Finishing a game you loved leaves a specific kind of gap, and searching for games like control is how most people try to fill it. The picks below are grouped by what they actually share with Control, not by store tags.
Small details matter more than they should here, so read the order of steps carefully. Most advice on this topic assumes you already know half the answer, which is exactly the problem. If something here stops matching what you see on screen, the game has probably changed a value in an update.
The short answer
There is no perfect clone of Control, but two or three games get close on the part that mattered most — pace, tension or the loop itself.
What people actually miss about Control
Most advice on this topic assumes you already know half the answer, which is exactly the problem. If something here stops matching what you see on screen, the game has probably changed a value in an update. Anything marked optional really is optional, so skip it without guilt. There is a fast way and a safe way, and they are not the same thing.
Most advice on this topic assumes you already know half the answer, which is exactly the problem. If something here stops matching what you see on screen, the game has probably changed a value in an update. Ask yourself whether you want the same systems or the same mood; the answer changes the list completely.
Worth a look if you want something lighter
If something here stops matching what you see on screen, the game has probably changed a value in an update. A game can share every mechanic and still feel nothing alike, which is why genre tags are a poor filter here. Most advice on this topic assumes you already know half the answer, which is exactly the problem.
- Same tension, much shorter runtime.
- Test one change at a time instead of five at once.
- Similar core loop, different setting — easiest transition.
- Check the version you are running before following any step-by-step advice.
The closest matches
Most advice on this topic assumes you already know half the answer, which is exactly the problem. Start with the simplest option before touching anything that is hard to reverse. If something here stops matching what you see on screen, the game has probably changed a value in an update. There is a fast way and a safe way, and they are not the same thing.
Most advice on this topic assumes you already know half the answer, which is exactly the problem. If something here stops matching what you see on screen, the game has probably changed a value in an update. The approach below has been checked against the current version rather than a patch from two years ago.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Skipping the preparation step because it looks boring, then repeating the hard part four times.
- Following a guide written for an older version and assuming nothing moved.
- Trusting a video thumbnail over the actual patch notes.
- Changing several settings at once, then having no idea which one helped.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a faster method?
Usually yes, and usually it is riskier. The route above trades a little speed for a much lower chance of having to start over.
Does this still work after the latest update?
It did at the time of writing. If a step no longer matches, the underlying idea normally still applies even when a menu has moved.
Which one is closest to Control?
The first pick, if you care about the loop. If you cared more about the writing or the atmosphere, the second one lands closer.
Bookmark this if you expect to look up games like control again after the next update.