CONTROL Resonant is a direct sequel to 2019’s CONTROL, following Dylan Faden seven years after the original game’s events. Although it is designed as a standalone story and offers a fresh entry point into Remedy’s Federal Bureau of Control universe, playing CONTROL first provides important emotional and narrative context, particularly for the relationship between Dylan and the original protagonist, Jesse Faden.

The sequel revisits ideas, characters and threats introduced in CONTROL, including the Hiss, Dr Emily Pope and Simon Arish. Resonant reportedly differs considerably in style, leaning closer to Devil May Cry than its predecessor, but both games received a score of nine out of 10 from Destructoid; the article also recommends playing both Alan Wake games because of their wider connections to Remedy’s universe.