Remedy Entertainment Video Games, Ranked

For its first try at a first-person shooter game, Remedy contributed its game engine and a single player campaign to go alongside Smilegate's Counter-Strike -esque online multiplayer. Sadly, it didn't seem as though Remedy's attempt to branch out went very well, because critics didn't like any part of CrossfireX. While Remedy's campaign mode fared better than the multiplayer portion did, it still wasn't enough to make this one worth playing.

"CrossfireX sees two separate developers – SmileGate and Remedy – take a crack at creating their very own Call of Duty. However, expectations fall extremely short on both the singleplayer and multiplayer components of this military shooter package." —Aaron Potter, NME

Remedy's second first-person title is this spinoff from Control, a co-op multiplayer shooter in which players control anonymous workers tasked with clearing the Oldest House of extradimensional threats. But Firebreak was another unusual title for Remedy because it's almost exclusively about shooting bad guys and doesn't have any story to speak of. That ended up being the rub for most critics, who thought it was pretty fun to play but lacked much of any other factor that would make it worthwhile. It wasn't terrible, they said, but it lacked a meaningful hook.

"FBC: Firebreak delivers a solid cooperative framework with a few clever mechanics, but struggles to stand out. While it captures the visual identity of Control, its repetitive mission structure, shallow progression, and lack of narrative depth limit its lasting appeal. Best enjoyed in short bursts with friends, it feels more like a side project than a meaningful expansion of the Remedy universe." —Simone Rampazzi, GameSurf

This spinoff from Alan Wake takes place in the world of Night Springs, the in-game Twilight Zone -esque TV show that players could watch at various points during the original game. Though ownership of the prior game was not a prerequisite, American Nightmare felt a bit more like a standalone DLC than a full game—it cost $15, lasted only a few hours, and existed more to expand the mythology of the Alan Wake universe than to continue its story. It also took a more action-oriented approach than the original game had. Critics were a bit all over the place on this one, as they were divided largely by whether they were cool with the various ways that American Nightmare was fundamentally different from Alan Wake.

""As he writes his own escape from the Dark Place, the tale ironically lacks the narrative punch of his first trek into the shadows. Even so, it invites us back into Alan's world, takes us on a new adventure and sheds new light on his predicament." —Joystiq

Remedy's ambitious Xbox exclusive follows a man who has to battle an impossible corporate conspiracy while the very fabric of time is breaking down around him. But Quantum Break might have been most notable for the live-action TV show you could watch at various points in the story to fill in gaps in the plot. Critics liked the fascinating and twisty main story, which was classic Remedy material, but some felt the gameplay was lacking in depth, and many were annoyed by having episodes of TV break up the gameplay. It was also a bit of a technical mess at launch, which influenced the scores as well.

"The game's stronger than expected writing and decent cast more than make up for the conceptual banalities." —Justin Clark, Slant

This new version of 2010's Alan Wake features updated visuals, modern bells and whistles like haptic feedback, and the two DLC packs released for the original game, The Writer and The Signal. How reviewers felt about this one largely depended on how much they still liked the original. Some felt the remake was an excellent new package for a classic, though others claimed its linear, Xbox 360-era gameplay design feels pretty dated alongside modern games. But they all agreed that the remaster is definitely the version to play if you've never tried Alan Wake before.

"While not dazzling as a remaster, the core Alan Wake experience holds up well." —Andrew Reiner, Game Informer

After plans for a Quantum Break sequel were scrapped, Remedy pivoted to this spiritual successor, about a woman named Jesse who explores a brutalist government building where reality itself seems pretty malleable—and where she has to battle an indescribable extradimensional threat. Critics found Control to be novel and fun to play, but were divided on its complicated story, with many embracing its weirdness while others felt it was just too much.

"Laying an excellent foundation for a new IP, Control features a well-crafted world that ignites the imagination. It's dark, twisted, and a little bit weird in the best way possible." —Trevor Betts, App Trigger

A writer and his wife head to a remote mountain town for a vacation to help with his writer's block, but then his wife goes missing and he ends up trapped in a nightmare that he may have accidentally pulled into existence through a story he can't remember writing. Critics praised Alan Wake's novel gameplay mechanics, like the way Alan has to use his flashlight to illuminate enemies before he can defeat them, and most thought the surreal storytelling was very interesting, though some cautioned that it never added up to anything in the end.

"If anything, Alan Wake reminds me of the first Uncharted. It is a great, but flawed work (hello ugly daylight, quirky animations, and a script that mocks the viewer even more than Lost or Twin Peaks) that lays the foundation for what could be an absolutely amazing follow-up. I just hope it doesn't take another five or six years." —1up

This sequel to Control introduces a new protagonist in Dylan Faden—the brother of the first game's hero—and takes many of the gameplay and design concepts from the first game and translates them to a striking new open world that looks like the mirror universe from Doctor Strange. Critics have expressed quite a spectrum of responses to this one, varying from serious frustration with the new melee-heavy gameplay on the low end, to gushing praise for the storytelling on the high end. But if there's a consensus to be found with Control Resonant, it's the same one Remedy games usually draw: It's mechanically flawed but still incredibly interesting.

"Control Resonant strays quite far from the formula of the first Control, opting for an open world and combat focused more heavily on melee. While this change may disappoint those expecting a more straightforward sequel, Remedy once again demonstrates its talent for creating fascinating worlds, environments, and paranormal situations. It doesn't surpass its predecessor, but it does succeed as a remarkable sequel with a personality of its own." —Claudio Torres, Areajugones

Hardboiled detective Max Payne returned for a new conspiracy-filled adventure in this blood-stained love story. This time around, Max teams up with the assassin Mona Sax—who is a playable character in some missions—for this tragic adventure as they slaughter their enemies using the franchise's trademark bullet-time shooting mechanics. Reviewers loved the story, but they weren't as hot on the gameplay in this sequel, as it largely played the same as the original and the novelty of the bullet-time mechanic had worn off a bit.

"It's repetitive and, at times, stupidly frustrating, but overall the insanely awesome outweighs the bad. You won't find more intense action on PC, and no game will make you feel like more of a badass." —GamePro

In this acclaimed sequel, which takes more of a survival horror approach to its gameplay, we discover that Alan has been stuck in the nightmare world he unwittingly created since the events of the first game—and also that his story takes place in the same universe as Remedy's Control. While a few critics felt the gameplay to be underwhelming, Alan Wake 2 earned nearly universal praise otherwise for its increased focus on being a horror experience and for the way its story expands the mythos for both this series and Control.

"Call it a masterpiece or a work of art. Both apply." —Dean Takahashi, GamesBeat

A detective, investigating the killing of his family, is framed for his partner's murder and has to unravel a major conspiracy while defeating his enemies using bullet-time shooting mechanics, allowing players to slow down time while they aim. The novelty of that bullet-time mechanic, which was still a relatively brand-new thing just two years after The Matrix first popularized the concept in theaters, was a big reason why reviewers loved this one. But, as is usually the case with Remedy titles, they were split on the quality of the storytelling, with some critics feeling that it was a pale imitation of the old noir thriller movies it was aping.

"One of those memorable titles that people will be talking about for years to come. Its impressive graphics, gripping storyline, and fun use of Bullet-Time action elevates the game to the current standard that most others should aspire to." —Adrenaline Vault