Games with mind control powers are a rarity, but there are some fantastic depictions of the power if you know where to look.
If you want to use your opponents to do your dirty work, here’s a selection of games that do it best.
10MindJack
Do We Really Need To Talk About This One?
MindJackis a sci-fi shooter that Square Enix likely wishes they had never published. For the record, I thinkthe game is atrocious. However, mind control is a big part of it, so let’s take a look.
In many ways,MindJackfeels like a gamedesperate to hop on the Gears of War craze. There are waist-high walls galore, and you even snap to cover.
You can “down” enemies just like Gears, but the difference is you can use yourMind Slave abilityto make them stand up and fight for you. Alternatively, you can “Mind Jack” them to gain complete control over their actions.
It sounds great as a premise, but theexecution is laughably poor. The controls feel terrible, the levels are uninspired, there are bugs galore, and the graphics are drab and uninspired.
Thankfully, plenty of other games with mind control are worth your time and money.
9Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
An Underrated Gem
Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
I’m not using this entry to rag onMindJackagain, but the funniest part about that title is there was a game from the previous console generation that’ssimilar but better in every way.
Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracyis animpressive 3D sci-fi adventure gameon the PlayStation 2. You play as Nick Scryer, agifted soldier with amnesia.
Sure, the premise isn’t original, butNick’s powers are so funto use that it doesn’t even matter. Nick has telekinetic abilities, and levels are full of stuff he can throw at enemies. He can even pick his foes up and shoot them in mid-air!
It’s twisted when you think about it, but Nick can even control the minds of his opponents andcoax them into walking off ledges. If you don’t mind going back in time for your sci-fi mind-controlling shenanigans, you may’t do much better than this.
The Power Of Plasmids
BioShock: The Collection
Bioshockis anFPS masterpieceset in the haunting underwater city of Rapture.
The hulking drill-armed brutes that roam Rapture are called Big Daddies, and there’s a Plasmid (ability) in the game simply called “Hypnotize Big Daddy.”
you may guess the rest.Big Daddies fiercely protect Rapture’s Little Sisters, and that loyalty is briefly passed on to you instead.
There’s nothing better than a mobile tank as a friend when Splicers are about, and why fight them when you may use them to do your dirty work?
Mind control inBioshockis a bit basic, hence the low placement, but it isfun and satisfyingnonetheless.
Bioshockisfull of fun mechanicsthanks to its Plasmid system, and absolutely worth playing if you’ve not done so already.
7Streets of Rogue
The World Is Your Playground
Streets of Rogue
Streets of Rogueis a fantasticRoguelite, offering a level offreedom you rarely see in the genre.
InStreets of Rogue, you’re tasked with simple objectives like stealing an item or eliminating a specific target. Kill missions are straightforward but risky. Sure, you could do it yourself or bribe someone to do your dirty work, butStreets of Roguealwaysrewards creative thinking.
For example, the alien has a special ability where you gain complete control over an NPC’s actions. you may use them to commit mass murder and break into safes. You could also act like a normal person, head to the bar, and grab something to eat.
You can devise all sorts ofnefarious schemesinStreets of Rogue, and Alien mind control is one of many ways to get the job done.
Spoilers Incoming
Insideis an incredible 2D adventure game by Playdead Studios. I debated putting it on the list aswe’re delving into spoiler territory, so you may want to skip this one if you haven’t played.
Many aspects ofInsideare left to interpretation, but yourmind control abilities are a huge part of the game.
Whenever you don a specific helmet, nearby creatures will obey your every command. You can use them to help with heavy doors, and they can even throw you over pitfalls and obstacles. People under your influence move when you do, and you mustthink outside the boxto ferry them to the right place at the right time.
The most intricate puzzles involve controlling multiple people simultaneously, and you’ll need all the help you’re able to get to surviveInside’s twisted world.
Insideis an unforgettable title from start to finish and isshort enoughthat you can enjoy it even on a busy schedule.
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5Second Sight
Another Free Radical Banger
Key Information
Free Radical
Sci-Fi Adventure
Release Date
August 2004
Most gamers know Free Radical as the developers of the legendaryTimesplittersseries, but far fewer know about theirimpressive single-player title.
Second Sightputs you in the shoes of John Vattic, who has no memory of his past. During your adventure, you unlock adeadly array of psychic powers, including telekinesis. you may fling enemies around like rag dolls and even vanish with Vattic’s Charm ability.
John can also straight up “possess” people, granting himcomplete control of his victims. As long as he’s uninterrupted, he can cause complete carnage from relative safety, and the power even works on allies, too!
Second Sight is one of those fantastic hidden gems in the PlayStation 2 library, and you may see manyTimesplittersinfluences in the character designs, animations, and music.
4Super Mario Odyssey
Of Course It’s A Cute Hat With Eyes
Super Mario Odysseyis a phenomenal 3D platformer and amust-have for any Nintendo Switch owner.
There’s usually a gimmick in Super Mario games, and it’s his hat, Cappy, this time around. Mario canthrow Cappy at enemies to take control of them, each with quirks and abilities.
For example, you can use Banzai Bills to fly across large areas and Podoboo to safely swim in lava. You can even control a T. rex because, of course, you can.
Each creature feels entirely different to use, and many collectibles are only obtainable through mastery of this new ability. Mind control is one of the main mechanics in Odyssey and offers countless ways to tackle obstacles and hazards.
3Driver: San Francisco
An Underrated Driving Game
Driver: San Francisco
TheDriverseries may be infamous for one of the mosthellish introductory levelsin gaming history, but the PS3 entry proves the developers weren’t afraid to think outside the box.
Driver: San Franciscois avehicular action gamewith a premise you won’t find in any other title in the genre. You play as Tanner, who’s put into a coma after a horrific car accident. When he recovers, Tanner awakens a supernatural ability called “shifting,” which allows him to control the consciousness of any driver in the city.
The Shift power means you can get behind the wheel of any car in the game at any time, and it’s awesome! The story takes full advantage of your new-found ability, and it’s a joy justroaming the city jacking people’s mindsbecause you like their car.
The concept seems so wacky compared to the previous games that are grounded in realism, and it’sa tonal shiftthat we would never see any established IP take today.
2Red Alert 2: Yuri’s Revenge
“Our” Mammoth Tank
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
I praisedCommand and Conquer Red Alert 2in ourStrategy Games for Beginnerslist as it’s a superb entry point to the genre. The DLC also features a powerful commander whose entire arsenal is based on mind control.
Yuri is a fearsome antagonistwho governs a new faction inRed Alert 2. All of his units and structures are unique, with mind control at the forefront of his game plan.
You can literallysteal enemy unitsas Yuri, and he can even appear on the battlefield himself as the omnipotent Yuri Prime.
Yuri isn’t phased bytrivial things like morality. On top of his mind control powers, he deploys units like the Slave Miner to generate income and even uses mutated soldiers.
If that’s not a terrifying combination, I don’t know what is.
1Oddworld Abe’s Exodus
Don’t Mess With A Mudukon
Oddworld Inhabitants
Puzzle-Platformer
November 1998
Oddworld: Abe’s Exodusmay be older thanNew ‘n’ Tasty, but it still has some ofthe best mind control mechanicsin gaming. I’ve included twoOddworldgames because both are worthy of your time, but wow,Exodus is in a league of its own!
Abe’s possession abilities got a massive upgrade in his second outing. Abe can now possess wildlife, like Paramites and Scrabs. Don’t worry; the critters ofOddworldsurvive the mind-control, unlike Sligs inOddysee.
He can even control Slogs (angry dogs with LOTS of teeth) and the Glukkons who run Soulstorm Brewery.
The best part about possession in Abe’s Exodus is how the power is woven into gameplay.Mind control puzzles are well-thought-out, and you can use the ability to approach the same scenario in multiple ways.
Oh, did I mention thatAbe can possess explosive fartsthis time around? I’m dead serious.
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