apologize, but never got the chance. From the few things Mom said, this is actually plausible. Is it really true? What did Tor do to make Mom leave? Odin Anderson: "Your grandfather made the song to apologize. To your mother, Freya, and to you. Tor’s like a storm. Your mother did the right thing, leaving with you. Even if it broke your grandfather’s heart. And mine. Listen to the song, Saga. It’s all there. Tor only had one record made. He keeps it in the museum." (QUOTE_M_FAMILY_ODIN_18025) |
Profile Odin (topic: "The Record") | |
| Tor: Our family is not bound by Wake's story. The Andersons can see through the horror story This would explain why my memories haven't changed like everyone else. Tor Anderson: "Damn right I do. Odin already told you you’re a seer. You can gaze into their heads. See the truth. See past the lies. Past this bullshit horror story. Us Andersons aren’t bound by it. You can fight it. Don’t be the story, make the story." (QUOTE_M_FAMILY_TOR_18021) |
Profile Tor (topic: "The Mind Place") |
- Tor and Odin are my relatives. The evidence fits with what I know is true. It’s a lot to process.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion; (MP_METACASE_FAMILY_DEDUCTION_ANDERSON_CONNECTION_SAGA_24120)
WHY DID MOM LEAVE?[]
- Unlocked by: "Odin: Mom moved away with me because of Tor."
- Completion text:
- Tor NOT a good dad. Reckless. Pushing my father away was last straw for Mom.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Anger's Remorse mentions "the man I drove away" What "man" did Tor drive away? My father? |
Play the Anger's Remorse record during Return 5 | |
| Tor: Mom thought Tor's power was dangerous. Didn't want me around it. Mom called the Mind Place "make-believe." She didn't want me knowing about the Anderson powers. Tor Anderson: "Freya always thought our powers had a dangerous side. Odin and me did fuck with things that should not be fucked with. Your mom had common sense. She raised you right. Kept you safe. I’m not surprised she didn’t tell you about the Anderson power." (QUOTE_M_FAMILY_TOR_18022) |
Profile Tor (topic: "My Mom") | |
| Tor: Tor and my father had problems. There was trouble. Freya took me away after that. Was Tor the reason my father left? It sure sounds like it. Tor Anderson: "Your dad was a complicated bastard. Always thinking too many steps ahead. That’s not how we work. There was trouble, and then he was gone. I didn’t handle it well. Freya didn’t want anything to do with me after that. I can’t blame her." (QUOTE_M_FAMILY_TOR_18023) |
Profile Tor (topic: "My Father") |
- The way Tor behaved, I’m surprised my Mom hung around as long as she did. But he is genuinely sorry.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_METACASE_FAMILY_DEDUCTION_MOM_LEAVE_SAGA_24121)
COMMUNICATION IN THE MIND PLACE?[]
- Unlocked by: "Odin spoke directly to me in the Mind Place"
- Completion text:
- I'm a seer - can see into people's heads. Tor + Odin aware of Mind Place b/c they have powers too.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| The Mind Place isn't some mental technique. It lets me inside people's heads. See the truth. What? He makes me sound like some kind of mind reader. Saga Anderson: "I always wondered if there was more to my Mind Place than just intuition. I’m seeing their thoughts. Is this why I know the truth about Logan while everyone else forgot? I have a power. I’m a seer." (QUOTE_M_FAMILY_SAGA_18024) |
Profile Tor (topic: "The Mind Place") | |
| All Andersons have powers. Mom never told me about them because she thought they were dangerous. Wanted me to have a normal life. They can communicate with me here because they have something similar. Because we're family? Tor Anderson: "Freya always thought our powers had a dangerous side. Odin and me did fuck with things that should not be fucked with. Your mom had common sense. She raised you right. Kept you safe. I’m not surprised she didn’t tell you about the Anderson power." (QUOTE_M_FAMILY_TOR_18022) |
Profile Tor (topic: "My Mom") |
- Tor and Odin can actually speak with me in my Mind Place, thanks to their own powers.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_METACASE_FAMILY_DEDUCTION_MIND_PLACE_SAGA_24122)
CASE: CLOSED[]
| Image | Description | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| CASE: CLOSED Wake's story created surreal and disturbing alternate life for me. But it also revealed something: I DO have roots in this town. |
Find all the clues and complete the last question |
- Investigating the story’s lies led me to family I didn’t know I had. Or was finding them part of the story too? Maybe it doesn’t matter.
- ― Saga Anderson, case completion (MP_METACASE_FAMILY_DEDUCTION_FAMILY_CASE_CLOSED_SAGA_24123)