Review: Control Resonant: Remedy’s Tech Makes the Leap to a Wider Urban Sandbox

Control Resonant, Remedy Entertainment’s bold genre shift for the sequel to its 2019 action game Control, releases September 24, 2026, for $60/£50. The game departs from Remedy’s traditional linear shooter format in favor of a semi-open-world melee action RPG set in a supernatural version of Manhattan.

Set seven years after the original, Control Resonant features Dylan Faden waking from a coma, tasked with confronting an interdimensional invasion by the Hiss that has transformed Manhattan into a labyrinth of otherworldly environments. The game showcases Remedy’s proprietary Northlight engine—previously used in Alan Wake 2—pushing technical ambitions across larger playable environments than the studio has explored before.

Critical response has been solidly positive, with the game achieving an 84 on Metacritic and 85 on Opencritic. Reviewers consistently praise Remedy’s signature weird aesthetic, significantly improved combat mechanics compared to the original Control, and visually stunning world design. Digital Foundry’s testing across all consoles found the PS5 Pro delivers the best experience. Multiple critics note Control Resonant represents Remedy’s most engaging gameplay experience while maintaining the studio’s distinctive narrative identity. However, some reviewers suggest it doesn’t quite reach the heights set by Alan Wake 2, with occasional mentions of repetitive action sequences tempering otherwise positive assessments.

Review: Control Resonant: Remedy’s Tech Makes the Leap to a Wider Urban Sandbox

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