Players have been controlling all kinds of beings for as long as video games have existed. The ability to possess a creature other than the main player character hasn't been around for quite as long. But, it still has appeared in a handful of video games, like Dishonored and Super Mario Odyssey.
In this article, we aren't (strictly) talking about demonic possession like you would see in horror media. Instead, we're focusing on the ability — possibly magical or supernatural in origin, although it isn't always explained in detail — that allows the player or player character to gain control of a character other than the player character. Ironically, that definition does sometimes still include the ability to possess demons and similar fantastical beings. Read on for the full list.
8 Far Cry Primal
While the main campaign of Far Cry Primal has the player take on the role of Takkar, who can tame prehistoric beasts, the power of possession doesn't come in until the Legend Of The Mammoth DLC. In this DLC, a Shaman has Takkar possess a wooly mammoth and see life through its eyes.
In these special missions, Takkar must use the mammoth's strength against other beastly prehistoric foes to ensure the herd's survival. The Legend Of The Mammoth DLC is just a fraction of what Far Cry Primal offers, but it's still notable for letting players possess a well-known prehistoric beast.
7 Geist
In Geist, released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2005, protagonist John Raimi's soul was separated from his body. As a ghost, Raimi can possess various objects and creatures, and each living creature has its own set of useful abilities for different situations.
Of course, possessing living creatures does have its limitations, as Raimi must avoid both things that frighten the possessed creature and things that they may like, and only some possessed creatures can be used for combat. Unfortunately, Geist has never seen a re-release, so it isn't easy for players to get their hands on it.
6 Lost Ember
Lost Ember was released in 2019 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, and has players become a wolf that can possess any other creature thanks to the Ember that serves as its companion. The list of animals you can possess includes birds, fish, fireflies, and even wombats.
While Lost Ember is technically post-apocalyptic, given that humankind has ceased to exist, it puts a more positive spin on that aspect since nature has reclaimed the world in humanity's absence. It's also a relatively short game at only five hours, so it's great for players who want to enjoy a short experience with a gorgeous art style.
5 Midboss
Released for PC in 2017, Midboss casts players as an imp. Though weak on its own, the imp has the power to possess any other being residing in the dungeon. The twist is that enemies must be defeated before they can be possessed, so weaker creatures must be possessed first, and the player must work their way up to stronger creatures.
Each time the player takes a new form, they gain an ability that, once mastered, will always be active when in that form. With multiple gameplay modes, useful items to purchase, and various enemies, Midboss is one of the most interesting games to revolve around creature possession.
4 Glory Of Heracles IV: Gift From The Gods
Glory Of Heracles IV is the fifth game in the Glory Of Heracles JRPG series based on the eponymous Greek mythological figure. It was first released in Japan in 1994 for the Super Famicom and was later re-released on the Japanese Virtual Consoles for the Nintendo Wii and Wii U. Glory Of Heracles IV sees Heracles and his friend Plato sealed into Pandora's Box and not freed for 9,000 years.
After being trapped for so long, Heracles and Plato gain immortality and the ability to possess other beings, and the game features over 100 other beings that can be possessed. While it was never officially released outside of Japan, it does have an English fan translation.
3 Dishonored
Dishonored was released in 2012 for PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3, and has the player take on the role of Corvo, a royal bodyguard who receives supernatural abilities from a mysterious being known as The Outsider, after being framed for the murder of the Empress.
The Outsider grants Corvo the ability to possess other humans and a few different types of animals. It's a particularly useful skill when trying to sneak around the city of Dunwall undetected. Corvo can only possess creatures for a short time, so it's best for players to quickly plan out their strategy before using this ability.
2 Everything
Everything was first released in 2017 for PlayStation 4 and PC and then for Nintendo Switch in 2019. Everything is a fascinating procedural game where the player can not only take control of various animal species, but also micro-organisms, plants, planets, solar systems, and more.
The main objective is to complete an encyclopedia by taking control of every playable thing in the game, hence the title. Players can also change back to any previously controlled thing, but the size will vary based on where they are at in the game. A quirkier game than most, Everything can help players appreciate the beauty of life and the universe more, a goal which is aided by the inclusion of voice-over from philosopher Alan Watts, whose lectures on the nature of existence serve as the game's narration.
1 Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Odyssey was released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch in 2017. The 3D platformer gave Nintendo's mustachioed plumber a new sidekick named Cappy, a ghost-like creature who combines with Mario's hat to give Mario the ability to possess a variety of enemies and other creatures.
While the capture mechanic allows Mario to possess other living beings such as frogs, dinosaurs, Goombas, Piranha Plants, and more, he can also possess non-living objects, including pylons, rockets, lava bubbles, statues, trees, boulders, maintenance hole covers, and cars. Due to its variety of uses, the capture mechanic is probably one of the most powerful abilities Mario has ever had access to.