Do you need to play Control before CONTROL Resonant?
The studio says you do not. Resonant is built as an easy entry point, and the original stays there for anyone who wants Jesse’s story first.
The studio’s answer
The developer’s pinned FAQ has an entry for exactly this question: “Do I need to play the first CONTROL before playing CONTROL Resonant?”
“No. Both games stand on their own, each featuring a distinct journey through the ever-evolving paranatural world of CONTROL. Resonant is designed to be an easy entry point for new players.”
Answered in Steam discussions: the developer's pinned FAQ
The answer ends with a parenthesis for the other kind of player: if you would like to experience Jesse’s story first, the original game is there to play.
Creative Director Mikael Kasurinen gave the same message to Xbox Wire: “And it’s easier for new players to jump in: there’s no pressure to play the first Control before Resonant.” He continues that “They both work as their own experiences, each with a protagonist who’s a blank slate, ready to discover their fate.” Said in Xbox Wire: Control Resonant, self-publishing and Xbox Play Anywhere
What the recap video covers
The Steam announcement for the video frames it this way: “Before you enter the world of CONTROL Resonant, catch up on the story of CONTROL and discover how we got here.” The announcement text sums the first game up in one sentence:
“As the new Director of the FBC, Jesse fought an interdimensional resonance known as the Hiss, uncovered the truth behind the strange events surrounding the Bureau, and finally found her long-lost brother, Dylan.”
Written in Steam announcement: Previously on CONTROL
The video runs about five minutes, so expect the first game’s story in it. The people in that sentence have their own pages here: Jesse Faden and Dylan Faden.
Which way to go
- Start with Resonant. This is the route the studio describes. Dylan is the only playable character, and the premise page shows what the story text gives you before you begin.
- Watch the recap, then start. If you want context and no replay, the video above is the studio’s own version of the first game’s story.
- Play Control first. Kasurinen’s advice for anyone curious about the other half: “nothing stops you from seeing the other side of the coin.” Steam lists both games together as a bundle, CONTROL: The Siblings Collection (the Control Ultimate Edition plus the Resonant Digital Deluxe Edition). Listed on Steam store page (appdetails API) Prices and contents are on the editions page.
- Check the gameplay swap first. If the change from gunplay to melee is what makes you hesitate, the studio’s own description of it sits on Resonant vs Control.
What a new player gets
Both routes lead to the same pair of characters. Kasurinen: “The stories in both games have the Faden siblings at the center; we just shift the perspective depending on which game you play.” Said in Xbox Wire: Control Resonant, self-publishing and Xbox Play Anywhere Resonant follows Dylan, and where it sits in the timeline is covered on the sequel page.
Related
- Is it a sequel? for the studio’s wording and the timeline
- Resonant vs Control for what changed in the fighting and the setting
- Jesse Faden for where her story is told