Geist (the German word for ghost) is a first-person action game starring a Spectral Operative or spirit looking to inhabit various bodies lurking within a mysterious compound. In order to learn more about this facility, players must seek out over 12 character types to possess before interacting with the environment. Once players assume a body, they will be able to use whatever weapons, items, skills, or memories a character possesses to help complete objectives or to solve puzzles. Both humans and animals can be used as potential hosts, allowing players to access areas otherwise unavailable. Each character also views the world in a different way, whether it's a mouse scurrying along the concrete floor or a soldier guarding the entrance to a laboratory.