It's Control Resonant review day! Ahead of the game's release next week, the first reviews have just started to go live across the web, and we're also working on one here at Pure Xbox that you'll see in the near future.

For those who haven't been keeping track, this is the next entry in the Control series from developer Remedy Entertainment, although it's quite a different "action-adventure RPG" compared to the original game from 2019.

So, here's what some of the first reviews are saying about the game so far:

VGC (5/5)

"Control Resonant gambles on a new genre and it pays off. A stellar cast and some of the strongest art direction you'll find in a game this year make for a sequel that builds on the promise of the original, and delivers even more special moments. Make time for Control Resonant this year. You won't regret it."

GameSpot (9/10)

"Control Resonant is Remedy’s take on a semi-open-world character-action game, and that might sound like an experience you’ve had before, but at the transdimensional intersection of its impeccable combat design and the studio’s signature strangeness stands something unforgettably unique."

Hey Poor Player (4.5/5)

"Control Resonant takes a lot of risks, and almost all of them pay off. It features a new protagonist, a very different feel to its action, and a far larger game that keeps taking audacious chances throughout. Still, it feels like a Control game in all the most important ways, building beautifully on the original. It sits comfortably among the best games of 2026."

DualShockers (8.5/10)

"In the end, Dylan’s story is an entirely atypical sequel that dares to introduce a whole new genre to the IP, and it works wonderfully because, despite all the changes, its core remains deeply tethered to the 2019 original. It is a must-play for anyone who appreciates the studio's craft, and the perfect way to establish Control as one of Remedy's premier flagship franchises. Who would have thought I’d end up enjoying walking upside down on ceilings so much?"

Push Square (8/10)

"Control Resonant is an impeccably confident and tantalising sequel that has all the hallmarks of a Remedy classic. It’s endlessly stylish and playful; it looks gorgeous, especially on the PS5 Pro, and it manages to address many of the woes that I had with the original Control. Repetitive combat is the big hitch, however, holding the game back from true greatness. Ultimately, though, it's not enough to overrule all that Remedy is doing right with this sequel."

IGN (8/10)

"Even when combat's sharp edge eventually dulls, Control Resonant is a great addition to the Remedyverse. While its story follows a more standard framework, its gravitational pull is in the inventive world built around it and the humanization that grounds the paranatural intrigue."

Press Start (7.5/10)

"Control Resonant continues the Remedy tradition of offering an ambitious experience filled with incredible ideas. The game controls beautifully, the combat is fun and flexible, the side stories are strong and the presenation is, of course, excellent. But repetitive encounters, beautiful but underwhelming boss battles and an uneven open-world structure all make Resonant feel uneven. Regardless of its flaws, Control Resonant is both bold and enjoyable, though it doesn't reach the usual heady heights established by the illustrious Remedy canon."

GamesRadar (3/5)

"Control Resonant is often baffling, and this time for Remedy not in the good way. Repetitive combat is spread thin across a large world that struggles to justify itself, and Dylan Faden isn't done justice replacing Jesse as protagonist. Despite some gorgeous visual flourishes and stunning sequences, this is a muddled investigation and not quite a super natural event."

There are loads and loads of reviews out there beyond these ones, and at the moment they're adding up to an 85 average Metacritic rating for PS5, 84 for PC and 82 for Xbox Series X. Impressive stuff all round!

As mentioned, we'll have a review of our own to share on Pure Xbox pretty soon, and Control Resonant is already available to pre-order on the Xbox Store starting at £49.99 / $59.99 ahead of its release on Thursday, September 24th.

It's an Xbox Play Anywhere title too, meaning you'll get the PC version thrown in for free when buying on Xbox!

Excited for this one? Will you be buying it? Let us know in the comments section down below.