Wiki diz:
The story follows bestselling thriller novelist Alan Wake, as he tries to uncover the mystery behind his wife's disappearance during a vacation in the small fictional town of Bright Falls, Washington
e mais especificamente sobre o que é baseado:
The game's setting, Bright Falls, draws inspiration from the early 1990s TV show Twin Peaks, which was set in the titular town; both fictional small towns in the state of Washington. Alfred Hitchcock is also cited as an inspiration, with the flocks of birds that often attack the protagonist being influenced by his classic horror film The Birds.
Assim, os mistérios, etc ... NÃO são baseados em nada real, mas têm algumas inspirações nas propriedades de cultura popular existentes.