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Play Control first. Remedy identifies CONTROL Resonant as its sequel, and the new game returns to the Faden family with Dylan as the playable protagonist and Jesse missing. You do not need to finish every Remedy title before starting. If you want additional context for Remedy’s wider connected setting, play Alan Wake Remastered and Alan Wake 2 as optional side trips, then return to Control before Resonant.
The direct answer: play Control before Resonant
Control is the only essential preparation supported by Remedy’s own descriptions. The studio calls CONTROL Resonant a sequel to Control, making the 2019 game the clearest introduction to the Federal Bureau of Control, the Faden family, and the reality-warping forces that define this setting.
CONTROL Resonant launched worldwide on September 24, 2026, and Remedy now labels it “out now.” Its story follows Dylan Faden as he fights to preserve his humanity and survive a threat reshaping Manhattan. Remedy has also disclosed that Jesse Faden is missing, while the Hiss and the Mold return alongside a new form of resonance. Those details make the first game’s characters, terminology and supernatural rules especially useful context.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →No official statement says you must complete Alan Wake, Alan Wake 2, Quantum Break, Max Payne or FBC: Firebreak to understand Resonant. Treat the Alan Wake games as optional expansion of the setting, not as prerequisites.
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Two sensible play paths
Short path: the minimum story preparation
- Control (2019): play the campaign to learn the Bureau, Jesse and Dylan Faden, the Hiss, the Oldest House and the game’s approach to altered reality.
- CONTROL Resonant (2026): continue directly into Dylan’s story.
This route gives you the strongest continuity value with the least time commitment. It is also the best choice if you mainly want to start the new game without turning preparation into a separate marathon.
Broader Remedy Connected Universe path
- Alan Wake Remastered (2021): follow writer Alan Wake as he searches for his missing wife while events from a horror story begin to occur.
- Alan Wake 2 (2023): continue the Alan Wake side of the setting through a survival-horror story with two protagonists and two realities.
- Control (2019): play the direct predecessor after the Alan Wake games so the Faden family and Bureau remain fresh.
- CONTROL Resonant (2026): start the sequel with both strands of Remedy’s fiction in mind.
Remedy’s investor guidance says that Control and Alan Wake are two established franchises linked through the Remedy Connected Universe (RCU). That confirms a meaningful connection, but it does not establish a single mandatory chronology or require every crossover reference to be understood.
What Control teaches you before Resonant
The Faden family
Control places Jesse Faden at the center of the Bureau’s crisis and establishes Dylan as her brother. Resonant shifts the playable role to Dylan and begins with Jesse missing, so knowing their relationship gives the new premise emotional and narrative context without requiring speculation about undisclosed plot details.
The Federal Bureau of Control
The first game introduces a secretive New York agency investigating supernatural phenomena. Its headquarters, the Oldest House, is an unstable space whose rooms, rules and architecture can change. Understanding that the Bureau studies and contains reality-altering events helps explain why Resonant can move into a warped Manhattan without treating every impossible event as a separate explanation.
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The Hiss, the Mold and resonance
Control gives names and context to major forces in this world. Remedy has confirmed that the Hiss and the Mold are among the forces present in Resonant, together with a new form of resonance. Playing the original is therefore the most reliable way to recognize returning terminology and distinguish established threats from the sequel’s new material.
The tone and genre
Remedy describes Control as a supernatural action-adventure. Its blend of gunplay, telekinetic abilities, exploration and cryptic Bureau documents sets expectations for a story that explains its world indirectly. If that combination appeals to you, the sequel’s action-adventure RPG framing should feel familiar even as its Manhattan setting and Dylan-focused structure add changes.
Why Alan Wake is relevant—but still optional
Alan Wake Remastered
The remastered edition is the most accessible way to play the original Alan Wake story. It follows Alan, a writer searching for his missing wife while a horror narrative appears to become real. The game is a psychological action thriller rather than a Bureau-focused action-adventure, so it adds thematic and universe context rather than direct instruction for Resonant.
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Choose it if you enjoy stories about authorship, reality changing around written fiction, and deliberately ambiguous supernatural rules. Skip it if your only goal is to understand Dylan, Jesse and the Bureau before the sequel.
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Alan Wake 2
Alan Wake 2 expands that side of the setting as a survival-horror game with two protagonists and two realities. It is useful for readers who want the most developed view of the Alan Wake branch of the RCU, but its genre, protagonists and immediate conflict differ from Control.
Playing both Alan Wake games before Control creates a broad Remedy route, not an officially required sequence. The practical benefit is recognizing shared ideas and references; the cost is adding two complete games before reaching the direct sequel.
Comparison: which route fits your goal?
| Route | Games | Continuity value | Time commitment | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct sequel route | Control → CONTROL Resonant | Highest for Dylan, Jesse and the Bureau | Two games | Players who want the clearest preparation |
| One-game RCU expansion | Alan Wake Remastered → Control → CONTROL Resonant | Adds Alan Wake context while preserving the direct path | Three games | Players curious about Remedy’s connected storytelling |
| Full Alan Wake detour | Alan Wake Remastered → Alan Wake 2 → Control → CONTROL Resonant | Broadest context among the established RCU games described here | Four games | Fans who prefer world-building over speed |
The time descriptions count titles rather than measured completion hours. No official source establishes a required play order beyond the direct sequel relationship between Control and Resonant.
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Genre and platform considerations
Choose by genre
- Supernatural action-adventure: Control is the closest match to the direct sequel’s foundation.
- Psychological action thriller: Alan Wake Remastered offers a more linear, writer-centered horror experience.
- Survival horror: Alan Wake 2 emphasizes tension, investigation and two-protagonist storytelling.
Genre preference is a legitimate reason to stop after Control. You are not missing a required tutorial for Resonant by leaving the Alan Wake games for later.
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Current platforms
Remedy currently lists CONTROL Resonant on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store, and GeForce NOW. The studio says Mac versions through Steam and the App Store will follow later in 2026. Availability can vary by region and storefront, so check the relevant store page before purchasing.
Remedy’s current pages list platform information for Control, Alan Wake Remastered and Alan Wake 2 as well. Older releases and remastered editions can differ by platform, and regional storefront listings may change. Confirm compatibility for the system you plan to use instead of assuming that every edition is available everywhere.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which edition should you start with?
Control Ultimate Edition
Control Ultimate Edition is the natural purchase to investigate when preparing for Resonant, because Control is the direct predecessor. The edition is optional preparation, not a formal requirement, and the important continuity comes from playing the original campaign rather than owning a particular label.
If you already own another complete version of Control, you do not need to buy it again solely for story access. Check what edition and downloadable content your platform listing includes before paying for an upgrade.
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Physical and digital copies of Resonant
Remedy’s June 2026 announcement said that physical and digital editions of CONTROL Resonant were available for preorder. That announcement confirms the planned formats; it does not guarantee stock, a particular edition or retailer availability in every territory. The game is now released, so verify the current platform SKU and local availability at the store you intend to use.
A practical step-by-step plan
- Decide how much context you want. For the shortest route, begin with Control. For RCU background, add one or both Alan Wake games before it.
- Play the main story of Control. Focus on Jesse, Dylan, the Bureau, the Oldest House, the Hiss and the Mold. Optional documents and side missions can deepen the setting but are not stated prerequisites.
- Use Alan Wake as enrichment, not homework. Play Alan Wake Remastered if the writer-and-reality premise interests you; add Alan Wake 2 if you want the broader survival-horror branch.
- Check your platform before buying Resonant. Current listings include PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Epic Games Store and GeForce NOW, with Mac versions described as forthcoming later in 2026.
- Start Resonant when you are ready. There is no official requirement to complete every related Remedy game first.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating the RCU as a mandatory checklist: the confirmed link between Control and Alan Wake supports optional exploration, not a universal completion order.
- Assuming every Remedy franchise is part of this path: the continuity statement specifically identifies Control and Alan Wake. It does not establish that Quantum Break or Max Payne is required for Resonant.
- Expecting a full plot explanation before release-era disclosures: Remedy has confirmed Dylan’s role, Jesse’s absence, returning forces and a new resonance, but those facts do not justify inventing additional story connections.
- Confusing announced formats with guaranteed stock: physical and digital editions were announced, while current inventory and regional availability can change.
- Skipping Control because you played Alan Wake: Alan Wake supplies optional RCU context; it does not replace the direct introduction to the Faden family and Federal Bureau.
What is known about Resonant’s story and release
Remedy describes CONTROL Resonant as an action-adventure RPG set in warped Manhattan. Dylan Faden is the playable protagonist, and the central conflict concerns his humanity and survival against a reality-bending threat. Jesse Faden is missing. The Hiss and the Mold are present, joined by a new form of resonance.
The worldwide release date was September 24, 2026. In the launch announcement, Creative Director Mikael Kasurinen wrote, “This took seven years.” That production comment provides context for the sequel’s long development, but it does not change the recommended play order.
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Final recommendation
Start with Control, then play CONTROL Resonant. Add Alan Wake Remastered and Alan Wake 2 only if you want optional Remedy Connected Universe context or prefer their psychological-thriller and survival-horror styles. That approach keeps the direct Faden-family continuity intact while leaving the wider Remedy catalog available for exploration before or after the sequel.
Quick Recap
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