Summary
Possession is a unique gameplay mechanic that should ideally serve as a great way to spice up a video game. So, it’s surprising to see that this mechanic is relatively rare and hasn’t been represented enough times in video games.
This is why fans will love to learn about video games that do justice to the act of possessing other people and creatures, turning them into puppets that serve the player’s will and help them solve puzzles or get past tricky combat encounters.
Players who want to control a recently deceased spirit who must solve his own murder will love whatMurdered: Soul Suspectbrings to the table. The title pulls no punches and lets players enjoy a scintillating gameplay loop as they use their spiritual powers to make progress.
Controlling a ghostthat can teleport to areas and possess other people to find clues makes for a great time. While the short length and a lack of compelling gameplay elements may rub people the wrong way, players who want to enjoy a well-told story with unique gameplay mechanics will be able to stick with Murdered: Soul Suspect till the very end.
Given howSlitterheadwas created by the man behindSilent HillandSiren, it’s easy to see why players were so hyped for his newest project. WhileSlitterheadstumbled when it came to its repetitive mission structure and janky gameplay, this unique package might just endear it to some players.
Players control a Hyoki who must locate and kill Slitterheads using various powers,including possession. As long as players don’t mind some puzzling gameplay mechanics, Slitterhead is perfect for them to experiment with unique spiritual powers and take out the many Slitterheads standing in their way.
While David Cage’s games deserve their fair share of criticism for their shallow plot elements, there’s no denying that Quantic Dream’s games are beautiful to behold and let players immerse themselves in engaging narratives.Beyond: Two Soulsis no exception here, even if the lack of a fail state irritated many fans.
At the heart of this story is Jodie and her spirit Aiden, making for a unique dynamic as they struggle to live in harmony. Some of the game’s best set-pieces involve players possessing other humans with an orange aura and using them to make progress asplayers solve puzzlesand watch the story unfold.
ImagineDark Soulswith the feature of possessing the shells of defeated warriors, and players will end up withMortal Shell. The game’s unique take on Soulslike mechanics leaves them with a weak husk that is totally ineffective in combat and must rely on these Shells to take out enemies instead.
Essentially, players possess warriors who embody different playstyles and encourage players to experiment. This novel mechanic makesMortal Shella great title for fans of Soulslike games to check out, with combat being tough yet approachable for players courtesy of the Harden ability and the opportunity to recapture a Shell after being chucked out of it by a particularly savage foe.
It’s a shame that more racing games haven’t been inspired by the innovative Shift mechanic ofDriver: San Francisco, one of the most underrated racing games players can get their hands on.
After Tanner discovers that he can “Shift” into the bodies of other people, he uses this ability in death-defying situations to take over the wheel and use his skills as a driver to navigate tricky terrain. It’s an innovative mechanic that enhances the cinematic flair of each set piece and ensures that more fans will fall in love with whatDriver: San Franciscohas to offer.
Arkane Studios was put on the map courtesy of their work onDishonored. This immersive sim is a joy to play through as players control Corvo as he strives to clear his name and take out the usurper to the throne who killed his liege.
He can unlock several unique powersin the process, including that of Possession. While the initial stage of this power only lets players control small creatures, Corvo can invest in this power to unlock the ability to possess humans and sow seeds of discord among enemies as long as they have the mana (and potions) to spare.
One of thegreatest murder-mystery titles ever made, Shu Takumi’s ingenious mind is on full display inGhost Trick: Phantom Detective. From the very start of this game, players are taken on a wild ride where they control the spirit of a recently deceased character and prevent other people from meeting the same fate.
The way players do this is by possessing the bodies of the dead, travelling back in time four minutes before this death is supposed to happen as they do everything in their power to manipulate events and prevent innocent people from biting the dust. It’s a compelling gameplay loop that becomes more interesting as players use the powers of other spirits, with Sissel marching onwards to get the answers he wants only to be blindsided by one of the greatest plot twists in video game history.
While players don’t possess people per se inSuper Mario Odyssey, the various creatures in the world are just as sentient and deserve to be placed in the same category. The biggest reason why players loveSuper Mario Odysseyis its possession mechanic, with Mario using Cappy to take over the bodies of various creatures in the game world.
This gives players access to a wealth of unique abilities that are imperative to traverse certain stages. This incredible gameplay mechanic blew people’s minds whenSuper Mario Odysseycame out and still feels fresh to this day.
