Control Ultimate Edition stands out as a third-person action-adventure game that blends supernatural elements with intense combat and exploration. Developed by Remedy Entertainment, this title puts you in the shoes of Jesse Faden, who becomes the Director of the Federal Bureau of Control amid a crisis involving a corrupting force known as the Hiss. The game unfolds in the ever-shifting Oldest House, a brutalist building filled with secrets and otherworldly phenomena. With its focus on telekinetic powers and a transforming weapon, it delivers a single-player experience that emphasizes story, discovery, and dynamic fights against possessed enemies.
Gameplay
In Control Ultimate Edition, the core gameplay revolves around navigating the labyrinthine Oldest House while battling the Hiss invasion. You control Jesse, who wields the Service Weapon, a supernatural gun that shifts forms like a pistol, shotgun, or rapid-fire variant. Combat integrates gunplay with abilities such as Launch, where you hurl objects at foes, or Shield for defense. These powers upgrade through a skill tree, allowing customization based on collected resources and completed challenges.
Exploration plays a key role, with the environment changing via control points that cleanse areas and unlock fast travel. Puzzles often involve manipulating the surroundings, like using abilities to access hidden rooms or solve environmental riddles. Side missions expand the lore, offering encounters with altered items and bureau rituals that test your mastery of mechanics. The game's physics engine shines in destruction, letting you rip apart scenery for improvised weapons during fights.
Game Modes
Control Ultimate Edition is built around a single-player campaign, with no multiplayer components. The main story follows Jesse's quest to contain the Hiss and uncover bureau mysteries, spanning various sectors of the Oldest House. Side quests provide additional content, such as hunting altered world events or investigating bureau alerts, which reward upgrades and deeper narrative insights.
The package includes two expansions: The Foundation, which delves into the bureau's underbelly with new abilities like Shape for terrain manipulation, and AWE, connecting to Remedy's Alan Wake universe through crossover elements and new enemy types. These add hours of gameplay, introducing fresh missions and boss encounters without altering the core single-player structure.
Story and World
The narrative centers on Jesse's search for her brother while grappling with her role as Director. The Federal Bureau of Control deals with paranormal objects and events, creating a setting rich with collectibles like case files and audio logs that reveal bizarre backstories. Factions are minimal, primarily the bureau staff versus the Hiss, but interactions with characters like the janitor Ahti add quirky depth.
Mechanics tie into the story, with the Astral Plane serving as a hub for ability unlocks and lore dumps. The world's design encourages backtracking as new powers open previously inaccessible areas, fostering a sense of progression in this secretive agency.
Is It Worth Playing?
Control Ultimate Edition holds up well in 2026, thanks to its polished performance on Xbox Series consoles, including enhanced graphics and faster load times from the included upgrade. Player reception remains strong, with Metacritic scores around 85 for critics and user ratings averaging 8.0 or higher across platforms, praising the combat and atmosphere.
It suits those who enjoy story-driven action-adventures with supernatural twists, similar to titles blending exploration and powers. If you prefer fast-paced single-player games with meaningful upgrades and a cohesive world, this one delivers lasting appeal, especially at its value-packed price including all content. For fans of narrative depth and creative combat, it's a solid recommendation without ongoing commitments like seasons or updates.
