Control Resonant is the highly anticipated sequel to 2019’s Control. The upcoming action RPG, which is set to arrive on September 24, 2026, has a brand-new protagonist, making it a potential entry point to the series, but there’s still plenty of existing fans to get excited about.
Recently, CBR attended a preview of Control Resonant at Summer Game Fest Play Days. During the preview, we played through the first hour of the game as well as a later section, which gave us a detailed look at Control Resonant‘s combat. What we saw was absolutely spectacular and left us even more excited to play the full game.
Control Resonant Is Just As Surreal As the Original
Control Resonant opens with a brief recap of Control, as Jesse rescues her brother Dylan, the game’s new protagonist, from torment. Dylan is left scarred, but he’s also extremely powerful because of what he endured in captivity. Before long, downtown Manhattan is overtaken by paranormal activity.
Fans of Control and masterpieces like Alan Wake will immediately appreciate Control Resonant‘s surreal and unsettling imagery. It feels like the kind of video game David Lynch would make, and while it can occasionally be creepy, those feelings are never so overwhelming that it distracts from what’s happening.
Everything in Control Resonant feels strangely calm, which makes the game all the more unnerving. One of the best examples of that is the game’s first boss, which looks more like something from an abstract art museum rather than a video game. Of course, that enemy is only the beginning, as the sequences shown here look ready to surpass what Control delivered.
Control Resonant’s Combat and Aerial Traversal Feel Incredible
While the imagery in Control Resonant can get trippy, the gameplay is pure action. Resonant changes things up by replacing the shapeshifting gun with a melee weapon that can also change form. Players choose one form at the start, and the scythe stood out because of its range. Taking down enemies is a lot of fun because the combat moves at such a fast pace.
Between the smooth movement and dynamic combat, playing Control Resonant almost feels like a ballet. Traversal is upgraded quickly to something close to what it was by the end of Control. Chaining jumps together while floating through the air feels incredible.
Control Resonant’s combat is already fun early on, but once more powers and abilities come into play, the action becomes top-tier. Only a small taste of the game was shown at the preview, yet it already ranks among the best action experiences of the year. Even with a busy September ahead, Control Resonant is shaping up to be a must-play title for gamers.
Control Resonant is set to release on September 24 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
- Released
-
September 24, 2026
- ESRB
-
Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
-
Remedy Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
-
Remedy Entertainment
- Number of Players
-
Single-player