In Alan Wake 2, Nursery Rhyme puzzles are scattered across Cauldron Lake, Watery, and Bright Falls, combining eerie storytelling with interactive challenges. Each puzzle requires placing specific dolls on illustrated symbols to solve a short riddle. After solving, dolls must be picked up manually, and completing the puzzle grants charms that provide passive upgrades. This guide details every puzzle, doll location, correct placement, and how to collect each reward for seamless progression.
Understanding Nursery Rhymes and Dolls
You’ll first run into these puzzles after finishing Return 2: The Heart. Once the Overlap encounter is over and the floodwaters at Cauldron Lake go down, you’ll be able to reach the northwest area of the map. There, you’ll notice drawings on the ground, handwritten notes, cameras, and boxes indications that some kind of experiment took place.
Each rhyme corresponds to dolls that can be found close to it. The clues within the passage tell you where to place each doll on the chalk drawings. Usually, the correct dolls are hinted at through capitalized letters.
If you place the dolls incorrectly, Saga will comment that something feels off. Solving the riddle properly causes the screen to flicker, followed by shadowy footprints or strange marks leading you to a Charm, which grants a passive upgrade. However, in some cases, hostile Taken will also appear.
All Nursery Rhyme Puzzle & Doll Locations
Reading documents found inside Witchfinder’s Station or other Ranger Stations will reveal “test sites” on your map—these are the Nursery Rhyme locations. Once you’ve completed all of them, one last riddle becomes available. To finish it, you’ll need the Father Doll, which appears near the final rhyme you solve.
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Cauldron Lake Rhymes and Dolls
Puzzle 1
After the floodwaters have receded, travel through Crow’s Foot Hills and cross the bridge leading north to find a campsite on the left. On the floor, you’ll notice a piece of paper surrounded by chalk drawings depicting various symbols. To complete this puzzle, place the Crow Doll on the Sun icon. Once the puzzle is solved, remember to pick up the Crow Doll before advancing, as dolls must always be collected manually after placement.
Puzzle 2
At Witchfinder’s Station, you’ll find another puzzle located upstairs beside a playpen. For this puzzle, the Hero Doll should be placed on the Boat symbol, while the Wolf Doll goes on the Tree. After completing the puzzle, both dolls must be picked up again to continue.
Puzzle 3
The Private Cabin houses another Nursery Rhyme puzzle on the floor. For this one, place the Crow Doll on the Hatchling, the Hero Doll on the Heart, and the Wolf Doll on the House. As with all puzzles, make sure to retrieve all dolls after solving to ensure progression.
Puzzle 4
In the Rental Cabins area, you’ll encounter a puzzle inside a cabin that requires Bolt Cutters to access. The Monster Doll must be placed on the Egg, the Crow Doll on the Eye, and the Hero Doll on the Jewelry symbol. Once the puzzle is completed, pick up the dolls from the shelf in the adjacent cabin with the broken wall, after handling the hammer-wielding enemy that spawns in the area.
Watery Rhymes and Dolls
Puzzle 1A
After your first encounter with a Thrower Taken, follow the path around the corner to a ridge where a puzzle is located near a collection of dolls. Place the Moose Doll on the Tree symbol, located at the bottom right of the chalk drawing. Remember to pick up the doll again after placement.
Puzzle 1B
Up the hill near the Radio Tower, on the southern ledge, you’ll find another puzzle. Place the Deer Doll on the House symbol, positioned at the bottom left of the chalk drawing. After solving, collect the doll again.
Puzzle 1C
By the cliff near Watery Lighthouse, the Wise Elder, Trickster, and Mother Dolls can be found on the porch. To solve this puzzle, place the Wise Elder Doll on the Eye and the Trickster Doll on the Waves. After completing the puzzle, follow the shadow markings back to the beach near the road to retrieve the dolls.
Puzzle 2A
At the Lighthouse Trailer Park pier, after draining Coffee World’s floodwaters, place the Bear Doll by the sink on the Candy symbol and the Wise Elder Doll on the Waves. After solving, pick up the dolls from their respective locations following the Taken encounter.
Puzzle 2B
On the Latte Lagoon pier in Coffee World, accessible after the waters recede, place the Deer Doll on the Boat, the Moose Doll on the Waves, and the Trickster Doll on the Jewelry symbol. Once the puzzle is complete, retrieve all dolls from their locations, including the flotation ring at the dock.
Puzzle 2C
In the Ranger Station north of Coffee World, upstairs, you’ll find the Maiden and Monster Dolls. Place the Bear Doll on the Heart and the Maiden Doll on the Tree. After completing the puzzle, pick up both dolls from the bed in the upstairs quarters.
Puzzle 3A
Inside a locked home in Lighthouse Trailer Park, which requires Bolt Cutters, place the Wise Elder Doll on the Eye and the Deer Doll on the Heart. After defeating the Taken enemy in the home, retrieve the dolls from the dresser.
Puzzle 3B
Behind the bar in Downtown Watery at the “Saimi’s Catch of the Day” building, unlocked with a Screwdriver, place the Maiden Doll on the House and the Trickster Doll on Jewelry. After the puzzle is solved, collect both dolls from the mailbox outside.
Bright Falls Rhymes and Dolls
Puzzle 1
On a hill north of the Break Room, place the Mother Doll on the House and the Child Doll on the Tree. After solving, pick up both dolls, taking care to collect them before moving on.
Puzzle 2
Inside the Ranger Station south of Valhalla Nursing Home, which can be opened using a Screwdriver, place the Child Doll on the House and the Monster Doll on the Candy symbol. Retrieve both dolls after solving the puzzle.
Puzzle 3
On the beach northeast of the Ranger Station, place the Monster Doll on the Waves, the Child Doll on the Jewelry symbol, and the Mother Doll on the Boat. Pick up all dolls once the puzzle is completed.
Puzzle 4
At Billie’s Boat Yard, after the floodwaters recede, place the Mother Doll on the Waves and the Monster Doll on the Boat. Collect both dolls after defeating the Taken enemies nearby and checking the broken boats.
Puzzle 5
Inside a Boltcutter-locked trailer at the Trailer Park, place the Wise Elder Doll on the Eye and the Deer Doll on the Heart. Once solved, retrieve both dolls.
Puzzle 6
In Cabin 4 at Cauldron Lake, place the Monster Doll on the Hatchling, the Crow Doll on the Eye, and the Hero Doll on Jewelry. After completion, pick up all dolls from the puzzle area.
Puzzle 7
The final puzzle requires the Father Doll, which appears in an FBC Crate after completing the first sixteen puzzles. At Witchfinder’s Station, a radio broadcasts the rhyme instead of having it written. Place the Father Doll on the Eye downstairs, the Hero Doll on the Sun downstairs, the Mother Doll on the Heart downstairs, the Child Doll on the Hatchling upstairs, and the Trickster Doll on the Wave upstairs. Make sure to pick up every doll once the puzzle is complete.
