Possessor(s): Metroidvania meets smash combat this November

GAMING NEWS Fyra Frost - Sep 30, 2025, 12:00 PM

The creators of Hyper Light Drifter are preparing to unleash their next ambitious project. Possessor(s) is a dark, story-driven Metroidvania that fuses moody exploration with frenetic combat inspired by platform fighters. Developed by Heart Machine and published by Devolver Digital, the game is set to launch on November 11, 2025 for PC and PlayStation 5.

A New Direction for Heart Machine

Since its debut with the critically acclaimed Hyper Light Drifter and later Solar Ash, Heart Machine has built a reputation for stylish visuals and worlds steeped in atmosphere. With Possessor(s), the studio returns to a side-scrolling perspective but aims to improve the formula with faster pacing, layered storytelling, and a heavier focus on precise combat mechanics. Unlike some indie titles that linger in early access, Heart Machine is delivering Possessor(s) as a complete release from day one. The game follows the story of Luca, a teenager who survives a tragic accident only to find herself bound to Rhem, a powerful demon. Their reluctant partnership drives the story forward as they navigate a sprawling city scarred by interdimensional rifts. The setting blends futuristic architecture with ruined infrastructure, creating a labyrinth of skyscrapers, flooded aquariums, and forgotten industrial spaces.

The world of Possessor(s) is designed to be interconnected and layered, encouraging exploration and backtracking as new abilities unlock fresh routes. Along the way, players encounter morally ambiguous characters and uncover fragmented stories about the collapse of the city, giving the adventure a sense of mystery and weight.

Where Possessor(s) distinguishes itself is in its combat system. Borrowing cues from fighting games, battles emphasize juggling, parries, and directional attacks. This approach encourages players to think creatively about positioning and momentum, especially in encounters that span both ground and aerial exchanges. Weapons are equally unconventional. Everyday objects like cell phones, guitars, or hockey sticks are transformed into deadly tools infused with supernatural power. The game also features traversal abilities such as whip-like grapples, wall runs, and dive attacks, resulting in an experience where combat seamlessly blends into the rhythm of exploration. Rest points function as reset hubs, recalling mechanics from Souls-likes, ensuring each foray into the city feels tense and deliberate.

For Heart Machine, the project represents both a continuation and a reinvention. Hyper Light Drifter was celebrated for its minimalist storytelling and haunting aesthetic, while Solar Ash expanded the scope into fluid, cinematic movement. Meanwhile, Possessor(s) appears to combine both philosophies, pairing narrative depth with a combat system built for spectacle.

With its unique blend of Metroidvania exploration and fighting-game intensity, Possessor(s) aims to be one of the most distinctive indie releases of 2025. As usual, you can use our comparator to keep track of the best deals to pre-order Possessor(s) as soon as they are available if you can't wait to discover the game.

Explore and Fight in Possessor(s), Coming This November

A New Direction for Heart Machine

Fyra Frost

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