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No single game in this group reproduces all of Control’s appeal. Choose Returnal for a hostile, reality-bending world and demanding third-person shooting; choose Prey (2017) for environmental mystery and non-linear exploration; choose Alan Wake 2 or Quantum Break when Remedy’s story-driven style matters most; and choose Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart for colorful dimensional action. The right recommendation depends on whether your priority is combat, exploration, tone, or the developer behind Control.
How these games match Control—and where they do not
Control is an unusual combination of strange architecture, paranormal mystery, telekinetic combat, environmental exploration, and Remedy’s cinematic storytelling. The games below split those qualities among different experiences rather than duplicating them. That distinction matters: “games like Control” can mean a similar camera and combat rhythm, an unsettling place to explore, supernatural abilities, or simply another story-driven game from Remedy.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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CONTROL Ultimate Edition - PlayStation 5 | Buy on Amazon | |
| 2 |
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Control Ultimate Edition (PS5) | $49.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion - PlayStation 5 | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Use the comparison as a way to identify your own priority, not as a promise that any one game is a substitute in every respect. The strongest matches in this group are focused matches: Returnal for strange-world action, Prey for investigation, the Remedy catalogue for studio continuity, and Rift Apart for dimension-hopping spectacle.
| Game | Best match for | Perspective and combat | World and tone | Important difference | Platforms stated by the cited source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returnal | Strange-world action | Third-person roguelike shooter with bullet-hell combat | Shape-shifting alien planet; hostile and uncanny | Death sends you into another cycle, with changing item combinations; telekinetic combat is not established | PS5 and PC |
| Prey (2017) | Unsettling exploration | First-person systems-driven action with improvisation | Overrun space station with interconnected, non-linear areas | First-person viewpoint and exploration emphasis make it structurally different from Control | Steam listing; platform availability should be checked currently |
| Alan Wake 2 | More Remedy storytelling | Detailed mechanics are not established by the cited catalogue | Story-driven and visually striking, according to Remedy’s catalogue positioning | Do not assume it reproduces Control’s telekinetic combat | Not stated in the cited catalogue |
| Quantum Break | More Remedy storytelling | Detailed mechanics are not established by the cited catalogue | Story-driven and visually striking, according to Remedy’s catalogue positioning | Do not assume it reproduces Control’s telekinetic combat | Not stated in the cited catalogue |
| Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | Dimensional action | Third-person weapon-based action with traversal through rifts | Colorful intergalactic adventure across alternate worlds | Lighter and more adventurous than Control’s ominous paranatural atmosphere | PS5 is listed on the cited PlayStation page |
1. Returnal: the best pick for a strange, hostile world
Returnal is the clearest recommendation if the part of Control you remember most is being dropped into an uncanny place that seems to operate by its own rules. PlayStation describes it as a third-person roguelike shooter on a shape-shifting alien planet. The setting changes between attempts, so the world itself is part of the game’s tension rather than a static backdrop.
#1 Best Overall
- Uncover the mysteries - Can you handle the bureau’s dark secrets? Unfold an epic supernatural struggle, filled with unexpected characters and bizarre events, as you search for your missing brother, and discover the truth that has brought you here.
- Everything is your weapon - Unleash destruction through transforming weaponry and telekinetic powers. Discover new ways to annihilate your enemies as you harness powerful abilities to turn everything around you into a lethal weapon.
- Explore a hidden world - Delve deep into the ominous expanses of a secretive government agency. Explore the Bureau’s shifting environments only to discover that there is always more than meets the eye…
- Fight for control - Battle a relentless enemy through exciting missions and challenging boss fights to earn powerful upgrades that maximize abilities and customize your weaponry.
What you get
- Third-person shooting built around fast, demanding encounters.
- Bullet-hell combat, with dense patterns of incoming projectiles demanding movement and timing.
- A repeating cycle: dying starts another run rather than simply loading a conventional checkpoint.
- Changing item combinations between runs, making each attempt a different arrangement of tools and risks.
That combination makes Returnal a strong fit for players who want strange-world action first. Its alien planet supplies the isolation and unreality that many Control players seek, while the third-person camera preserves a similar broad combat perspective. The match is strongest at the level of mood and action format: you face danger in a hostile environment, and combat rewards movement and quick responses.
The trade-off Control players must accept
Returnal is a roguelike. The repeat-and-restart structure is not a minor detail; it determines how progress, learning, and failure feel. You repeatedly build an attempt, die, and begin another cycle while adapting to changed combinations and encounters. If you want a carefully paced supernatural campaign in which exploration steadily opens a single location, this loop may feel fundamentally different.
The official feature description also does not establish telekinetic combat. Returnal should therefore be bought for its movement-heavy shooting and hostile, shape-shifting world—not with the expectation that you will throw objects or use Control-like paranormal powers. The alien setting is a useful match for “strange worlds,” but that does not make the combat systems interchangeable.
Who should choose it
- Choose Returnal if strange atmosphere and third-person action matter more than a fixed campaign structure.
- Choose it if repeated attempts sound motivating rather than exhausting.
- Look elsewhere if telekinesis is your non-negotiable feature or if you dislike restarting after death.
2. Prey (2017): the strongest exploration substitute
Prey is the best recommendation when Control’s building-sized mysteries and environmental discovery matter more to you than matching its camera or combat powers. Steam describes a first-person game set aboard Talos I, a space station overrun by hostile aliens. Its areas are interconnected and non-linear, and its systems emphasize secrets, improvisation, and “mind-bending abilities.”
Why exploration fans should start here
Talos I is designed to be investigated rather than merely traversed. A first-person viewpoint makes spaces, objects, and hidden routes the immediate focus. The non-linear structure supports backtracking and experimentation: you are encouraged to look for alternate ways through a problem instead of following one corridor from set piece to set piece.
That design aligns with the investigative side of Control. Both games ask you to treat an unusual location as a puzzle with rules, clues, and concealed connections. The similarity is about curiosity and environmental problem-solving, not a one-to-one match in mechanics. Prey is the recommendation for the player who wants to spend time understanding a strange place and finding its secrets, even if the experience is not presented from the same over-the-shoulder viewpoint.
Perspective and systems are major differences
Prey is explicitly first-person, while Control is experienced as a third-person action game. You will not get the same over-the-shoulder view of a character moving through combat. The cited listing also emphasizes improvisation and abilities rather than confirming telekinetic combat specifically, so avoid buying it on the assumption that every paranormal power works like Control’s.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchIts emphasis on interconnected areas can also make progress feel less linear. If you prefer a tightly directed story path, the freedom to revisit spaces and solve problems in different ways may require more patience. For players who enjoy reading a location, finding secrets, and testing systems, that freedom is precisely the attraction. In short, this is a choice for exploration-minded players, not for anyone whose main requirement is third-person telekinetic combat.
Who should choose it
- Choose Prey if exploration, secrets, and environmental mystery outrank third-person presentation.
- Choose it if you enjoy improvising solutions rather than relying on one prescribed route.
- Do not choose it as a direct telekinetic-combat replacement; its confirmed match is investigative exploration in a strange setting.
3. Alan Wake 2 and Quantum Break: the same-studio route
If the most important part of Control is Remedy’s approach to story-driven, visually striking action, the obvious next step is the studio’s own catalogue. Remedy’s official catalogue identifies Alan Wake 2, Quantum Break, and Control as studio titles and broadly positions its games as story-driven and visually striking.
What this recommendation does—and does not—mean
These are reasonable choices for someone asking, “Which other Remedy game should I play after Control?” The shared developer gives you a useful continuity of authorship and presentation. It does not prove that the games share Control’s telekinetic combat, exploration structure, or exact tone. The cited catalogue does not provide enough mechanical detail to claim that either title reproduces those systems.
Think of this pair as a storytelling recommendation rather than a feature checklist. If you want another game made by the same studio, start here. If you specifically want to levitate objects, fight with paranormal powers, or explore a single shifting facility, the evidence for these titles does not establish that they deliver those features. A developer match can be appealing, but it is a different kind of match from shared mechanics.
Rank #2
- Uncover the mysteries. Can you handle the bureau's dark secrets? Unfold an epic supernatural struggle, filled with unexpected characters and bizarre events, as you search for your missing brother, and discover the truth that has brought you here
- everything is your weapon. Unleash destruction through transforming weaponry and telekinetic powers. Discover New ways to annihilate your enemies as you harness powerful abilities to turn everything around you into a lethal weapon
- explore a hidden world. Delve deep into the Ominous expanses of a secretive government Agency. Explore the bureau's shifting environments only to discover that there is always more than meets the eye
- fight for control. Battle a relentless enemy through exciting missions and challenging boss fights to earn powerful upgrades that maximize abilities and customize your weaponry
- experience true next-generation gaming with increased visual fidelity through 4K graphics, ray-tracing and a 60FPS performance mode
How to decide between a studio match and a mechanical match
- Pick Alan Wake 2 or Quantum Break when Remedy’s authorship and narrative presentation are your main criteria.
- Pick Returnal when third-person action in an alien, unstable world is more important than studio continuity.
- Pick Prey when the act of investigating a strange place is more important than who developed the game.
4. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: dimensional action without the horror
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is the loosest tonal match, but it is a good option if the words “strange worlds” mean alternate dimensions and energetic traversal to you. PlayStation describes an interdimensional adventure featuring alternate worlds, weapon-based action, and movement through rifts.
Where it overlaps
Rift Apart makes dimensional change an active part of play. Rifts connect spaces and worlds, giving the adventure a strong sense of movement between realities. Its weapon-focused combat also provides immediate, readable action, and its third-person presentation is closer to Control’s perspective than a first-person exploration game is. If you are looking for spectacle, unusual settings, and energetic action rather than dread, it makes sense as a looser alternative.
Why the tone is different
The game’s framing is colorful and intergalactic rather than ominous and paranatural. Its imaginative settings are aimed at adventure and spectacle, not the unsettling institutional mystery associated with Control. If you want dread, ambiguity, or horror-leaning atmosphere, this is a compromise. If you want creative dimensions, accessible weapon action, and a lighter mood, that compromise may be exactly what you need.
The cited PlayStation page lists PS5. Check the current platform listing and edition before purchasing, particularly if you play elsewhere.
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If you want telekinetic combat specifically
None of the alternatives in the cited descriptions is established as a direct replacement for Control’s telekinetic combat. Returnal’s official description confirms bullet-hell shooting, Prey’s listing mentions “mind-bending abilities,” and Rift Apart centers on weapons and rifts. Those descriptions are not evidence that any of them reproduces Control’s object-throwing combat loop. If levitating and hurling objects is the feature you miss most, set expectations accordingly rather than treating a vaguely supernatural description as proof of an equivalent system.
If you want a strange world to investigate
Start with Prey for a non-linear, interconnected space station, or with Returnal for a shape-shifting alien planet. Prey emphasizes discovery and improvisation; Returnal emphasizes survival through repeated combat cycles. Ask yourself whether you want to inspect a place and find alternate routes or repeatedly face a dangerous world through fresh attempts. Both answer “strange setting” differently.
If you want third-person action
Returnal is the strongest fit among the researched alternatives because its official description explicitly identifies it as a third-person shooter. Rift Apart also offers third-person weapon action, but its colorful adventure tone is a larger departure. Prey is first-person. This is a helpful filter if the camera and action perspective are as important as the setting.
If you want more games from Remedy
Choose Alan Wake 2 or Quantum Break. The recommendation rests on their place in Remedy’s official catalogue and the studio’s broad story-driven positioning, not on a verified claim that their mechanics match Control.
If you dislike repeated runs
Avoid making Returnal your first follow-up. Its death-and-restart cycle is central to the game. Prey offers the more natural alternative for a player who wants to settle into one interconnected location and investigate it over time. This is a preference check worth making before you buy: a changing cycle can be the appeal for one player and a reason to choose something else for another.
A quick decision path
When you are choosing among these games, narrow the list in this order:
- Pick the part of Control you want to repeat. For a strange, hostile world with third-person shooting, consider Returnal. For secrets and exploration, consider Prey. For the same developer’s broad storytelling identity, consider Remedy’s other catalogue titles. For alternate dimensions and colorful action, consider Rift Apart.
- Rule out a viewpoint you do not want. Prey is first-person. Returnal is identified as a third-person shooter, while Rift Apart offers third-person weapon action.
- Be honest about repetition. If restarting after death sounds frustrating, Returnal is a riskier choice. Its repeating cycle is a defining part of the experience, not a small optional wrinkle.
- Set a tone expectation. The stranger or more dimensional a setting is does not necessarily mean it has Control’s ominous tone. Rift Apart is explicitly the colorful, adventurous option here.
- Check the exact version and platform. A game’s current store page is more useful for a purchase decision than a broad catalogue entry. Confirm the edition, region, and platform availability that apply to you.
This approach is especially useful if you are searching for a game to cure a “Control hangover.” Instead of looking for a perfect clone, decide whether you want another uncanny place, another demanding action loop, more story-driven work from Remedy, or an entirely different flavor of dimensional adventure. Those answers point to different games.
Rank #3
- All graphics fully remastered in HD, bringing the game to the latest console generation
- Renewed 3D models, including characters and backgrounds, enriching the visual experience
- Improved battle system providing a vastly smoother gameplay experience
- Fully voiced dialogue in both English and Japanese
- A newly arranged soundtrack from the original composer, Takeharu Ishimoto
Control’s sequel context: CONTROL Resonant
There is also a new Control-series option to monitor. Remedy’s official catalogue currently labels CONTROL Resonant as an upcoming title. A PlayStation Blog announcement dated December 11, 2025 described a 2026 release and a new story about Dylan Faden in a reality-warped Manhattan. That announcement also said newcomers would not need to have played the first Control.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsA later Xbox Wire report dated September 23, 2026 gives a September 24, 2026 arrival date for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC. It describes melee combat, RPG progression, and densely designed Manhattan zones. Because release status and platform availability can change, verify the current store listing before buying. The two announcements describe different points in the release timeline, so a current store page is the practical check for whether it is available on your platform now. As of the date of the later report, it was positioned as the closest option for someone who wants to remain inside the Control universe, but it is a new game rather than a substitute recommendation for the alternatives above.
The PlayStation announcement’s note that newcomers need not have played the first game is useful if you are interested in the sequel but do not want to replay Control first. Still, the dated report’s details are not a substitute for checking current availability, editions, or platform support. Treat the announced melee combat and RPG progression as a different set of details from the telekinetic combat that defines the original for many players.
Platform and purchase checks before you commit
- Confirm your platform. PlayStation’s cited pages list Returnal for PS5 and PC and Rift Apart for PS5. The cited catalogue does not establish current platform details for Alan Wake 2 or Quantum Break.
- Check the viewpoint. Prey is first-person; Returnal is third-person; Rift Apart uses third-person weapon action.
- Decide how you feel about repetition. Returnal’s repeating cycle and restart-after-death structure are core features, not optional modes.
- Set your tone expectations. Prey and Returnal support unsettling or uncanny moods, while Rift Apart is colorful and adventurous.
- Verify current availability. Store listings, editions, regions, and platform support can change, especially for older releases and newly launched titles.
- Do not assume a special accessory is required. These recommendations are game choices, and no particular peripheral or consumable is identified as necessary for them. Check the platform listing for any title-specific requirements relevant to your setup.
- Do not assume a current price or deal. The purchase decision should be based on the live listing for your region and the edition you intend to buy; no fixed price is established here.
Bottom line by player type
| Your priority | Start with | Accept the difference |
|---|---|---|
| Hostile strange worlds and demanding third-person action | Returnal | Roguelike cycles and no established telekinetic combat |
| Environmental mystery and free-form investigation | Prey | First-person perspective and systems-driven exploration |
| Remedy’s story-driven catalogue | Alan Wake 2 or Quantum Break | Specific mechanical similarity to Control is not established |
| Alternate dimensions and weapon action | Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | Colorful adventure instead of ominous paranormal mystery |
| More Control-universe fiction | CONTROL Resonant | Check the latest release and platform information |
If you want the closest overall combination of uncanny setting and third-person action in this group, start with Returnal—provided its repeating runs appeal to you. If you want to investigate a strange place at your own pace, start with Prey. For Remedy’s storytelling, choose one of the studio’s other listed games without expecting a confirmed mechanical match. For dimensional spectacle in a brighter mood, pick Rift Apart. The best choice is the one that matches the part of Control you actually want more of.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest game to Control?
It depends on what you mean by closest. Returnal is the strongest fit for strange-world third-person action, Prey for unsettling exploration, and Alan Wake 2 or Quantum Break for another game from Remedy. None of the cited descriptions establishes a full match for Control’s telekinetic combat.
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Which games like Control have telekinetic combat?
The alternatives described here are not established as direct replacements for Control’s telekinetic combat. Prey is described as having “mind-bending abilities,” but that wording alone does not verify the same object-throwing combat loop. Returnal is described as a bullet-hell shooter, and Rift Apart as weapon-based action.
Is Returnal a good choice if I dislike roguelikes?
Probably not as your first follow-up. Returnal has a repeating cycle in which death starts another run, and its item combinations change between attempts. If you prefer to explore one interconnected place over time, consider Prey instead.
Is Prey (2017) like Control?
Prey is a reasonable match for players who value strange settings, environmental mystery, secrets, and exploration. It is first-person, while Control is third-person, and the available description does not confirm that its abilities reproduce Control’s telekinetic combat.
Which recommendation is another Remedy game?
Alan Wake 2 and Quantum Break are identified alongside Control in Remedy’s official catalogue. That makes them same-studio suggestions, but the catalogue description does not establish detailed mechanical similarity.
Is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart too different from Control?
It is a looser tonal match. Rift Apart offers alternate worlds, rift traversal, and weapon-based action, but its framing is colorful and adventurous rather than ominous and paranatural. Choose it if dimensional spectacle matters more than horror or mystery.
Do I need to play Control before CONTROL Resonant?
The PlayStation Blog announcement dated December 11, 2025 said newcomers would not need to have played the first Control. For current release status and platform availability, check the latest store listing; an Xbox Wire report dated September 23, 2026 listed September 24, 2026 as its arrival date for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC.
The Bottom Line
For a strange world and demanding third-person action, start with Returnal if you are comfortable with repeated runs. For exploration, choose Prey; for Remedy’s storytelling, try Alan Wake 2 or Quantum Break; and for colorful dimension-hopping, pick Rift Apart. None of these is established as a direct telekinetic-combat replacement for Control, so choose by the feature you most want to revisit.
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