Control Resonant: All 21 Power Upgrade Chest Locations

TL;DR

• There are 21 Power Upgrade Points total in Control Resonant, spread across all seven zones.
• Every 3 Power Upgrades collected permanently increases Dylan’s Power by one step.
• Downtown (5) and Central (5) have the most — get these first, they’re accessible early.
• Most are inside large concrete resource crates. Some require solving puzzles, powering doors, or progressing specific quests.
• The Evacuation Zone (3), West Incursion Zone (2), and The Park (2) are mid-game.
• The Underpass (2) and Unknown (2) are late-game only.
• You need the Level 2 Keycard for one chest in Central (R&C Storage room).
• Two chests require completing side quests: Unsupervised Science (West Incursion Zone) and New Growth (The Park).

Power Upgrade Points are one of the most valuable pickups in Control Resonant. Every three you collect permanently increases Dylan’s Power — the meter that fuels your Combat Abilities. More Power means more ability uses before you need to refill, which makes every tough fight more forgiving. There are 21 in total, and most of them are available before you finish the main story.

This guide covers every Power Upgrade chest location in the game, zone by zone, with clear directions for each one.

What Are Power Upgrade Points in Control Resonant?

Power Upgrade Points are found inside large concrete resource crates hidden across Manhattan’s zones. Each crate you open adds one point to your total. The moment you hit three points, your Power increases permanently by one full step. That increment directly expands how many Combat Abilities you can use in a fight before the meter runs dry.

Power Upgrades are separate from Health Upgrades. Health Upgrades increase Dylan’s maximum health bar. Power Upgrades increase how long you can sustain your abilities in combat. Both matter — but Power Upgrades are especially useful if you are struggling with boss fights where sustained ability use makes the difference.

Some chests are in open areas. Others sit behind puzzle rooms, locked doors, powered shutters, or quest gates. The sections below flag any requirements alongside each location.

Power Upgrade Points in Control Resonant

Power Upgrade Chest Locations – All Zones at a Glance

Zone	Chests
Downtown	5
Central	5
Evacuation Zone	3
West Incursion Zone	2
The Park	2
The Underpass	2
Unknown	2
Total	21

Downtown Power Upgrade Chest Locations (5 Total)

Downtown is the first zone open to free exploration after the opening hours of the game. All five chests here are accessible early and none require late-game abilities or quests.

#1 – Resonant Ruins

Once the open world unlocks after your first main story boss fight, return to the Resonant Ruins — the location where you fought The Artist. The Power Upgrade chest is in the same area. It is unmissable if you go back to explore after the fight.

#2 – Construction Site South of the Oldest House

Head to the construction site directly south of the Oldest House. Clear the enemies in the area first. Then use the platforms along the perimeter walls to work your way down to the lowest floor of the construction site. The chest is at the bottom.

#3 – West Supply Route Station

From the Downtown side, go through the airlock entrance into West Supply Route Station. Head down the first set of stairs. The chest is sitting on the landing after the first flight of stairs — you do not need to go deeper into the station to find it.

#4 – Deserted Area (Eastern Downtown) Testing Facility

Go to the construction site in the Deserted Area in eastern Downtown. Descend to the bottom of the site and look for a sewer pipe leading out from one side. Follow the pipe — it takes you into a hidden Testing Facility. Solve the puzzle inside to unlock the shutter door in the final room. The chest is through that door.

#5 – Interactions Lab (The House in Distress Quest)

This chest is accessed during The House in Distress main quest. When you are inside the Interactions Lab, head to the southwest room of the main laboratory area. This is the room with the test dummies, a satellite dish, and assorted junk. The chest is on the upper floor of that room.

Central Power Upgrade Chest Locations (5 Total)

Central has five chests but several of them sit behind doors that need power routed from a nearby Power Core or access point. Check outside any locked room for a power source before assuming it is inaccessible.

#6 – Supply Route Tunnels

Enter the Supply Route tunnels and find the door to the left of the lower entrance. This door is sealed by a power lock. Supply power to it from the nearby access point and the door opens. The chest is inside.

#7 – Central FBC Testing Facility

Find the Central FBC Testing Facility and complete the puzzle inside. The puzzle requires turning every light in the room green. Once solved, a shutter door opens revealing the Power Upgrade chest in the final room behind it.

#8 – Patterned Factory (Northeastern Central)

Go to the Patterned Factory in northeastern Central. Inside, find the upstairs office on the south side of the building. The office door is power-locked — look for the power source outside the room and supply it. The chest is inside the office once the door opens.

#9 – R&C Storage Room (Field Office) – Requires Level 2 Keycard

This chest is locked behind a Clearance Level 2 door. You need the Level 2 Keycard, which is given to Dylan by Arish during the Evacuation Procedures main quest. Once you have the keycard, return to the Field Office in Central and find the R&C Storage room beneath the Security Station. Open the Level 2 door — the chest is inside.

#10 – Watchtower (Zoe’s Office)

This chest becomes available after returning from the Unknown Zone during the late game. Visit the Watchtower and speak to Zoe to trigger the Zoe’s Briefing quest. The Power Upgrade chest is in Zoe’s office inside the Watchtower — it appears after completing The Hedron Link main quest.

Evacuation Zone Power Upgrade Chest Locations (3 Total)

The Evacuation Zone has three chests. Two of them are tied to the Sinkhole area, which opens up during the Recursions and Iterations main quest. Get the Level 2 Keycard from Evacuation Procedures before you start hunting these.

#11 – Testing Facility (Pearl Station Puzzle)

Head to the Testing Facility in the southern part of the Evacuation Zone. The entrance is via a sewer near the Survivalist’s Bunker fast travel point — drop into the concrete shaft nearby and follow the drainage pipe to reach it. Inside, you find the Pearl Station puzzle. Pick up the Shutdown Instructions from the console before attempting it. The puzzle involves placing Soda Dispensers and other appliances onto their marked outlines on the floor. Solve it and the room beyond unlocks. The chest is your reward.

#12 – Sinkhole (Laundromat Entry)

Access to the Sinkhole becomes available when you start Recursions and Iterations. Enter the Sinkhole via the laundromat in the Evacuation Zone. As soon as you drop through, look immediately to your left. The chest is through the first door on the left — it is very easy to walk straight past it if you are focused on pushing forward.

#13 – Sinkhole Sewer Area (Recursions and Iterations)

During Recursions and Iterations, you descend all the way to the bottom of the Sinkhole and enter a sewer-like area. The first room you reach at the bottom has two doors. The Power Upgrade chest is in this room — in the southern corner. Check it before going through either door.

West Incursion Zone Power Upgrade Chest Locations (2 Total)

The West Incursion Zone’s streets are broken apart by a large chasm and altered gravity. Two chests are here.

#14 – House of Mirrors (Reception Area)

Enter the House of Mirrors building in the West Incursion Zone. As soon as you are inside, look to the left of the main entrance. The chest is in the reception area — you do not need to go further into the House of Mirrors to find it. This is one of the most straightforward grabs in the zone.

#15 – Testing Facility Broadway (Unsupervised Science Side Quest)

This chest is tied to the Unsupervised Science side quest. The Testing Facility Broadway is located west of the West Incursion Zone, accessed near a pizza place that sits southeast of the “Singing Reported?” marker on the map. From the street, look for wooden scaffolding and a circular drainage duct leading underground to the facility entrance.

Inside, the puzzle involves picking up Soda Dispensers and wash units and placing them on their correct marked spots following the written Shutdown Instructions found on the console. Solve it correctly and the adjacent room opens. The Power Upgrade chest is inside that final room alongside a collectible document.

The Park Power Upgrade Chest Locations (2 Total)

The Park is one of the harder zones to collect in early — enemy levels here are tougher than in most earlier areas. Come prepared.

#16 – Abandoned Checkpoint (Northwest of Nomad Avenue Station)

Fast travel to Nomad Avenue Station and head northwest to the abandoned checkpoint building. Take the lift inside into the mold-covered security checkpoint area. Follow the passage all the way to its dead end. The Power Upgrade chest is at the end of the route.

#17 – Underhill’s Lab (New Growth Side Quest)

This chest is locked behind the New Growth side quest, which only becomes available after you return from the Underpass. New Growth sends you to investigate Underhill’s Last Known Location in The Park. The chest is inside Underhill’s Lab, which is unlocked as part of completing that quest. Note: this is also connected to the Clearance Level 6 Keycard.

The Underpass Power Upgrade Chest Locations (2 Total)

The Underpass is a late-game zone reached during the Search for Jesse questline. Both chests are tied to traversal and a side quest.

#18 – After the Cable Car (Far Side of the Chasm)

During your traverse through the Underpass, you cross a major chasm via a cable car. Once you land on the far side, look immediately to your left. The Power Upgrade chest is right there — do not push ahead without checking your left first or you will miss it.

#19 – Oldest House Remnants (Maintenance Protocol Side Quest)

Access this area during the Maintenance Protocol side quest. Once inside the Oldest House remnants section, climb the stairs and enter the first room on your right at the top. The Power Upgrade chest is inside that room.

Unknown Zone Power Upgrade Chest Locations (2 Total)

The Unknown is the final zone in Control Resonant — a floating, gravity-bent cityscape above the Oldest House. Both chests here are only reachable in the late game. You need to reach the Unknown Zone first, which requires completing the Sever the Hedron Links main quest setup. Our guide to reaching the Unknown Zone covers the full process.

#20 – Factory Island (Warehouse with SHUM Cabinet)

In the Unknown Zone, find Factory Island — the island to the west of the central island. Look for the warehouse that contains the SHUM III arcade cabinet. The Power Upgrade chest is in the room directly across from the arcade machine room — not in the same room as the SHUM cabinet but in the room opposite it.

#21 – West of the Field Office

From the Field Office fast travel point in the Unknown, go west. Follow the route to the building at the far end. When you reach a gap, leap across it. The Power Upgrade chest is immediately beyond the gap — look for it right after you land rather than continuing further.

Tips for Collecting All Power Upgrades

• Do Downtown and Central first. These ten chests are available early and most require no special quests or abilities. Clearing them before the first Resonant boss significantly smooths out the early game.
• Raise zone levels to reveal crate locations. Increasing a zone’s level causes large resource crates — including Power Upgrade chests — to appear as markers on your map. Do zone activities to raise the level before hunting.
• Power doors before assuming a room is inaccessible. Several Central chests are behind power-locked shutters. Look outside the room for a Power Core or interactive fuse box before moving on.
• Get the Level 2 Keycard early. The R&C Storage room chest in Central (#9) is locked behind Clearance Level 2. The keycard comes automatically from the Evacuation Procedures main quest — go back to the Field Office as soon as you have it.
• Do not skip the Sinkhole on your left. Chest #12 is the one players miss most often. The moment you drop into the Sinkhole through the laundromat, turn left immediately. It is easy to walk straight past.
• Check after the cable car in the Underpass. Chest #18 is immediately to the left when you land on the far side of the chasm. Players who push forward without checking miss it until much later.
• The Park chests require preparation. The Park has higher-level enemies than the earlier zones. Come with upgraded abilities and enough health before farming there.

For more on the Evacuation Zone content around these chests, our Urban Survival quest walkthrough and Subway Fault Reach ability guide are worth reading together — they cover the same area and save you travel time if done in one session.

For The Park area around chests #16 and #17, our Atlantis Cafe cash register code guide and Konstig painting puzzle guide cover other collectibles and puzzles in the same zone worth grabbing at the same time.

Where to Get Control Resonant

• Steam (PC)
• Epic Games Store (PC)
• PlayStation Store (PS5)
• Xbox Store (Xbox Series X|S)

New to the game? Start with our Control Resonant review and beginner tips. PC players should check the best PC settings guide before launching. If you want free cosmetics, our Control Resonant skin codes page is worth bookmarking.

Related Guides

• Control Resonant: Level 2 Keycard – how to get it
• Control Resonant: Clearance Level 6 Keycard location
• Control Resonant: SR Keycard Clearance Level guide
• Control Resonant: How to reach the Unknown Zone
• Control Resonant: Alan Wake Easter egg guide
• Control Resonant: Central Checkpoint power puzzle
• Control Resonant: Crossing the Threshold walkthrough
• Control Resonant: Panopticon Service Request quest guide
• Control Resonant: Preorder and Deluxe Edition bonuses
• Control Resonant: Assist Mode settings guide

Frequently Asked Questions