In Alan Wake 2, you will play as two characters, each with their own puzzles and collectible items. In the story chapters The Return, you can find 17 children's rhymes, but to solve them, you will need to collect all the dolls and place them in the correct spot. As a reward, you will receive charms that provide significant enhancements. In this guide, we'll tell you where to find all the dolls and how to solve the children's rhymes playing as Saga Anderson.
Note: After activating a children's rhyme, you can pick up the dolls again. They will come in handy later, so don't forget about them. Additionally, some dolls change their positions. Therefore, we recommend searching for the rhymes using our guide to definitely find all the necessary dolls.
There are a total of 5 rhymes here. The first three puzzles can be accessed immediately; for the fourth, you'll need to go to another location for bolt cutters. The last rhyme can only be unlocked after solving the remaining 16 puzzles. But here are dolls that you will often use, so it's better to collect them all at once, rather than waiting until the end.
On the table, there will be a crow doll. Pick it up, read the rhyme, and place the crow on the sun drawing. In reward, you will receive the Hammer charm, which increases the chance to knock down an opponent.
Note: As you progress through the story, you will find several unique charms. Since the game does not account for having multiples of them, duplicates will automatically be replaced with a one-time use Coffee Mug charm.
Enter the station and go up to the second floor. On the right, on the table, there will be a hero doll and a toy wolf. Now, go outside, the children's rhyme will be opposite the entrance to the building.
Correct placement:
The rhyme will activate, then follow the dark traces. At the end, you'll find a one-time use Coffee Mug charm, which will resurrect you once per game.
You already have all the necessary dolls, so head straight to the cabin. The children's rhyme will be located outside, next to the entrance.
Correct placement:
After this, head northeast to the pond (marked on the map as Riverbank), following the cawing of crows. On the way, a wolf will attack you. After the fight, look around for a crashed birdhouse, where you'll find the Knights of Kalevala charm. It increases the duration and radius of the flare's effect.
First, you will need to find the toy in the third chapter. In the Watery location, head north to the ranger's cabin and climb to the second floor. On the dresser in the bedroom, you will find toys in the form of a monster and a maiden. Later, returning to Cauldron Lake and using bolt cutters, sneak into the rental cottages located on the east side of the location. In house №4, you'll find the rhyme.
Correct placement:
After this, an enemy will break the door of the neighboring house. Defeat it and upon entering, you can pick up a second Coffee Mug charm by the television, which will resurrect you once per game. Besides the reward, here you can also pet a deer taxidermy for another task.
The last rhyme will only become available after you solve the other 16 puzzles. The secret Father doll will be in a suitcase that appears next to another charm after solving the 16th rhyme. You will also find a note asking not to use the doll at Witchfinder Station. Symbols will be scattered throughout the building, not together as usual.
Correct placement of the dolls:
After this, a secret dialogue will play, and the number of charms you can carry will permanently increase by one. Besides, you will receive the achievements I'll Find You and Shift in Reality.
There are a total of 8 rhymes located in the area. You will have to return here twice, but this location is distinguished by the random placement of dolls. They do not have a hidden position; usually, 2-3 dolls will be found in one place. Therefore, if you do not find a doll according to the guide, just check the next location.
Upon starting the third chapter, head east to the hills. The deer and moose dolls will be lying on a pallet, near the children's rhyme. To solve, place the moose on the tree drawing. As a reward, you will receive the third Coffee Mug charm, which will resurrect you once per game.
Note: If the deer was not there, it will appear next to the next rhyme.
After the previous rhyme, head north to the hill by the radio tower. The rhyme will be located outdoors, near the bushes. Place the deer doll on the drawing of a house. After this, two wolves that were guarding the dead deer will attack you. Near it, you will find the Deer charm, which increases Saga's resistance to attack interruption and being knocked down.
Climb up the rock to the lighthouse. Near the iron fence on a stone, you will find the children's rhyme, and nearby Rogue doll and Sage doll, located at the base of the lighthouse.
Note: If the Sage doll is not here, it means it is near the toy bear in the trailer park.
Correct placement:
The reward chest will be located on the shore, near the bridge. Lighthouse charm increases the maximum amount of health that can be restored at a shelter.
You will arrive at this location as part of the story, after defeating the boss and getting rid of the flooding. Along the way, on a bench, you can pick up the Mother doll and Child doll. And in the building next door, on the sink, there will be a toy bear. Head to the pier, at the end of which there is a rhyme.
Correct placement:
After this, follow the trail of fish until you reach the box with the reward. World of Coffee token charm increases the amount and quality of resources in the world. It is one of the best charms in the game.
At the end of the pier on a wooden plank, you will find the rhyme with drawings. The dolls are collected, now you just need to place them correctly:
If everything is placed correctly, a boat with your reward will approach you. The Mr. Drip charm increases damage dealt when at low health.
In the cabin itself, go to the bedroom on the second floor. On a dresser, there will be toys in the form of a monster and a maiden (sometimes the bear doll also appears here). After that, walk around the house, the rhyme with drawings will be on a stone.
Correct placement:
The box with the reward will be on the bed on the second floor, just follow the black trail. The FBC charm increases damage dealt during stealth attacks.
You will find this rhyme when you return to Watery for the second time, after visiting Bright Falls. You will need a screwdriver to get into the trailer located near Suomi Hall.
Correct placement:
Upon exiting the trailer, check the nearest mailbox. Your reward will be the fourth Coffee Mug charm, which revives you once per game.
On your first visit to this place, there will be a building with a lock on the gates. You will need bolt cutters to open it, so it's worth returning here later. The children's rhyme is located on the floor of the room to the right of the entrance.
Correct placement:
The box with the reward will be waiting for you on the dresser at the exit. The Deer Day charm significantly increases the dark shield recovery time for enemies.
Here are four rhymes guarded by strong monsters. Before solving each puzzle, make sure you have full health and a loaded magazine. You can solve all the rhymes at once upon arriving at this location.
The next rhyme is located on a hill, west of the Bunker Forest location. The necessary dolls are located in Watery, on one of the benches in the trailer park to the southwest.
Correct placement:
Follow the black trail along the scattered children's toys, fighting off wolves. As a reward, you receive the Lantern charm, which adds an extra charge to Saga's flashlight.
The rhyme is located in one of the rooms of the ranger's house. All dolls must be available; you just need to place them correctly:
The box with the reward will be lying on the bed, which is located on the second floor. Exit the building and open the door again for black trails to appear on the floor. Follow them until you reach the right room. There you will find the fourth Coffee Mug charm, which revives you once per game.
From the ranger station, move along the shore to the northeast. On the beach in the sand, you will find a new rhyme.
Correct placement:
After placing the dolls, follow the tracks north. Near the overturned boat, the possessed will attack you, where you will then pick up the reward. The Valhalla Nursing Home charm enhances the effect of painkillers and bandages.
Another children's rhyme is located on the wooden pier at the shipyard, not far from the previous rhyme.
Correct placement:
The reward box will be located near the white boat and the lifebuoy. The Anchor charm gives Saga a chance to stun an enemy with an enhanced flashlight beam.