Start here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=309aaFblCJI, then watch the next few videos in the series until the end of Control (Control Pt. 1 => Alan Wake Pt. 1+2 => Control Pt. 2) and you will be completely thoroughly caught up

Yeah I played it without playing either. I did watch an AW1 recap halfway through. But its basically all so crazy its fun not knowing stuff too.

Control had a whole DLC devoted to the link (haven't played AW2 yet).

https://control.fandom.com/wiki/AWE_(expansion)

It has though. There are hints "everywhere" (not to be specific, otherwise I'll spoil it) in the game, but it's not vital to play AW2, I would add what you said about AW1, "you'll miss some details."

AW2 is a step forward to the shared universe of Remedy.

The Alan Wake and Tom Zane characters are mentioned in Control a number of times, and the FBC make several appearances in Alan Wake II.

...did we play the same game?

> Alan Wake has nothing todo with Control.

Interesting theory.