If you want to get into it I think Control is the “getting on point” so to speak. I think it throwing words at you is part of the idea of stepping into this world that’s kind of wack.

The only game I think that’s playable before it is Alan Wake, and the game more makes subtle little nods to Alan Wake until the Alan Wake DLC.

Alan Wake 2 though makes the ties between Control and Alan Wake a lot more obvious. I’d argue you don’t really need to play Control though, just know the FBC is a group that deals with Paranatural events