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Possessor(s)

Possessor(s) combines a compelling narrative, solid understanding of Metroid-like design and genuinely fun combat for an experience that is intensely captivating.
Possessor(s) Game Cover
78%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
stability, grinding
85% User Score Based on 219 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 9 reviews

Platforms

PCPlaystation 5WindowsPlayStation
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Possessor(s) Game Cover

About

Possessor(s) is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Heart Machine and was released on November 11, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Possessor(s) is a fast-paced action side scroller with combat inspired by platform fighters, a story told through dangerous characters, set in a deep interconnected world ready for exploration.

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Possessor(s) screenshot
Possessor(s) screenshot
Possessor(s) screenshot
Possessor(s) screenshot
Possessor(s) screenshot
Possessor(s) screenshot
Possessor(s) screenshot
Possessor(s) screenshot
Possessor(s) screenshot
Possessor(s) screenshot
Possessor(s) screenshot
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85%
Audience ScoreBased on 219 reviews
story53 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions
  • Stunning art style and visuals that create a captivating atmosphere.
  • Engaging combat mechanics that allow for juggling enemies and creative combos.
  • Compelling story with well-developed characters, particularly the dynamic between Luca and Rhem.
  • Clunky movement and combat mechanics that can lead to frustrating stunlock situations.
  • Poor map design and lack of guidance that can make exploration tedious and confusing.
  • Technical issues, including bugs and performance problems, detract from the overall experience.
  • story
    151 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is a mixed bag, with many players praising its emotional depth and character development, particularly the relationship between the protagonists, Luca and Rhem. However, critiques often highlight issues with pacing, disjointed storytelling, and a lack of meaningful choices, leaving some feeling that the narrative could have been more polished and cohesive. Overall, while the story is engaging and beautifully presented, it suffers from structural flaws that detract from its potential impact.

    • “The story was beautiful, and definitely doesn't need any tweaking, but the core gameplay feels... incomplete.”
    • “The art and story were the selling points for me, and the game didn't disappoint in this regard.”
    • “Possessor(s)' strongest aspect is its story; Luca and Rhem's bond through the story was written masterfully that by its ending left me an emotional wreckage, I was always looking forward to hearing more conversations between these two.”
    • “The story is... not for me.”
    • “I wasn't particularly roped in by the story or characters; to me, the dialogue felt a bit lacking and at times the pacing seemed odd, although I loved the overall concept and could appreciate the story's themes.”
    • “The story is extremely mediocre despite an interesting premise, and the writing is the weakest part of the story unfortunately.”
  • graphics
    66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning art style and beautiful visuals, which many players find captivating and integral to the overall experience. While the aesthetics are often highlighted as a standout feature, some reviews note that the environments can feel dark or uninspired at times. Overall, the combination of impressive visuals, engaging character designs, and a well-crafted atmosphere contributes significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “This game is just plain beautiful, from its visuals to the gameplay, and its story too!”
    • “The art style and visuals of the special effects (especially the attack slashes and the dashes) are wonderful.”
    • “Visuals are stunning even on the low settings that my computer has to run them at (which is the mark of impeccable art direction), and the music really immerses you in the world.”
    • “Fortunately, the graphics settings barely make a visible difference and the game retains its beauty even on low - but even on my desktop I was hoping to hit at least 120 FPS and I can only stabilize at about 90.”
    • “So yeah, I want to love this game due to the graphics, the gameplay (which is kinda like Spiritfall in a way) and the music, I'm not going to recommend it.”
    • “Play it if you have nothing else going on and really vibe with the art style.”
  • gameplay
    62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it clunky and lacking depth compared to other titles in the genre. While some appreciate the artistic visuals and engaging combat mechanics, others criticize the repetitive nature of enemy design and the lack of clear guidance in exploration. Overall, the game offers enjoyable mechanics and a rich story, but it may not satisfy those seeking innovative gameplay experiences.

    • “This game is just plain beautiful, from its visuals to the gameplay, and its story too!”
    • “The gameplay feels balanced enough to allow for different combinations of weapons and special abilities to be viable.”
    • “For the game itself, possessor(s) rewards exploration, backed by great movement and solid combat mechanics (spiking an enemy into a floor hazard feels especially rewarding).”
    • “The gameplay, however, is a bit... clunky.”
    • “If you are looking for a game where the gameplay will hook you, this is not going to be it.”
    • “The core gameplay feels... incomplete.”
  • music
    39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally praised for its immersive quality, fitting well with the vibrant art and gameplay, though some players noted moments of eerie silence and occasional bugs that muted the soundtrack. While many enjoyed the diverse and atmospheric tracks, with highlights including the title song and ending credits, a few found the music to be forgettable or lacking in presence at times. Overall, the soundtrack complements the game's aesthetic and emotional tone, contributing positively to the experience.

    • “Beautiful vibrant art, great music, and extremely satisfying combat and movement, as always from Heart Machine.”
    • “Fluid combat, incredible art, superb writing, beautiful music, and just a blast to play.”
    • “The best way I could describe this game's soundtrack would be 'dark, moody, yet hopeful lofi' and it fits like a glove with the corpomegacity hellscape that is Sanzu City, from the desolate skyscraper remnants to the jazzy abandoned mall, you will vibe to this soundtrack.”
    • “I'm not sure if that's intended or if I was experiencing a bug that prevented music from playing even in some boss fights.”
    • “The soundtracks aren't actually music.”
    • “Music is okay but kinda forgettable.”
  • atmosphere
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning spritework, 2.5D visuals, and moody sound design, which together create an immersive experience. Many reviewers highlight the art style and music as key elements that enhance the overall ambiance, contributing to a melancholic yet vibrant world. However, some critiques mention a lack of narrative depth and worldbuilding, suggesting that while the atmosphere is compelling, it may not be enough to elevate the gameplay for all players.

    • “It is a very moody, atmospheric sound that defines this tale, and it is a tale worth experiencing.”
    • “A beautiful game with Heart Machine's signature, striking color palette, tight controls, and melancholic atmospheric stamp like Hyper Light Drifter and Solar Ash.”
    • “What stands out the most, though, is the atmosphere and presentation: the worldbuilding feels both melancholic and colorful, in that same way Hyper Light Drifter does.”
    • “There is almost no narrative, no atmosphere, and no meaningful worldbuilding.”
    • “Even for metroidvania fans, there are far better options that respect your time and offer actual depth, polish, and atmosphere.”
    • “I'm recommending this solely for the story and atmosphere; the metroidvania aspect of it is quite subpar.”
  • emotional
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its impactful character relationships and heart-wrenching story, which resonate deeply with players, often evoking tears and strong feelings. While some reviews praise the emotional depth and art style, others criticize the disjointed storytelling and failure to deliver on the emotional promises made in trailers. Overall, the game offers a mix of poignant moments and emotional engagement, though experiences may vary significantly among players.

    • “I really enjoy the relationship between the main characters, and the end even made me cry a little bit.”
    • “Possessor(s)' strongest aspect is its story; Luca and Rhem's bond through the story was written masterfully that by its ending left me an emotional wreck, I was always looking forward to hearing more conversations between these two.”
    • “The art (2D, 3D, and story) is fantastic, and the ending made me cry.”
  • character development
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is highlighted by its stunning character designs and animations, particularly for the main characters, Luca and Rhem. Reviewers appreciate the unique color contrasts and polished visuals, which enhance the storytelling experience, even if some find the narrative itself less engaging. Overall, the art style and character designs are a significant draw, contributing to a visually appealing and immersive atmosphere.

    • “The story structure and character development are really interesting.”
    • “There is good character development between Luca and Rhem, and while I'm not presently driven by the story, I am certainly paying attention.”
    • “The character designs also really help with Luca's player model, giving that lo-fi girl vibe, turning each screen into wallpaper material.”
    • “I wish this game had more content so I could see fan art and more interpretations of the character designs.”
    • “The character designs also really help with Luca's player model, giving that lo-fi girl vibe and turning each screen into wallpaper material.”
    • “While the art style is appealing, the character development feels shallow and lacks depth.”
  • stability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is notably poor, with numerous bugs and glitches affecting gameplay, including issues with boss encounters, enemy behavior, and movement mechanics. Players report frequent crashes, out-of-bounds glitches, and synchronization problems with dialogue, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, while the game has potential, its lack of refinement and stability detracts significantly from enjoyment.

    • “The final three bosses were absolutely buggy, untuned messes, and the last two very much seem like Lego pieces of versioning the same fight, which does not have any kind of narrative connection.”
    • “In the short time I’ve played, I’ve encountered multiple glitches (e.g. knocking an arena battle enemy out of bounds so the arena never opens), constant frustrations (like the aforementioned stun locks), and a general lack of refinement (like the whip's erratic inability to tell whether you want to grapple an enemy or engage a whip swing node).”
    • “Bugs and glitches: I was able to go out of bounds, some enemies (2D sprites) would go from the Y-axis into the X-axis, some enemies would get stuck, some parried projectiles would act weirdly, floating in place, and the game crashes if you hit an invincible enemy and many damageable ones at the same time.”
  • grinding
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unbalanced, often requiring extensive time spent farming for currency to afford items, which detracts from the overall experience. The lack of a hard mode or new game plus options leaves the gameplay feeling basic, while exploration and backtracking become frustratingly slow, especially in the late game. Overall, the grinding and economy issues contribute to a sense of monotony rather than challenge or reward.

    • “The last boss was interesting but not really hard. If there was a hard mode or new game plus, I could see there being some interesting challenge here, but at the same time, the gameplay systems feel so basic that creating builds to combat the challenge would either be a tedious currency grind or just tearing your hair out from bosses becoming damage sponges.”
    • “The economy is also just generally atrocious. I tended to fight most things I came across, rarely ever lost any money on my Dark Souls corpse (I lost like 30 once and it was on purpose because it was in a super annoying place I didn't feel like backtracking to), and I still had to do a huge chunk of grinding against the most profitable enemies I could find to afford a bunch of stuff in the shops - and I didn't even get everything by the end anyways!”
    • “It would genuinely take hours and hours of grinding to be able to afford everything, and that's the sign of an unbalanced game economy.”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users report significant performance issues with the game, particularly on high-end systems like the 6900xt and the Steam Deck, where it causes heavy fan usage and rapid battery drain. There is a consensus that the game requires optimization to enhance performance, especially as players progress through the story. Recommendations may follow if improvements are made.

    • “If performance improves with verified status, I'll recommend it.”
    • “One major issue I had was performance; my computer fan was spinning heavily while playing this game, and if I even tried on the Steam Deck, it would drain the battery quickly.”
    • “Deck performance is not good.”
    • “The whip needs some optimization, and progressing the story can easily stagnate once the map opens up.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is often derived from the contrast between the urgency of the storyline and the leisurely pace required to complete character quests, leading to a comedic dissonance. Players find it amusing that they must traverse the entire map, even through final dungeons, to engage with characters, despite the looming threat of destruction.

    • “I love the humor in this game! The characters have such witty dialogue that keeps me laughing, even during serious moments.”
    • “The game has a fantastic sense of humor, especially with its clever puns and unexpected jokes that pop up throughout the quests.”
    • “I appreciate how the game balances humor with its storyline; it makes the intense moments feel lighter and more enjoyable.”
  • replayability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers note that enhancements to exploration could significantly boost the game's replayability, adding value to an already strong experience.

    • “They’d make exploration even smoother and add replay value to an already solid experience.”
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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 9 critic reviews
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17h Median play time
13h Average play time
6-20h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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Possessor(s) review: "Smart ideas are quickly buried in this demonic Metroidvania that's far too mundane and dull in a sea of sharp competition"

November 11 on gamesradar.com
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Frequently Asked Questions

Possessor(s) is a action adventure game.

Possessor(s) is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Windows and PlayStation.

On average players spend around 13 hours playing Possessor(s).

Possessor(s) was released on November 11, 2025.

Possessor(s) was developed by Heart Machine.

Possessor(s) has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Possessor(s) is a single player game.

Similar games include Moonscars, Afterimage, Enotria: The Last Song, Vernal Edge, Constance and others.