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Play Alan Wake Remastered next if you want the clearest story connection to Control. It provides the original Alan Wake narrative before Alan Wake 2, the next major chapter in the linked Alan Wake–Control universe. If continuity is less important than trying a different style, choose Quantum Break for cinematic, time-bending action or Max Payne 2 for noir shooting. The ranking below is based on fit—story connection, atmosphere and gameplay feel—not a universal quality score.
The short answer: the best next game depends on what you want from Remedy
Remedy’s games share a recognizable interest in authored stories, unusual settings and stylized action, but they do not all serve the same purpose. After finishing Control, decide whether you want to follow its connected narrative, stay with Remedy while changing genre, or go back to the studio’s earlier shooter design.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Control Ultimate Edition - PlayStation 4 | $29.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Control Xbox One - Xbox One | $18.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Control Ultimate Edition (PS5) | $49.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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FAMILY POCKET RS16 Portable Classic Game Controller - Built-in 260 Games, 2.5 inch LCD, Retro Arcade... | $23.99 | Buy on Amazon |
- Want connected-story context? Start with Alan Wake Remastered, then play Alan Wake 2.
- Want the next major horror-focused chapter? Go to Alan Wake 2, ideally after the first Alan Wake if story details matter to you.
- Want a separate, cinematic science-fiction action story? Choose Quantum Break.
- Want crime-noir shooting? Choose Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, or begin with Max Payne if you want that series from its start.
There is no evidence that every Remedy game must be played in one complete canonical sequence. The practical order below separates confirmed narrative links from optional branches.
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| Rank | Game | Best for | Connection to Control | Overall feel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alan Wake Remastered | Story context and connected-universe setup | Strongest starting point for the Alan Wake side of the shared narrative | Story-led supernatural thriller |
| 2 | Alan Wake 2 | Readers ready for the next horror-focused chapter | Directly relevant to the linked Alan Wake–Control narrative; the first game supplies useful context | Horror investigation involving Saga Anderson and Alan Wake |
| 3 | Quantum Break | Cinematic action and time-bending science fiction | Not established by the cited first-party material as a required entry in the Control/Alan Wake path | Time-amplified action story |
| 4 | Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne | Noir atmosphere and shooting | Not established as part of the Control/Alan Wake narrative sequence | Crime-noir action |
| 5 | Max Payne | The beginning of Remedy’s older action series | Not established as part of the Control/Alan Wake narrative sequence | Earlier noir shooter design |
The positions below the two Alan Wake games are preference-based. They are useful recommendations for different players, not review scores or a claim that one game is objectively better than another.
#1 Best Overall
- Control Ultimate Edition contains the main game and all previously released expansions ("The Foundation" and "Awe") in one great value package
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- Battle a relentless enemy through exciting missions and challenging boss fights to earn powerful upgrades that maximize abilities and customize your weaponry
1. Alan Wake Remastered: the best next step for story continuity
Why it comes first
Alan Wake Remastered is the most useful follow-up when you finished Control because it gives you the original Alan Wake story before you move to its later chapter. Remedy describes Control and Alan Wake as part of a connected universe, and its own development material identifies the Control expansion AWE as setting up Alan Wake 2. That makes the remaster the clearest context-first route.
This recommendation is about narrative preparation, not a claim that you must replay a previous game to understand every later scene. A player interested mainly in a new horror game can start elsewhere; a player who wants references, character history and the intended progression should begin here.
What to expect
The remaster is the older Alan Wake experience presented in a later edition. Its emphasis is a tightly authored supernatural thriller rather than the institutional paranormal setting of Control. The contrast is useful: you remain in Remedy’s story-driven style while moving to a different atmosphere and structure.
Who should choose it
- Players who want to understand the Alan Wake side of the connected universe before Alan Wake 2.
- Players who enjoyed Control’s lore and want another Remedy story with a strong supernatural premise.
- Players who prefer a deliberate story-first route instead of jumping directly to the newest chapter.
Check the edition and platform available for your system before purchasing. The official FAQ records historical release information, but current store availability can change by region and storefront.
2. Alan Wake 2: the next major chapter
Why it is second rather than first
Alan Wake 2 is the strongest choice for a player who wants to continue into the horror-focused branch immediately. Its official game description follows Saga Anderson as she investigates a case that draws her toward the missing writer Alan Wake. Remedy’s development commentary also says the team worked to bring story, atmosphere, pacing and gameplay closer together.
Rank #2
- WORLD WITHIN A LOCATION -- Explore diverse environments and shifting architecture in a deep unpredictable world, set within a sprawling New York building.
- FLEXIBLE AND SUPERNATURAL COMBAT SYSTEM -- Define your playstyle by integrating supernatural abilities, upgrades, and modifiable loadouts.
- REACTIVE ENVIRONMENTS -- Harness dynamic environmental destruction for exciting combat possibilities and master complex rituals to alter your surroundings.
- REALITY MEETS THE UNEXPLAINABLE -- Dive into a dark and brutalist-inspired world where daily reality has been corrupted by an otherworldly force.
It ranks behind the remaster only because the original game supplies useful story context. If you are already familiar with the first Alan Wake, or care more about reaching the newer chapter than about experiencing the complete buildup, you can move directly to Alan Wake 2.
How it fits with Control
The connection is meaningful, but it should not be described as a simple three-game linear campaign. Control and Alan Wake occupy a shared narrative setting, while the first-party material specifically points to AWE as groundwork for Alan Wake 2. That supports the order Alan Wake Remastered → Control (including AWE) → Alan Wake 2 for someone planning a broader replay. It does not establish that every other Remedy title belongs between those entries.
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Who should choose it
- Players who want horror, investigation and atmosphere more than a repeat of Control’s format.
- Players who have completed the first Alan Wake and want the continuation.
- Players willing to accept that the game is a new chapter rather than a direct reskin of Control.
3. Quantum Break: a separate cinematic branch
Why it is a good change of pace
Choose Quantum Break when the Remedy name matters more to you than maintaining the Control–Alan Wake storyline. Remedy lists it in its catalog, and the publisher description presents a time-amplified action premise. Its appeal is cinematic science-fiction action built around time, rather than paranormal investigation in the shared Alan Wake setting.
What not to assume
The available first-party descriptions support calling Quantum Break a Remedy game with a time-bending action concept. They do not establish it as a required connected-universe entry on the same narrative path as Control, AWE and Alan Wake 2. Treat it as an optional branch, not missing homework before the next Alan Wake game.
Best fit
- You want a self-contained story direction after a long paranormal game.
- You prefer overt cinematic presentation and science-fiction stakes.
- You are happy to trade direct continuity for a different premise built around time.
4. Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne: noir action after the paranormal
Why it remains relevant
Max Payne 2 is the right recommendation when what you liked was Remedy’s authored shooting and strong atmosphere, not necessarily the supernatural worldbuilding. Remedy’s catalog and publisher listing identify it as one of the studio’s games. Its defining lane is crime noir: a darker, more grounded setting and a shooter identity distinct from both Control and Alan Wake.
Rank #3
- 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
When to play it
Play it after Control if you want a deliberate change in tone. There is no established requirement to finish an Alan Wake title first, and the cited sources do not place it in the Control/Alan Wake narrative sequence. It is therefore a style-based recommendation rather than a story-order recommendation.
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- You value crime-noir mood over paranormal lore.
- You want Remedy’s earlier shooter design rather than a horror investigation.
- You are comfortable with an older game’s presentation and availability questions.
5. Max Payne: start the older series at its beginning
The original Max Payne is the choice for readers who want to experience that noir action lineage from its beginning instead of starting with the sequel. It appears in Remedy’s catalog, but a current edition, platform list and store availability were not established in the material used here. Check those details for your region before selecting a purchase.
As with Max Payne 2, this is an optional stylistic detour. It is not presented as a required chapter in the connected Control and Alan Wake story.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which play order should you use?
For the complete connected-story route
- Play Alan Wake Remastered.
- Play Control, including the AWE expansion if you have not already done so.
- Play Alan Wake 2.
You have already completed the middle step if you are asking what comes after Control. In that case, begin with the remaster if you want context, then continue to Alan Wake 2.
For the fastest route to the newest relevant chapter
- Start Alan Wake 2.
- Return to Alan Wake Remastered if you want the earlier story afterward.
This sacrifices some narrative buildup but avoids treating the remaster as a mandatory prerequisite.
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Rank #4
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For variety rather than continuity
- Choose Quantum Break for time-focused cinematic action.
- Choose Max Payne 2 for noir shooting.
- Choose Max Payne first if you want to follow that older series from its beginning.
How to choose by gameplay and atmosphere
| If your priority is… | Choose | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Connected lore | Alan Wake Remastered | It supplies the first Alan Wake story before the later connected chapter. |
| Modern horror continuation | Alan Wake 2 | Its premise follows Saga Anderson’s investigation toward Alan Wake. |
| Time-bending action | Quantum Break | Its publisher description centers on a time-amplified action concept. |
| Noir shooting | Max Payne 2 | It offers Remedy’s crime-noir action style. |
| The older noir series from the start | Max Payne | It begins the Max Payne line represented in Remedy’s catalog. |
None of these choices is a substitute for Control itself. They answer different reasons for staying with Remedy: shared story, horror atmosphere, cinematic science fiction or noir action.
Availability and buying checks
Edition and platform availability can differ by region and can change after a game’s original release. Before linking or buying, verify the current store listing for your platform, the edition name and whether the listing is available in your country. This is especially important for the older Max Payne games. For Alan Wake Remastered, match the edition to the platform on which you intend to play; for Alan Wake 2, check the current official listing rather than relying on an old release announcement.
No completion-time, review-score or sales statistic is necessary to make this choice. The useful evidence is the relationship between the games, their stated premises and the kind of experience each one offers.
Bottom line
Start with Alan Wake Remastered if you want the most coherent story-led follow-up to Control, then play Alan Wake 2 as the next major chapter. Pick Quantum Break for a separate time-bending action story, or Max Payne 2 for noir shooting. Use Max Payne when beginning that older series matters more than immediate continuity.
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