Control Resonant looks ready to transform Remedy Entertainment’s supernatural universe into something considerably larger, faster, and more aggressive. Rather than simply repeating the formula of 2019’s Control, the sequel introduces a different protagonist, expands beyond the Oldest House, and shifts combat toward melee-heavy action RPG mechanics.
There is one important distinction: Control Resonant has not been released yet. Remedy has scheduled its worldwide launch for September 24, 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, and GeForce NOW, with Mac following later in the year. Therefore, the ratings below are provisional preview scores, based on official gameplay information and extensive hands-on impressions rather than a finished retail build.
Dylan Faden Takes Control
The biggest change is the protagonist. Jesse Faden steps aside as her brother Dylan Faden becomes the sole playable character.
After spending years confined by the Federal Bureau of Control, Dylan emerges from the Oldest House to discover Manhattan collapsing under a paranormal catastrophe. The Hiss, Mold, and a mysterious new form of resonance are corrupting reality while Jesse has gone missing.
It is an interesting reversal of the original game. Jesse entered the mysterious Oldest House from the outside world; Dylan is now escaping that building and discovering a world he has barely experienced since childhood.
That perspective could give Resonant a more personal story while retaining Remedy’s signature mixture of psychological mystery and cosmic horror.
Melee Combat Changes Everything
The greatest mechanical departure is combat.
Jesse relied heavily on the Service Weapon and telekinetic abilities. Dylan instead fights primarily with the Aberrant, a supernatural weapon capable of changing into multiple melee forms.
Early options include fast twin blades, a wide-reaching scythe, and a heavy axe. Secondary forms can become a massive hammer, a drilling weapon, or a chain-like staff with additional range.
Combat is built around maintaining momentum. Melee attacks restore resources for supernatural abilities, abilities can stagger opponents, and executions temporarily increase melee damage. This creates a loop that encourages players to remain aggressive rather than constantly retreating.
Hands-on reports suggest the system feels closer to a character-action game than the original Control. Air attacks, weapon switching, stagger mechanics, and ability combinations provide considerably more build variety, although PC Gamer noted that its combo system may not be as technically deep as games built specifically around advanced character-action combat.
Manhattan Is More Open, but Not a Traditional Open World
Moving outside the Oldest House dramatically increases the scale.
Remedy divides Manhattan into large handcrafted zones containing encounters, secrets, environmental challenges, main missions, and narrative-driven World Quests. The developer says it deliberately wants to avoid an open world overloaded with repetitive map icons.
Traversal is also much more dynamic. Dylan can double-jump, glide through the air, and manipulate gravity as architecture bends around supernatural anomalies.
One hands-on section described an impossible maze composed of endlessly repeating bedrooms, kitchens, and living spaces. Rooms appeared and disappeared while gravity itself became part of the navigation puzzle—a sequence that reportedly captured the surreal atmosphere that made the original game distinctive.
RPG Systems Offer Greater Build Freedom
Control Resonant is now described as a full action RPG.
Character progression revolves around supernatural abilities, Aberrant weapon forms, and talents that create synergies between the two. Players can even summon entities such as Mold Turrets for more tactical builds.
Powerful bosses known as Resonants provide new supernatural abilities when defeated, with some progression choices locking players toward particular builds. Remedy says everything cannot be unlocked in a single playthrough, making specialization more meaningful.
That could significantly improve replay value compared with the first game.
Control Resonant Preview Scorecard
| Category | Preview Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Combat System | 9.3/10 | A |
| Build Variety | 9.2/10 | A |
| World Design | 9.5/10 | A+ |
| Exploration | 9.1/10 | A |
| Paranormal Atmosphere | 9.7/10 | A+ |
| Visual Presentation | 9.6/10 | A+ |
| Story Potential | 9.0/10 | A |
| Accessibility | 8.7/10 | A- |
| Replay Potential | 9.1/10 | A |
Resonance Meter
Atmosphere: █████████▊ 97%
Combat: █████████▎ 93%
Exploration: █████████▏ 91%
Visual Design: █████████▋ 96%
RPG Depth: █████████▏ 92%
How the Preview Score Is Calculated
Combat accounts for 25%, world and exploration 20%, story potential 15%, RPG systems 15%, visual and atmosphere 15%, and replay potential 10%.
Provisional Score: 9.3/10 — Grade A
Final Preview Verdict
Control Resonant appears willing to take genuine risks. Replacing gun-focused combat with a shapeshifting melee system could have made the sequel feel disconnected from Control, but early demonstrations suggest Remedy has preserved its stranger qualities.
The twisted Manhattan setting, gravity manipulation, paranormal storytelling, and deeper character progression all point toward a sequel with much greater scope.
For now, 9.3/10 is a provisional preview rating rather than a final review score. If the complete game maintains the creativity shown in its strongest demo sections while avoiding repetitive open-zone activities, Control Resonant could become one of Remedy’s most ambitious games yet.
