The Trail of the Cult is the second Main Case in Alan Wake 2, viewable on the Case Board in Saga Anderson's Mind Place. It covers the events of Return 3: Local Girl and Saga's journey to investigate the Cult of the Tree in Watery, Washington.
In the format below, text in italics is tooltip text that only appears when a relevant clue is hovered over on the case board. Numbers and letters have been assigned unofficially to represent question branches on the in-game Case Board: numbers represent questions unlocked in series, while letters represent questions unlocked in parallel.
Cases tab description[]
- Case in progress:
- If Wake is telling the truth, the "Clicker" is the best lead I currently have. But where is it?
- Case solved:
- I need to bring the Clicker to Wake, but I still have questions. Who were those guys in the photo with the Clicker - Tor and Odin. What are they hiding?
ALAN WAKE INTERVIEW[]
| Image | Description | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| ALAN WAKE INTERVIEW Can't say I understand all this, but if Wake is telling the truth then his magic light switch is the most tangible lead. Let's start there. |
Start Return 3 |
Wake just gave us a lot of information. But this “Clicker” seems like a good place to start. If we find that, then we find the Cult. 
- ― Saga Anderson, case start (MP_RE03_DEDUCTION_FIELD_OFFICE_PHOTO_SAGA_24078)
1: WHERE IS THE CLICKER?[]
Completion text:
- Wake's "Clicker" in Cult possession - somewhere in Watery.
- Trailer significant somehow??
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Wake: The Cult of the Tree is in possession of the Clicker. I was already looking into the Cult. Two birds, one stone. Alan Wake: "The cult... Yes, yes. They have the Clicker." (QUOTE_MC02_RE03_WAKE_17955) |
Talk to Alan Wake during Return 3 | |
| Standing inside the trailer, at the outskirts of Watery, Saga had seen Wake's fabled Clicker for the first time. A trailer near Watery, huh? Good place to start. |
Collect the Manuscript page The Trailer |
The Cult of the Tree has the Clicker Wake told me about. They’re part of all this. - ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_RE03_DEDUCTION_WHERE_CLICKER_SAGA_18571)
2: TRAILER?[]
- This section has three alternative clues, but only one is needed. Finding one will make the others unavailable.
- Completion text:
- "Watery Lighthouse Trailer Park."
- Good place to start.
| Image | Description, Tooltip, Audio | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| An ad for the Watery Lighthouse Trailer Park The sign says "contact Ilmo Koskela for showings." |
Investigate a trailer park sign on the road west out of downtown Watery | |
| Blum: There is a trailer park nearby called "Watery Lighthouse Trailer Park." Blum mentioned Ilmo Koskela owns a trailer park. Ilmo can tell me more. Vladimir Blum: "Sure! Watery Lighthouse Trailer Park. Ilmo Koskela owns it. Owns many things in town." (QUOTE_MC02_RE03_BLUM_17956) |
Talk to Blum and ask about the trailer | |
| Ilmo: Ilmo Koskela is the owner of the Watery Lighthouse Trailer Park Well, that worked out. Let's see what he knows. 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_MC02_RE03_ILMO_18078) |
Talk to the Koskelas before finding either other clue |
- A trailer park is a good place to look for a trailer. Keep it simple, Saga.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_RE03_DEDUCTION_WHERE_TRAILER_SAGA_18572)
3: WHAT ILMO KNOWS...?[]
Completion text:
- He thinks I owned a trailer here. Weird. Key to "my" trailer at Coffee World.
| Image | Description, Tooltip, Audio | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Ilmo: The spare keys to the trailers are in the Coffee World gift shop safe. Ilmo said someone at "Coffee World" could help me. Ilmo Koskela: "Yeah, I have a spare set. They’re just over at Coffee World. I’d get them for you, but Jaakko and I have to head to Bright Falls. The spare keys are in the gift shop safe. I’ll call ahead and have someone get them out for you." (QUOTE_MC02_RE03_ILMO_17957) |
Profile the Koskelas (topic: "The Trailer") then talk to them (topic: "I'd like to see "my" trailer.") | |
| Ilmo is certain that I used to live here. That I owned a trailer here. That I am a member of the community. They really think I lived here. This is unnerving... but at least I can exploit it to get inside this trailer. Jaakko Koskela: "Family comes first, Ilmo. We take care of her trailer while she’s gone." (QUOTE_MC02_RE03_JAAKKO_17952) |
Profile the Koskelas (topic: "The Trailer") |
- The Koskelas think I lived in the trailer park. With Logan. The story really is changing people’s memories. Why aren’t mine affected?
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_RE03_DEDUCTION_WHAT_ILMO_KNOWS_SAGA_11920)
COFFEE WORLD[]
| Image | Description | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| COFFEE WORLD Coffee World is certainly... interesting. And empty. Ilmo said someone would help me get the key, but nobody's here. |
Approach the Fresh Pot Gift Shop at Coffee World |
- Coffee World. The most caffeinated place on earth. And yet nobody is here to help me get that key.
- ― Saga Anderson, case start (MP_RE03_DEDUCTION_COFFEE_WORLD_PHOTO_SAGA_24079)
1: THE TRAILER PARK KEY?[]
- Unlocked by placing the Coffee World photo
- Completion text:
- Got the key - but Coffee World staff are all Taken? WTF??
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Gift shop door is locked Ilmo said someone would help me, but there's no one here. Looks like I'll need to find my own way inside... |
Interact with the Fresh Pot Gift Shop door | |
| The gift shop safe is locked Don't think a screwdriver will work on this one... |
Interact with note on the gift shop safe |
- I got the key to the trailer park, but the situation is getting worse. More Taken.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion; unused (MP_RE03_DEDUCTION_GET_KEY_SAGA_18573)
2a: GETTING INSIDE THE GIFT SHOP?[]
- Unlocked with the "Gift shop door is locked" clue
- Completion text:
- Even a screwdriver can be a key if you try hard enough.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Note about using a screwdriver to force a lock open Worth a try, I guess. |
Investigate the notice board next to the gift shop door | |
| Maintenance log lists screwdriver as last used on the Percolator Percolator...? The name of a ride, maybe? |
Investigate the notice board next to the gift shop door |
- Using screwdrivers to break into gifts shops isn’t exactly standard procedure.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_RE03_DEDUCTION_GIFT_SHOP_SAGA_18574)
2b: SAFE COMBO?[]
- Unlocked with the "The gift shop safe is locked" clue
- Completion text:
- Ilmo likes to get creative. Safe combo based off clues in gift shop.
| Image | Description, Tooltip, Audio | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Ilmo used information in the gift shop to create the safe combination. The answer is somewhere in the gift shop... Ilmo Koskela: "Just look around and you will find the answer." (ORIGINAL_QUOTE_MC02_RE03_ILMO_48726) |
Profile the Koskelas (topic: "The Safe") | |
| A hint Ilmo left for the safe keycode The note mentions three jobs: tracker, lookout, and cleaner. |
Interact with note on the gift shop safe | |
| A board listing staff members and their jobs No two employees share the same responsibilities. |
Interact with the employee board in the gift shop | |
| Stickers indicate how many years employees have worked The stickers are next to the photos on the staff board. |
Interact with the employee board in the gift shop |
- I bet Ilmo’s the kind of guy who likes sudokus.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_RE03_DEDUCTION_SAFE_COMBO_SAGA_18575)
THE BIKER GARAGE[]
| Image | Description | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| THE BIKER GARAGE The photo was taken at the Kalevala Knights motorcycle club. Are they involved in the Cult? More importantly, is the Clicker still there...? |
Enter the Kalevala Knights Workshop garage |
- The photo proved the Cult had the Clicker. Tor and Odin were in it too. Worth following up on later.
- ― Saga Anderson, case start (MP_RE03_DEDUCTION_CLICKER_IN_GARAGE_SAGA_11921)
1: CLICKER AT THE GARAGE...?[]
Completion text:
- Clicker was in secret Cult room under the garage.
- Mulligan and Thornton beat me to it.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| This is the same garage from the photo That means the Clicker could be here - I need to be careful. |
Enter the Kalevala Knights Workshop garage | |
| Email saying "the OOP" should stay in the assembly hall What the hell is an "OOP"? Is it connected to the Clicker? |
Read the email "STOP IT" on the Kalevala Knights garage computer | |
| Secret meeting room under the garage This is the Cult of the Tree's headquarters. |
Enter the secret meeting room under the Kalevala Knights garage | |
| Clicker was taken from the altar I was so damn close. Mulligan and Thornton took it. |
Interact with the Clicker in the secret room |
- The Clicker was there the whole time. Fucking Mulligan and Thornton.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_RE03_DEDUCTION_CLICKER_TAKEN_SAGA_18598)
2: HOW TO GET THE CLICKER BACK?[]
Completion text:
- Mulligan and Thornton are in the Overlap. Must complete parade float ritual to follow them.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| The Overlap ritual to enter was tied to >crafting the float. Art was the key. It had the power to let Saga in. Sounds like there is a ritual involving this parade float. |
Pick up the Manuscript page The Koskela's Parade Float; automatically placed |
- Mulligan and Thornton have the Clicker. It's in another Overlap, here in Watery.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion; unused (MP_RE03_DEDUCTION_GET_CLICKER_BACK_SAGA_11922)
3: PARADE FLOAT NEEDS...?[]
Completion text:
- Missing items were :
- circuit board
- puukko knife
- cassette tape
- moose skull mask
- I’ve figured out what the float is missing.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_RE03_DEDUCTION_PARADE_FLOAT_SAGA_18576)
4a: CHARACTERS SHOULD BE MOVING...?[]
Completion text:
- Circuit board controls arm movement.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| “Huotari swung the knife, stabbing again and again!” "Again and again?" Sounds like he's supposed to be moving. |
Collect clue from a sign on the parade float | |
| The list mentions a circuit board, possible automation The circuit board is at the "Espresso Express." |
Collect clue from the note near the parade float |
- Should the characters be moving?
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_RE03_DEDUCTION_MOVING_CHARACTERS_SAGA_18577)
4b: PARADE FLOAT HAS SOUND...?[]
Completion text:
- Cassette tape plays laughter sounds.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| “Haunting laughter echoed up from the well!” Seems like there should be some kind of audio effects coming from the well. |
Collect clue from a sign on the parade float | |
| The list mentions a cassette tape The cassette tape is at the "Fair Trade Fun Zone" |
Collect clue from the note near the parade float |
- Is missing a soundtrack?
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_RE03_DEDUCTION_FLOAT_SOUND_SAGA_18579)
4c: CHARACTER NEEDS A MASK...?[]
Completion text:
- Float killer is missing mask.
- The float killer isn’t wearing a mask. Maybe he needs one?
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_RE03_DEDUCTION_CHARACTER_MASK_SAGA_18580)
4c.1: WHERE IS THE MASK?[]
- Unlocked by placing the "Moose skull mask" location clue
- Completion text:
- Mulligan and Thornton tried to hide the mask in well - same as the body of their victim.
| Image | Description, Tooltip, Audio | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Mulligan and Thornton: They murdered someone. Dumped the body into Huotari well. They hid their victim's body in a well. Maybe that's not the only thing they hid... Thornton: "The maw of a crumbling well. Show the bitch who’s boss." (QUOTE_MC02_RE03_THORNTON_17959) |
Profile the Deputies (topic: "The Moose Skull Mask"; Koskelas must be profiled first) | |
| Ilmo: Mulligan and Thornton were responsible for the moose skull. Mulligan and Thornton screwed something up. Something to do with the skull. Ilmo Koskela: "Mocha will live on in a place of honor. He lost his head. Mulligan and Thornton had one job." (QUOTE_MC02_RE03_ILMO_17958) |
Profile the Koskelas (topic: "The Moose Skull Mask") | |
| The mask was at the well Those monsters stashed the skull the same place they hid their victim. Not very original. |
Pick up the moose skull at the Huotari Well |
- The moose mask appeared on the well.
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_RE03_DEDUCTION_WHERE_MASK_SAGA_11924)
4d: "PUUKKO" IS FLOAT PROP...?[]
Completion text:
- Character missing "puukko" knife.
| Image | Description and Tooltip | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| “Huotari butchered his victim with his puukko knife!” A "puukko" is a knife? Haven't heard of that weapon before. |
Collect clue from a sign on the parade float | |
| The list mentions a "puukko." Version 1 (collect after first clue): It says the puukko can be found in the gift shop. Version 2 (collect before first clue): What's a "puukko?" Whatever it is, it's apparently in the gift shop. |
Collect clue from the note near the parade float |
- The float killer used a knife. Art imitating life?
- ― Saga Anderson, section completion (MP_RE03_DEDUCTION_PUUKKO_SAGA_18578)
CASE: CLOSED[]
| Image | Description | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| CASE: CLOSED I need to get the Clicker to Wake, but I still have questions. Those old guys - Tor and Odin - seemed friendly with the Cult. How are they connected to all this? |
Finish the Watery Overlap |
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- I need to get the Clicker to Wake and close this damn case, before my family gets dragged any further into it.
- ― Saga Anderson, case completion thought (MP_RE03_DEDUCTION_MC02_CASE_CLOSED_SAGA_18581)