No. Remedy's lead gameplay designer describes CONTROL Resonant as a game of distinct, expansive zones, not an open world. Each area supports exploration, optional encounters and activities around the central narrative.

What you can explore

The setting moves beyond the first game's Oldest House into a distorted Manhattan. Large areas provide multiple paths and things to find, but that does not mean every part of the city is accessible from the start. A storefront's open-world user tag is less precise than the developer's explanation of the actual structure.

Movement powers matter to the layout. Reach pulls Dylan across marked gaps; Shift lets him negotiate gravity anomalies and surfaces with a different orientation. Routes that look disconnected can make sense once the relevant power is unlocked.

Does the campaign allow detours?

Yes. After the early Watchtower briefing, multiple leads can be available. You can investigate side stories, search for Jesse or pursue a Resonant. IGN's opening guide recommends looking at Zoe's indicated points of interest so those leads enter the quest log.

Detours and a linear story spine can coexist. The useful question is whether your current objective needs a new traversal ability, story progress or simply a different approach through the same zone.

What changes when you return?

The launch guide reports that defeating a Resonant refreshes encounters and increases enemy levels. Revisiting therefore is not always a trip through the same empty streets. Use the map guide to track blocked paths, and the walkthrough to decide which early objective unlocks what you need.