Control Guide#

Control is an action-adventure game from Remedy Entertainment, released on August 27, 2019, set inside the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Control — the shifting, impossible building known as the Oldest House. This guide walks you through that eerie and layered world in full.

Guide Overview#

Basic Information#

A separate update log tracks version records, new content, and balance adjustments alongside this guide; the essentials are summarized in the version history below.

Game Highlights#

• Supernatural action: fluid combat that blends firearms with psychic powers
• Interconnected world: the Oldest House is one interlinked exploration space
• Remedy universe: shares its worldview with Alan Wake and other Remedy works
• Collectibles: a wealth of documents, recordings, and videos flesh out the world

Features at a Glance#

Quick Navigation#

“The Oldest House is a living building. It has a mind of its own.” — Dr. Casper Darling

Levitation Combat Techniques#

Frequently Asked Questions#

Resource Recommendations#

Version History#

New Player Notes#

The core appeal of Control is the balance between exploration and combat. Jesse’s abilities are limited early on, so prioritize upgrading Launch and Shield to shore up survivability. In fights, make good use of the throwable objects scattered around the environment — they are often more efficient than guns. The map is non-linear, so while exploring, collect FBC documents and videotapes; they help you piece the full story together.

The main story runs about 15-20 hours, and adding full collection plus the DLC stretches past 40 hours. When working through each sector, carry key mission items such as the Ashtray Maze with you to avoid constant backtracking. If you get stuck, check the objective pointers in your quest list first — most puzzles come with clear clue hints.

Clearance Levels and Exploration Progress#

How deep you can go in the Oldest House has nothing to do with any numerical “clarity” or “sanity bar” — there is no percentage-based mental-state meter that fluctuates with the story. Jesse’s combat and survival power is determined entirely by her Service Weapon forms, psychic abilities, and mod loadout. What actually decides how far into the Oldest House you can push is a pair of systems: Clearance Levels and Control Points. The former governs which doors you can open; the latter decides where you can rest, fast travel, and recover.

Clearance Levels: From Level 1 to Level 6#

The Oldest House’s secure doors are graded by clearance level from 1 to 6; the higher the level, the more restricted areas you can enter. Clearance cards are not earned by grinding enemies or from side-quest rewards — every one comes from the main story, granted at key plot beats through appointments by the Director, handoffs from key NPCs, or specific scenes. You can check your current clearance level at any time on the Assets page of the main menu.

The exploration value of clearance doors lies above all in the “revisit”: the Oldest House is an interconnected structure, and areas you were locked out of early on often connect directly to previously unreachable collectible corners once you hold a new card. If you are aiming for a full collection, make a habit of sweeping the old locked doors along the Oldest House’s atrium every time you pick up a new clearance card. Each card’s granting point is tied to main-mission progress — if a locked door is blocking you, go back and check where you are in the current chapter first.

Control Points: Fast Travel, Cleansing, and Recovery Hubs#

Control Points are the skeleton of the Oldest House. Cleanse a Hiss-controlled point and the corruption in the surrounding area clears with it, turning the point into a safe hub:

• Fast travel: cleansed Control Points connect to one another, and nearly all cross-sector movement routes through them;
• Recovery: standing near a cleansed Control Point restores Jesse’s status — the safest breather between fights;
• Progress anchors: multiple main and side objectives revolve around Control Points, and cleansing them is itself part of advancing the story.

Hiss Enemies: Respond by Type#

Every enemy in the game stems from Hiss corruption, sorted into types (Hiss Elevated, Hiss Eroded, Hiss Altered, and others). Their movement patterns and modes of threat differ enough that each calls for a different combination of Service Weapon form and psychic abilities. Control’s sense of pressure comes from the combination of enemy types and level design, not from any percentage-based sanity bar — when a high-threat enemy appears, clear out the lesser enemies first and rebuild your footing with Levitate and cover. For specific enemy weaknesses, consult the enemy compendium.

Guide Directory#

This guide is written for Control Ultimate Edition.

Related Games#

• Resident Evil 4 — the benchmark action-driven survival horror experience
• Resident Evil Village — first-person survival horror with a similar dread-and-firefights mix
• Dead by Daylight — asymmetric horror multiplayer for when you want horror with friends
• Silent Hill 2 Remake — psychological horror built on atmosphere and unease
• South of Midnight — a supernatural action-adventure of folkloric creatures and ruined places

Related Rankings#

Best Shooters · Hardest Bosses

Full Guides#

In-depth sub-guides — beginner basics, story analysis, character profiles, combat, Service Weapon forms, psychic abilities, mods, main missions, boss strategies, enemy types, area exploration, collectibles, side quests and Board Countermeasures, achievements, hidden content, advanced techniques, The Foundation and AWE DLC, endgame content, and the Remedy Connected Universe — are available in Chinese on NTGame’s Control section.