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Alan Wake 2 vs. Control: Which Remedy Game Should You Play First?

Start with Alan Wake 2 for survival horror and a parallel mystery, or Control for supernatural action-adventure. Remedy’s shared universe does not require a specific play order.
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Choose Alan Wake 2 first if you want survival horror and a parallel mystery about two protagonists. Choose Control first if you prefer supernatural action-adventure built around abilities, loadouts and an explorable world. Remedy connects the games in a shared universe, but its official descriptions do not make either one a required prerequisite for the other.

Which game fits what you want to play?

Your preference Start with Why
Survival horror and an unsettling, dual-protagonist mystery Alan Wake 2 Remedy labels it survival horror and describes a story spanning two realities and two heroes. Remedy’s Alan Wake 2 page uses the line “Two realities. Two hero characters. One horror story that wants them dead.”
Paranormal action-adventure, supernatural abilities and modifiable loadouts Control Remedy describes it as a supernatural third-person action-adventure with abilities, loadouts and reactive environments. Remedy’s Control page also emphasizes its deep, unpredictable world.
The broader Remedy connected-universe context Either, based on genre preference Remedy links the franchises through its Remedy Connected Universe, but its official material does not prescribe which game must come first. Remedy Connected Universe
You need a previous console generation Control may be the practical option Remedy lists PS4, Xbox One and a Nintendo Switch cloud version for Control. Its Alan Wake 2 page lists PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Epic Games Store on PC. Check the local store and device requirements before choosing.

How their stories differ

Alan Wake 2: two journeys in parallel

The story follows FBI agent Saga Anderson as she investigates murders in Bright Falls and writer Alan Wake as he tries to escape the Dark Place. Remedy’s announcement describes the game as a layered mystery with two disturbing journeys that run in parallel and echo one another. That dual-protagonist structure is central to the premise, not just a change of setting.

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Remedy’s story announcement attributes that description to Sam Lake, the game’s Creative Director and Lead Writer.

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Control: a new Director in a strange agency

Control begins with the player as the new Director of a secretive agency facing an otherworldly invasion. Its supernatural action and reactive environments make the agency itself part of the appeal: Remedy presents the setting as a deep, unpredictable world to explore, rather than describing the game primarily as a horror story.

#1 Best Overall
Alan Wake - Xbox 360
  • From Remedy, the masters of cinematic action, comes a 3rd person action game filled with overwhelming odds
  • Alan Wake is like a tightly paced thriller TV series, offering endless twists and cliffhangers, and building up to an epic conclusion.
  • Light is your greatest weapon and only protection as dark¬ness takes over everything and everyone, and turns them against you.
  • Episodic narrative
  • Suspenseful and gripping storyline

Does the Remedy Connected Universe mean you should play one first?

No required order is established in Remedy’s official pages. The games share a connected universe, so playing both can add context, but the connection alone is not a reason to postpone the game that better suits your taste. Pick by genre first: Alan Wake 2 for survival horror and its two-reality mystery, or Control for supernatural action-adventure.

Release dates also do not impose an order. Remedy lists Control as a 2019 release and Alan Wake 2 as a 2023 release; the older date does not make Control a stated prerequisite.

Rank #2
Alan Wake Remastered - XBX
  • Intensiver Kampf, bei dem mehr als nur Kugeln erforderlich sind, um die Dunkelheit zu verbannen!
  • Schwächt ‘The Taken’ mit Licht, bevor ihr sie endgültig fertigstellt
  • Verwenden Sie Lichter in der Umgebung als Inseln der Sicherheit in einer Welt, in der Dunkelheit tödlich ist
  • Finden Sie Manuskriptseiten aus einem Roman Wake kann sich nicht daran erinnern, geschrieben zu haben
  • Reise durch eine visuell beeindruckende und furchterregende Version des pazifischen Nordwestens, mit neu überarbeiteter visueller Wiedergabetreue, die ein klassisches Spiel auf neue Plattformen und Spieler bringt
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Check platform availability before deciding

Remedy’s official platform listings differ, which can settle the choice if you use older hardware:

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  • Alan Wake 2: Epic Games Store on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
  • Control: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, a Nintendo Switch cloud version, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

These are the platforms listed on Remedy’s game pages, not a guarantee of availability on every storefront, in every region, or on every device configuration. Check the relevant platform store for current compatibility and edition details.

Rank #3
Just For Games Alan Wake
  • PEGI Rating: Ages _ 16 _ and _ Over
  • Platform: Windows 7
  • Editor: Just For Games
  • Release Date: 2012-03-09

What sales figures do—and do not—tell you

Remedy’s 2024 company reporting said Alan Wake 2 had sold 1 million units by the end of December 2023 and 1.3 million as of early February 2024. The same reporting said Control had sold over 4 million units since its 2019 release. These are historical, company-reported figures, not current totals or a measure of which game is better. Remedy’s January–December 2023 financial statements bulletin

Franchise context beyond these two games

Remedy’s current CONTROL Resonant page identifies it as the sequel to Control and says it is out now. The page lists PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC through Steam and Epic Games Store, and GeForce NOW; Mac via Steam and the App Store is listed as following later in 2026. CONTROL Resonant is a separate game, not one of the two choices compared here. Remedy’s CONTROL Resonant page

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Alan Wake - Xbox 360
Alan Wake - Xbox 360
Episodic narrative; Suspenseful and gripping storyline
$20.50
Bestseller No. 2
Alan Wake Remastered - XBX
Alan Wake Remastered - XBX
Schwächt ‘The Taken’ mit Licht, bevor ihr sie endgültig fertigstellt
$48.99
Bestseller No. 3
Just For Games Alan Wake
Just For Games Alan Wake
PEGI Rating: Ages _ 16 _ and _ Over; Platform: Windows 7; Editor: Just For Games; Release Date: 2012-03-09
$20.35

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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