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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchIf you want the closest follow-up to Control’s surreal atmosphere and Remedy storytelling, play Alan Wake 2—provided you’re also in the mood for stronger horror. For a less horror-focused mix of time powers and cinematic action, choose Quantum Break. If you want to explore an earlier paranatural story first, pick Alan Wake Remastered. These games share some creative DNA, but none should be treated as a like-for-like replacement for Control.
The right choice depends on which part of Control you want to carry forward: the uncanny setting, the reality-bending story, the supernatural abilities, the third-person action, or the feeling of uncovering secrets inside an impossible institution. This guide separates those qualities so you can choose by mood rather than by the loose label “surreal.”
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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CONTROL Ultimate Edition - PlayStation 5 | Buy on Amazon | |
| 2 |
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Control Ultimate Edition - PlayStation 4 | $29.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Control Ultimate Edition (PS4) | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Control (Ultimate Edition) | $249.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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What makes a game feel like Control?
Control is a supernatural third-person action-adventure starring Jesse Faden, the new Director of the Federal Bureau of Control. Its central setting is the Oldest House, a concrete New York skyscraper whose interior shifts and hides strange phenomena. The appeal is not just that the story is strange: the building, supernatural abilities, reactive environments, side quests, and shape-shifting Service Weapon combine into a forceful action game set in an uncanny institution. PlayStation’s official description and the Control official site both emphasize those powers and transforming weaponry.
That mix is the right baseline for choosing what to play next. A recommendation can match the unsettling atmosphere but differ sharply in combat, or resemble the action while offering little of the shifting-space exploration. TIME’s 2019 review used Lynchian and The X-Files-like comparisons to convey Control’s mood; that is one critic’s framing, not an official genre label or a promise that another game will feel the same.
#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.
There are several distinct ingredients to separate:
- Supernatural action: Jesse combines a transforming Service Weapon with supernatural abilities, making the fights feel tied to the world rather than detached from it.
- Reactive environments: the surroundings are part of the action and contribute to the sense that the Oldest House is unstable.
- Institutional mystery: the setting is an enormous government bureau filled with phenomena, missions and side stories.
- Exploration of shifting space: the building conceals secrets and changes the meaning of familiar corridors and rooms.
- Uncanny tone: the game balances action-adventure momentum with a persistent feeling that ordinary rules no longer apply.
A follow-up can match one or two of these qualities without matching all of them. Alan Wake 2 is the strongest recommendation for eerie Remedy storytelling, but it is explicitly described as narrative-driven horror. Quantum Break brings reality distortion and extraordinary powers, yet its live-action television episodes change how the story is delivered. Max Payne is the most relevant if shooting and cinematic storytelling matter more than paranormal exploration. Keeping those trade-offs visible prevents disappointment.
Quick comparison: which game fits your next mood?
| Game | Best reason to choose it after Control | What changes from Control |
|---|---|---|
| Alan Wake 2 | Surreal Remedy storytelling and atmospheric horror | It is described as narrative-driven horror and alternates between two realities; the available descriptions do not establish that its combat or exploration matches Control. |
| Alan Wake Remastered | An earlier paranatural story set in Bright Falls | Its documented premise centers on a writer whose work affects reality and who uses light against a spreading Dark Presence; mechanical similarity to Control is not established. |
| Quantum Break | Time-warping powers and cinematic action | Its story integrates live-action television episodes, a substantial difference in how the narrative is presented. |
| Max Payne | Cinematic third-person shooting and character-driven storytelling | It is a weaker fit for Control’s paranormal setting and shifting-space exploration. |
Remedy’s catalog lists all four titles. The distinctions above draw on descriptions from GamesRadar and Remedy rather than personal playtesting, so treat them as guides to premise and presentation—not claims that the games share identical systems.
Alan Wake 2: the closest fit for surreal storytelling, with more horror
Choose it if atmosphere and reality-bending narrative matter most
Of these options, Alan Wake 2 is the clearest recommendation if you want another unsettling story from Remedy. GamesRadar describes it as a narrative-driven horror game that alternates between two realities. Saga Anderson investigates ritualistic murders, while Alan Wake tries to escape the Dark Place. That split perspective gives the game a different narrative shape from Jesse’s exploration of the Oldest House, while keeping the emphasis on eerie, reality-bending events.
The two-reality structure is important when setting expectations. In Control, the strange environment is concentrated in one shifting institutional space. In Alan Wake 2, the premise itself moves between two narrative realms and two protagonists. Choose it when following a reality-bending story is more important than returning to the exact rhythm of Jesse’s missions.
Know what you are trading
The stronger horror emphasis is the important qualification. Control is framed as supernatural action-adventure; Alan Wake 2 is framed as horror. Choose it for dread, atmosphere, and Remedy storytelling—not on the assumption that it reproduces Control’s combat or exploration loop. The available descriptions do not establish a mechanical match, so expectations about those systems should stay open.
This makes Alan Wake 2 a particularly good choice for players whose favorite moments in Control were the unsettling discoveries, the feeling of reality bending around the characters, and the studio’s distinctive narrative voice. It is a less certain choice if your priority is a large explorable building, a shape-shifting weapon, or the specific combination of supernatural powers and environmental action documented for Control.
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Alan Wake Remastered: an earlier paranatural story
Choose it if you want to visit Bright Falls first
Alan Wake Remastered is a sensible pick if you would rather explore an earlier story in Remedy’s supernatural storytelling space. GamesRadar describes a writer caught in a paranatural event in Bright Falls, where his writing affects reality and he uses light against a spreading Dark Presence. That premise offers another route into stories where ordinary reality becomes unreliable.
The remaster is also a choice about narrative chronology and context. If the idea of seeing an earlier version of the wider story world appeals to you, it provides that experience before or alongside Alan Wake 2. If you are simply looking for a new action system after Control, however, the documented premise alone cannot promise that it will satisfy the same desire.
Do not buy it expecting Control’s structure
The documented premise does not establish that Alan Wake Remastered plays like Control. Its value in this decision is the earlier story and its paranormal setup, not a confirmed match for Jesse’s abilities, the Service Weapon, or the Oldest House’s shifting layout. Remedy lists both Alan Wake Remastered and Alan Wake 2 in its catalog, but the available descriptions do not establish that playing the remaster is required to understand the sequel. Choose it when the earlier story interests you, rather than treating it as a mandatory step.
Rank #2
- 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
That distinction is useful for avoiding a common mistake: assuming that games connected by a studio or broad fictional ideas must share the same pacing and controls. Here, the reliable reason to choose the remaster is its Bright Falls premise and its place as an earlier paranatural story, not a guaranteed mechanical continuation of Control.
Quantum Break: time powers and a television-style story
Choose it if action and time distortion outrank horror
Quantum Break centers on a world where time is fracturing and protagonist Jack Joyce uses time-warping powers. That makes it a good fit for players seeking extraordinary abilities and action without choosing Alan Wake 2 primarily for its horror framing. Remedy lists the game in its catalog, and GamesRadar describes its combination of time powers and cinematic action.
The appeal is therefore adjacent to Control rather than identical. Both premises involve reality behaving in abnormal ways, but Quantum Break gives the distortion a time-based focus. Select it when the idea of manipulating or surviving a fractured timeline sounds more attractive than investigating an uncanny government building.
Expect a different way of telling the story
Quantum Break integrates a live-action television show into its narrative. That presentation is a major distinction from the other games in this comparison, and it may matter as much as the premise: choose it if the blended live-action format sounds appealing, or skip it if you want a conventional game-only presentation. Its time-fracture concept supports the reality-distortion side of Control’s appeal, but the sources do not establish that it shares the Oldest House’s exploration structure.
Think of the live-action component as a format decision, not a minor extra. Someone looking for a tightly game-based exploration loop may find the television episodes an unexpected change of pace, while a player who enjoys cinematic storytelling may see them as the reason to choose Quantum Break over the other recommendations.
Max Payne: Remedy-style shooting, less paranormal exploration
If what you most want is cinematic third-person shooting and character-driven storytelling, Max Payne is worth considering. GamesRadar characterizes it as cinematic action with a reality-fraying combat sensibility, and Remedy lists it in its catalog. It is the weaker match if your favorite part of Control was the supernatural institution or discovering secrets in a shifting building. In other words, choose it for the shooting and storytelling angle, not for a comparable paranormal setting.
This is the recommendation to make when “similar to Control” really means “another Remedy-led third-person action story with a strong cinematic identity.” It should not be presented as a replacement for the Oldest House, Jesse’s powers, or Control’s reactive supernatural environment. Its strength in this list is a different part of the baseline: action framed through character and cinematic presentation.
Compare the games by the feature you miss most
Combat and extraordinary abilities
Control is explicitly built around supernatural abilities, environmental use and a transforming Service Weapon. That combination makes combat central to the identity of the game. Quantum Break is the clearest alternative when the important word is “powers,” because its documented premise gives Jack Joyce time-warping abilities. Alan Wake 2 is not a safe pick if you require the same action emphasis: its description foregrounds narrative-driven horror instead. Max Payne is more appropriate when conventional cinematic shooting is the priority.
Horror intensity
The tonal gap matters. Control is presented as supernatural action-adventure, even though its atmosphere can be deeply unsettling. Alan Wake 2 is specifically described as narrative-driven horror, so it is the choice for readers who want the unsettling side turned up. Quantum Break is a better fit when reality distortion and action sound more appealing than a horror-first framing. The descriptions for Alan Wake Remastered establish a paranatural event and a spreading Dark Presence, but they do not provide a basis for promising a particular horror intensity.
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The Oldest House is not just a backdrop. It is a shifting building whose secrets, side quests and reactive environments shape how Control feels to play. None of the descriptions for the alternatives establishes the same kind of building-based or metroidvania-style exploration. Do not infer that similarity from a surreal premise, a shared developer, or a connection to paranormal fiction.
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
- players who purchase control ultimate Edition for PS4 will be able to download the next-gen optimized version when transitioning to PS5.Please note that the control ultimate Edition PS4 Blu-ray disc must be kept insert in the PS5 console to play the corresponding PS5 digital version
Use this test: if your favorite memory is finding a hidden room or learning that a familiar part of the building has changed, the alternatives should be treated as thematic companions rather than confirmed structural matches. Alan Wake 2 may satisfy the desire for strange spaces and realities, but the documented material does not establish that it uses the Oldest House’s exploration loop.
Narrative delivery
The way a game tells its story can determine whether it feels like a good follow-up. Alan Wake 2 alternates between Saga Anderson and Alan Wake in two realities. Quantum Break integrates live-action television episodes. Alan Wake Remastered centers on a writer whose work affects reality in Bright Falls. Max Payne is characterized through cinematic action and character-driven storytelling. Those are meaningful differences even before considering controls or combat.
Studio continuity
All four recommendations appear in Remedy’s catalog, which makes them reasonable starting points for someone seeking the studio’s recurring interest in unusual realities and cinematic storytelling. Studio continuity is a useful signal, not a guarantee of identical mechanics. Remedy’s catalog confirms the titles; it does not establish that each one has the same combat systems, exploration model, tone or platform availability.
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How to choose based on what you liked about Control
- You want eerie Remedy storytelling and welcome more horror: Start with Alan Wake 2.
- You want an earlier paranatural premise: Try Alan Wake Remastered, without assuming it recreates Control’s mechanics.
- You want powers and action, but are less focused on horror: Consider Quantum Break if its live-action episodes appeal to you.
- You mainly want cinematic third-person shooting: Consider Max Payne, while expecting less paranormal exploration.
- You want the exact Oldest House-style structure: None of these descriptions provides a confirmed match, so do not choose solely on the promise of a similar building or exploration loop.
It also helps to separate the parts of Control you want to carry forward. Its supernatural abilities and environmental action point toward one kind of recommendation; its uncanny mood points toward another. Its shifting building is more specific: none of the descriptions here establishes another game with the same kind of space or exploration structure. Do not assume that a game is mechanically similar just because it shares a surreal premise or comes from the same studio.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical order for exploring Remedy’s surreal games
There is no documented requirement to play these games in a particular order. If you want the most direct mood match after Control, begin with Alan Wake 2. If you prefer to encounter an earlier Bright Falls story first, choose Alan Wake Remastered. If your priority is powers and cinematic action rather than horror, move to Quantum Break. If you want to step back from paranormal settings and focus on cinematic shooting, choose Max Payne.
That order is preference-based, not a claim about a mandatory story sequence. The descriptions establish that Alan Wake Remastered is an earlier paranatural story and that Alan Wake 2 is a later recommendation in the same broad storytelling space, but they do not establish that the remaster is required to understand the sequel. Pick the title that matches your current tolerance for horror, your interest in live-action presentation and the kind of action you want.
Where Control Ultimate Edition fits
If you have not played Control yet—or want its full released package before moving on—the official Control site says Control Ultimate Edition contains the full game and both released expansions, The Foundation and AWE. The site lists availability across PC storefronts, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Store listings can change, so check the listing for your specific system and region for the current format and availability before purchasing. No current price is established here.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe Foundation and AWE matter when deciding whether you have finished the complete released package. The official description identifies both as included in the Ultimate Edition; it does not justify assuming that every platform offers the same format or current listing. If you are comparing an edition you already own with the Ultimate Edition, verify exactly what the merchant page says is included rather than relying on the name alone.
Check platform availability before deciding
Platform access depends on the title, storefront, and region. Remedy’s catalog establishes that these are real Remedy titles, but it is not a guarantee of a current listing on every system or in every country. Before buying, check the game’s current store page for your platform and region, and confirm that the edition is the one you intend to get. This is especially useful when comparing older titles and remasters, where the listing you find may not match another platform’s edition.
The official Control site lists PC storefronts, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch, but live storefront details can change. The same caution applies to the other recommendations: do not infer availability, format, price, stock or upgrade terms from another platform’s page. Confirm the exact system, edition and region at the merchant before completing a purchase.
Rank #4
- Discover the secrets
- Utilize your surroundings as weapons
- Venture into a concealed realm
- Strive for dominance
Common mistakes when choosing a follow-up
- Equating surreal atmosphere with identical gameplay: A reality-bending premise does not prove that a game has Control’s abilities, weapon model or exploration structure.
- Ignoring the horror label: Alan Wake 2 is described as narrative-driven horror, so it is not simply a more of the same action-adventure recommendation.
- Overlooking presentation format: Quantum Break includes live-action television episodes, which can be a deciding factor rather than a footnote.
- Assuming the remaster is mandatory: Alan Wake Remastered is an earlier paranatural story, but the documented descriptions do not establish that it is required before Alan Wake 2.
- Buying from an outdated listing: Platform, region, edition, stock and price can change. Verify the current merchant page.
These checks keep the recommendation honest. The strongest match for one aspect of Control can be a poor match for another, and a title’s connection to Remedy does not remove the need to compare tone, structure and presentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest game to Control?
Alan Wake 2 is the closest named recommendation for surreal Remedy storytelling and unsettling atmosphere. It is described as narrative-driven horror, however, so do not expect an identical combat or exploration loop.
Should I play Alan Wake Remastered before Alan Wake 2?
Choose Alan Wake Remastered if you want an earlier paranatural story in Bright Falls. The documented descriptions do not establish that it is required to understand Alan Wake 2, so it is an interest-based choice rather than a mandatory first step.
Is Quantum Break similar to Control?
Quantum Break overlaps through reality distortion, extraordinary abilities and cinematic action. Its focus is a fracturing timeline and Jack Joyce’s time-warping powers, and its narrative includes live-action television episodes. The available descriptions do not establish that it shares Control’s shifting-building exploration.
Which recommendation has the most horror?
Alan Wake 2 is the clearest horror-first choice because it is described as a narrative-driven horror game. Control is framed as supernatural action-adventure, while the descriptions for the other titles support different emphases rather than a specific horror ranking.
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Choose Max Payne if cinematic third-person shooting and character-driven storytelling matter most. It is a weaker match for Control’s paranormal institution and shifting-space exploration, so select it for the shooting and cinematic angle.
Does any game here recreate the Oldest House?
No confirmed match is established by the documented descriptions. Control’s shifting concrete skyscraper, secrets, side quests and reactive environments are unusually specific. The alternatives may share surreal or paranormal ideas, but you should not assume the same exploration structure.
What does Control Ultimate Edition include?
The official Control site says the Ultimate Edition contains the full game and both released expansions, The Foundation and AWE. Check the current listing for your system and region because format and availability can change.
How should I check whether a game is available on my platform?
Open the current store page for your exact system and region. Confirm the title, edition, format and included content, and check the current price and stock at the merchant. A listing on one platform does not guarantee the same availability elsewhere.
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The Bottom Line
Start with Alan Wake 2 for the strongest combination of surreal Remedy storytelling and atmosphere, accepting its stronger horror focus. Choose Alan Wake Remastered for an earlier Bright Falls paranatural story, Quantum Break for time powers and live-action cinematic presentation, or Max Payne for Remedy-style third-person shooting. None is a confirmed replacement for the Oldest House’s shifting exploration, so choose according to the specific part of Control you want next—and verify the current platform listing before buying.
Quick Recap
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