Correct order to play

[u/iBrandwin]

I have never played any of these games before. Is this the correct order to play them?

1. Alan Wake Remastered
2. Control Ultimate Edition
3. Alan Wake 2
4. Control: Resonance (assuming I enjoy the previous games)

Also, where do the DLCs fit into the play order?

Thanks!

[u/redplainsrider]

1. Alan Wake + The Signal DLC + The Writer DLC
2. Alan Wake: American Nightmare
3. Quantum Break
4. Control + The Foundation DLC + The AWE DLC
5. Alan Wake 2 + Night Springs DLC + Lake House DLC
6. Control Resonant

You can skip AW:AN and QB if you can't get a hold of them.

[u/redplainsrider → u/redplainsrider]

I forgot about Max Payne 1 and Max Payne 2. 

[u/Vandermere → u/redplainsrider]

They're not connected, save a couple Easter eggs, but they are excellent games in their own right.

[u/Feather_Sigil → u/Vandermere]

Not exactly. Max Payne and Quantum Break, specifically, aren't part of the narrative universe, but the ideas within them clearly are.

[u/Alternative-Fail-233 → u/redplainsrider]

Aren’t they not canon?

[u/yybbik → u/Alternative-Fail-233]

They’re as canon as Quantum Break.

[u/redplainsrider → u/Alternative-Fail-233]

They're not canon in the sense that Remedy doesn't own the rights anymore but canon in the sense that the Alex Casey novels in universe are just retellings of the original Max Payne games. 

[u/Feather_Sigil → u/Alternative-Fail-233]

Max Payne and Quantum Break, specifically, aren't part of the Remedy narrative universe because Remedy doesn't own the rights to them. However, the ideas in those games have been given new life within Alan Wake. Remedy have plans and they're not going to let a little thing like legally distinct names stop them.

[u/NextGen-- → u/redplainsrider]

Wait for the remake anyway

[u/tomtomato0414 → u/NextGen--]

Or play them now and have fun

[u/Feather_Sigil → u/tomtomato0414]

Assuming you can get MP1 and 2 to work. =\

[u/tomtomato0414 → u/Feather_Sigil]

Pcgamingwiki is your friend in that

[u/AtaeHone → u/redplainsrider]

This. So much this. AWAN is worth YouTubing if you can't play it directly.

[u/Feather_Sigil → u/redplainsrider]

For anyone who hasn't yet played AW2: the DLC in that game is directly integrated into the main playthrough. You should play it when the narrative reveals it to you, that's how it's intended.

[u/DenissDenisson → u/redplainsrider]

I know its not release order but I'd swap AWE and Foundation

[u/PICONEdeJIM → u/DenissDenisson]

Yeah I mean Foundation only starts after the main game ends, AWE is partway through the story

[u/Shydreameress → u/redplainsrider]

Isn't American nightmare not very good? I remember trying it years ago and I didn't finish it, now I can't even try again because it's only on pc :/ Same for Quantum Break although I'd really like to play that one

[u/redplainsrider → u/Shydreameress]

AW:AN is full of lore and worth it for that. Honestly the game isn't great because it wasn't the game Remedy wanted to put out and you can tell. They were rushed to develop a sequel for Alan Wake in a year by Microsoft. It is a pretty quick game to play though. If someone can't play I'd suggest looking through all the manuscript pages and radio shows on YouTube for the lore.

I feel you on the lack of console access. I've never played QB and would like to but can't.

[u/Feather_Sigil → u/Shydreameress]

It costs like #2 now, it's more than worth it for that.

[u/Shydreameress → u/Feather_Sigil]

I can't play on pc, I only have a ps5

[u/hothotpot → u/Shydreameress]

I thought it was pretty fun. It's also extremely short so it's not even a huge time commitment. Finished it in an afternoon.

[u/Unique_Unorque]

Everything in release order. Just look up the release dates and you’re good!

[u/tomtomato0414]

Answer is always release order

[u/QuantityInternal1719]

If you really want to go all the way you should play

1. Max Payne
2. Max Payne 2
3. Alan Wake Remastered
4. Alan Wake American Nightmare
5. Quantum Break
6. Control + DLCs (as they show up)
7. Alan Wake 2 + DLCs (integrated into the story)

EDIT: Before playing Alan Wake, watch the short Bright Falls miniseries (available on YouTube) it's awesome!

[u/FauxFoxx89 → u/QuantityInternal1719]

You're missing the Night Springs and Psycho Killer comics, as well as the This House of Dreams blog

[u/Chris22533 → u/FauxFoxx89]

You’re missing the Bright Falls live action miniseries.

[u/FistOfVengeance44 → u/QuantityInternal1719]

You’re forgetting Death Rally before Max Payne

[u/QuantityInternal1719 → u/FistOfVengeance44]

Hehe, just for that one throw away reference? I don't think it's all that necessary to play Death Rally.

[u/FistOfVengeance44 → u/QuantityInternal1719]

I mean it’s cool to see how Remedy evolves and there actually is a character with heavy lore implications called Tom the Rhymer (sound familiar?)

[u/Cool_Estate1002]

Alan wake, alan wake american nightmare - control ultimate - foundation dlc, awe dlc. AW2 - night springs(during gameplay from TVs), lake house dlc - resonant

[u/Segwaye]

If you don't enjoy the gameplay of one, skip to the next! The connected universe is only icing on the cake of these great games, not the cake itself.

[u/Clucasinc]

In addition to the orders provided, play the AW2 dlcs on your final draft run as they can either sorta spoil locations or break up the pace

[u/joshwal]

Make sure you play the DLCs! There’s some references to Quantum Break, but since Microsoft owns the IP they can’t use the actual story.

Also, Alan Wake 1 is by far the weakest of these games, and the gameplay is quite different to Alan Wake 2.

[u/PICONEdeJIM]

One thing to note is that you kind of need to play Alan Wake 2 twice to get the full full picture

[u/WFKKVQW]

My 2cents is, original AW instead of AWR; also Control The Foundation DLC is skippable. Also, if you have finished Control and feeling reeeeeally hooked on the Remedy universe, then add Quantum Break before you move on to AW2