I was hyped for Control Resonant — and it still surpassed my high expectations

Control Resonant is exactly what I want from a sequel. While Remedy Entertainment could have just made a “Control 2” that was more of the same, it instead replaced the awesome shooting mechanics with brutal melee combat and swapped protagonists. Despite that, the game retains all of the trippy, supernatural elements that made the original Control stand out.

Everything is bigger this time around, with expansive, interconnected maps, deep skill trees, multiple weapon forms, and a more involved plot full of surprises. Though Control Resonant takes roughly twice as long to complete, even if you mostly avoid the numerous side quests, it doesn’t overstay its welcome thanks to its compelling world and engaging gameplay. The team clearly wanted every mission to feel meaningful.

Despite some confusing map layouts in certain areas, Control Resonant excels at almost everything it tries to accomplish. It’s easily the most unique AAA experience I’ve had in 2026, and a title that — like Control — will likely build a strong audience over time. It’s truly that good! Find out more in my full review of Control Resonant.

Control Resonant: The Basics

• What is it? Control Resonant is the direct sequel to 2019’s Control.
• Who is it for? For fans of the original Control and of hack-and-slash or action RPGs.
• What's the price? Control Resonant retails for $59 at retailers like Amazon. You can get the steelbook edition for $69 at GameStop.
• What other games has the developer made? Remedy Entertainment is known for titles like Alan Wake, Quantum Break, and the first Control.
• What games is it similar to? Control Resonant is similar to games like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, which are also hack-and-slash titles with supernatural/horror elements.

A different perspective

Control Resonant takes place shortly after the original game. Don’t worry about feeling lost, since there’s a handy recap you can watch to acquaint or reacquaint yourself with the original game’s story. The narrative of Control Resonant also does a good job of bringing you up to speed. That said, this is very much a self-contained story that’s easy for anyone to jump into.

Whereas you previously played as Jesse Fayden, you now take on the role of her brother, Dylan. The extra-dimensional horrors contained in “The Oldest House” from the first game have spilled out and begun engulfing large parts of lower Manhattan — turning it into an Inception-inspired nightmare of twisted architecture, distorted physics, and horrific monsters that were once citizens. As Dylan, it’s your job to help the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC) drive back the “Hiss” monsters and prevent the entire planet from being swallowed by the other dimension.

Aside from all the supernatural shenanigans, the story of Dylan’s struggle to reunite with his sister while grappling with the monster within him and the guilt he feels for committing horrific acts seven years earlier is equally engaging. Dylan isn’t your usual “heroic” type, and his prolonged isolation from others leaves him acting naive or unsure. But as the story progresses, we see him evolve in a satisfying and thoughtful manner.

As before, the story unfolds through cutscenes and real-life footage that blend seamlessly. Notes and NPC dialogue also do a good job of making this strange world feel alive and believable. The excellent voice acting and tight script further support this. All of this makes Control Resonant feel appropriately cinematic, though you’re almost always in control (no pun intended) rather than just passively watching events unfold.

There’s more I could say about the narrative, but I don’t want to spoil anything. I’ll just say that Remedy’s knack for telling a compelling yarn hasn’t diminished over the years — it’s only gotten stronger, and Control Resonant proves it.

Powers from beyond

If you’re into fast-paced melee games like Devil May Cry 5 and Bayonetta 3, you’re in for a treat with Control Resonant. While the combat isn’t as challenging as in those titles, it can still be pretty tough. In fact, this is Remedy’s hardest game yet — which is great if you don’t want to sleepwalk through it. That said, you can adjust the difficulty to suit your preference if you mainly want to enjoy the story, or if you want an even steeper challenge.

Melee combat is superb, feeling both smooth and visceral. Dylan’s weapon, the Abberant, can take on various forms, such as a sword, club, or whip. You can choose a primary form, a secondary form, and a finisher — and each has multiple variants. Mixing and matching these attacks keeps combat feeling fresh, and certain loadouts are better suited to specific encounters, such as the titanic boss battles.

In addition to pure melee combat, Dylan has other abilities, such as coating his weapons in fire that literally burns through enemy defenses or generating a spectral being that shoots projectiles at foes. You gain most of these abilities from bosses called “Resonants,” so it’s in your best interest to find and take them out — not to mention that the boss battles are very inventive and help fill out the game’s world.

And like Jesse before him, Dylan can hover in the air and perform a quick dash to cover long distances, which not only helps you traverse the world more easily but also helps tremendously during heated combat sections.

Killing Hiss, completing missions, discovering new locations, and progressing through the story all earn you experience points you can use to power up your weapons and abilities. By the time I reached the end of the game, I felt like a powerhouse with all the skills I had acquired. The game is very generous with experience points, so it doesn’t take long for Dylan to become a true threat to the Hiss.

A twisted world

Instead of claustrophobic, enclosed environments like the original game, Control Resonant drops you into a sprawling, distorted version of lower Manhattan. Few things are as they seem, and you certainly won’t find recognizable landmarks thanks to the dimensional encroachment. This makes for one of the most unique gaming worlds, blending the familiar with the strange and unsettling.

Though all of the game’s environments are linked (usually via underground tunnels that are basically hidden load screens), this isn’t exactly a traditional open-world game like Grand Theft Auto 6 or The Witcher 3. Each area has its own signature flavor — such as hazy-blue sections covered in supernatural mold or areas where it’s impossible to discern what’s up or what’s down.

You’ll find various quests throughout the areas. Some involve helping citizens or FBC agents, while others are random events that usually involve taking out the Hiss or dealing with other extradimensional phenomena. I especially like the NPC missions, as they provide a nice diversion from the main plot while still helping flesh out the world of Control. And given how you gain experience points and other rewards, it’s always in your best interest to complete as many side quests as possible. It’s a great way to beef up Dylan to better handle the nastier enemies and bosses near the back half of the game.

The only drawback is that navigating the maps can be confusing, as the map doesn’t always clearly indicate where you can or can’t go. Most of the time, you can’t reach an area until you’ve unlocked a specific ability to surmount it. Other times, you’re left scratching your head about how to get to a place that seems close enough but might require a circuitous route. This isn’t a deal-breaker, but it’s something to keep in mind.

Other than that, the levels (such as they are) are all imaginatively realized and are engaging to explore. You never know what’s hidden in that side alley or subway tunnel!

Supernatural sights and sounds

Simply put, Control Resonant is one of the most impressive-looking games of 2026. That shouldn’t be a surprise, given Remedy’s penchant for delivering cutting-edge graphics, but this game takes it to the next level in both technical prowess and artistic vision. If you’ll pardon the pun, Control Resonant is a feast for the eyes.

Character models generally look good, but they’re (graphically) outclassed by the lush, detailed environments. The numerous enemies and bosses also come to life in stunning detail. What makes it all come together is the color palette, which generally favors black and red. Of course, other zones deliver a completely different visual experience (that I won’t spoil here!). Suffice it to say that my words can’t do this game’s visuals justice.

I played the game on the PS5 Pro using the “balanced” graphical setting, which runs the game at 40 frames per second with full ray tracing enabled. This is a nice middle ground between performance (60 fps without graphical bumps) and quality (30 fps with full visual fidelity). That said, I do eventually want to play this game on one of the best gaming PCs so I can run it with everything at max settings.

Control Resonant review: Verdict

Control: Resonant is another triumph for Remedy Entertainment and is arguably their finest game yet. The team put everything into delivering a worthwhile sequel for fans of the original that still stands on its own. Thanks to its superb combat, sharp graphics, and unique tone, it is easily one of the best games of 2026 — a year stacked with winners.

To that end, be sure not to miss out on Control Resonant. It’s a reminder that there’s still true innovation and imagination in AAA gaming. Yes, there are a lot of games coming our way this season, but this is one you’ll kick yourself for missing. Trust me on that!

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