Possessor(s)

The protagonist of Possessor(s) is Luca, a high school student who is trapped in the ruins of Sanzu City - a metropolis that has been overrun by otherworldly horrors in the aftermath of an interdimensional catastrophe. With her body broken, she strikes a deal with Rhem, a newly freed demon in need of a host. Together, they make a last-ditch effort to survive. The interactions and dialogue between Luca and Rhem are one of the game's highlights; the interactions with the other characters cannot compare. The game explores themes of codependency in social and economic contexts, as well as loss and survival, as Luca searches for her mother and best friend in the ruins of Sanzu City. The stylish, dystopian urban sci-fi game world features a mix of 2D sprites (hand-drawn and animated characters) and 3D environments reminiscent of the early 1990s.

Essentially, the game is a sci-fi Metroidvania with combat mechanics similar to those of a platform fighter (such as Smash Bros.), in which Rhem drives the plot forward and grants new abilities. Featuring fast-paced action with ground attacks, aerial combos and improvised weapons such as kitchen knives, guitars and computer mice, the game has a rather gentle difficulty curve, becoming a little more challenging and offering a greater variety of weapons later on. Nevertheless, the game is never really difficult or frustrating. There is also a motivating upgrade system. The exploration and traversal/platforming aspects are fairly standard for a Metroidvania game and offer few surprises. However, some aspects still seem unfinished or complicated.

Possessor was developed by Heart Machine. This Los Angeles-based indie games studio was founded in 2013 and is known for the popular and critically acclaimed Hyper Light Drifter, followed by Solar Ash. Earlier this year, the studio released the open-world roguelike Hyper Light Breaker with Arc Games in Early Access, but it fell short of expectations. The company recently announced layoffs and confirmed that they would no longer be able to realise the original vision for Hyper Light Breaker. However, they did confirm that it would be released from Early Access in January 2026 with a major update. More people were laid off before the release of Possessor(s).

The game's publisher is Devolver Digital, an American company that specialises in indie video games. The company has been particularly active this year, releasing Look Outside in March, The Talos Principle: Reawakened and Gorn 2 in April, Shotgun Cop Man in May, Tron: Catalyst in June, Mycopunk in July, Stick it to the Stickman in August, Baby Steps in September, and Ball X Pit in October. The latter was a major success for the publisher, achieving over 35,000 concurrent users on Steam - the fourth-highest number for Devolver Digital. One week after Possessor(s), Forestrike - a martial arts roguelite developed by Skeleton Crew Studio and Thomas Olsson - was released in November. Skate Story by Sam Eng is scheduled for release on 8 December. Quarantine Zone: The Last Checkpoint from Brigada Games is also scheduled for release this year. Minos, a maze-building roguelite, and the boomer shooter Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 have been announced for release in 2026.

Possessor was released on 11 November 2025 for PC and PlayStation 5, priced at €17.99.

Conclusion

Possessor(s) is a stylistically unique but somewhat conservative Metroidvania in terms of gameplay, featuring a great duo of lead characters.

Features

• Fast-paced battles in the interconnected ruins of Sanzu City
• Great chemistry between Luca and Rhem
• Strong visual style