Dungeons & Dragons (D&D)is packed with iconic monsters that have left their mark on video games, but few are as recognizable as mimics. According to the 2024 Monster Manual, mimics are blobby creatures capable of shapeshifting to resemble inanimate objects, allowing them to blend into their surroundings and lure unsuspecting prey.
Though often depicted as treasure chests, mimics can take on the form of any object. In video games, these cunning creatures lie in wait, ready to ambush unsuspecting heroes who let their guard down.
This list does not include Dungeons & Dragons games and focuses on monsters that disguise themselvesasobjects rather than monstershidingwithin objects.
9Flying Giftbox
zOMG!
Gaia Online is a social media site centered around a forum-based community rather than a personal dashboard like Facebook or Instagram. It’s best known for its chibi-style avatars, which users can customize with clothing and accessories purchased using gold earned through site interactions.
While zOMG! is no longer live on Gaia Online due to the end of Flash Player support, the game is still available for download and can be played locally on your computer.
In 2008, Gaia launched its own MMORPG, zOMG!, allowing you to explore the world using avatars. The game featured a variety of quirky monsters, but one of the trickiest was the Flying Giftbox. While navigating through Gaia, these floating presents will glide across a user’s screen while browsing Gaia. If you click on them before they vanish, you’ll be rewarded with special items. However, if a Flying Giftbox appeared while playing zOMG!, it wasn’t a collectible… it was a monster ready to attack.
Gimmighoul is a Pokemon that made its debut in the Paldea region, bringing a unique treasure-hunting twist to the game. It has two distinct forms: Roaming Form and Chest Form. In its Roaming Form, Gimmighoul is a small, gray, bipedal creature that clutches a single gold coin. However, when stationary, it takes on its Chest Form, hiding inside a red treasure chest to lure in unsuspecting trainers.
You need to collect 999 Gimmighoul Coins to evolve it into Gholdengo.
As you explore the wilds of Paldea, you’ll often find Chest Form Gimmighoul perched atop watchtowers. If you interact with one, you’ll be thrown into a Pokemon battle, where you can either defeat or catch it.These treasure-loving Pokemon hoard goldinside their chests, and upon victory, you’ll be rewarded with a number of Gimmighoul Coins.
Crypt of the NecroDanceris a rhythm-based roguelitewhere every movement and action must sync with the beat of the music. As you navigate its ever-changing dungeons, you’ll encounter a variety of enemies, including Mimics, monsters that disguise themselves as ordinary objects, waiting to ambush unsuspecting players.
At the start of a dungeon, all Mimics appear to be dormant, blending in perfectly with their surroundings. However, keen-eyed players can spot them by observing their subtle breathing motion, as they slightly rise and fall.
There are six different types of Mimics, each posing unique challenges:
In Dragon Quest 3, players face off against two distinct types of monsters that disguise themselves as innocent objects: Canniboxes and Mimics. The Cannibox is encountered early in the game and looks like an ordinary brown wooden treasure chest. However, when you attempt to open it, the top suddenly flips open to reveal sharp teeth and a monstrous tongue, ready to strike.
Although Canniboxes are generally less powerful than Mimics, the latter of which can potentially one-hit kill party members, they still present a serious challenge, especially in the early game. Their high stats for the area mean that even though they aren’t as deadly as Mimics, you’ll still need to use your full range of skills and abilities to overcome them.
Canniboxes were introduced to the Dragon Quest series in Dragon Quest 3, and returned in subsequent titles.
To add to the frustration, defeating a Cannibox rewards you with a Cypress Stick, one of the weakest weapons in the game, making the encounter feel like a bit of a slap in the face after the difficulty of the fight.
Dark Souls 3is infamous for its punishing difficultyand unforgiving encounters, and Mimics are no exception. These deceptive creatures disguise themselves as treasure chests, lying in wait for unsuspecting adventurers. According to in-game lore, Mimics are the punishment for the sin of greed, making them a deadly lesson for players who rush to claim loot without caution.
Once they shed their disguise, Dark Souls Mimics reveal their true form: tall, thin humanoid monsters with grotesquely long limbs and gaping, tooth-filled mouths. Their signature attack involves grabbing unfortunate explorers and gnawing on their heads, dealing massive damage and often resulting in death.
Luckily, there’s a way to identify Mimics before they strike:
By carefully observing chest chains, you can avoid becoming a Mimic’s next meal.
The Mad Piano is one of the most unsettling enemies in Super Mario 64, lurking within Big Boo’s Haunt as an unexpected horror. At first glance, it appears to be nothing more than a refined grand piano, blending seamlessly into the eerie mansion’s decor.
However, the moment you get too close, the lid snaps open, revealing a set of sharp, jagged teeth, and the Mad Piano springs to life, relentlessly chasing Mario around the room. Unlike most enemies in the game, the Mad Piano is completely invincible, meaning you cannot defeat it. Instead, you’ll have to outmaneuver it to safely grab the Red Coin it guards and make a quick escape.
Spiderchests are Unversed creatures in Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep that disguise themselves as treasure chests, lying in wait to ambush unsuspecting adventurers. These sneaky foes mimic the appearance of regular chests, making them a nasty surprise for players eager to collect loot.
In addition to Spiderchests, you also need to look out for Flame Boxes, which also disguise themselves as treasure chests. It will drop a Firaga Deck Command when defeated.
Fortunately, despite their unsettling appearance, Spiderchests are easy to defeat. Their main strategy is to burrow underground before launching an attack from below. However, once they surface, they become vulnerable, giving you the perfect opportunity to unleash a flurry of attacks. Just be cautious of their poison-based moves, which can add an extra layer of danger if you’re not prepared.
The Final Fantasy series has long drawn inspiration from D&D, and Final Fantasy 4 is no exception. Among its many nods to D&D are two types of mimic monsters that disguise themselves as everyday objects: Trap Doors and Mimic Chests.
Mimics first debuted in Final Fantasy 4, but went on to make appearances in subsequent games.
These deceptive foes appear identical to regular doors and treasure chests, lying in wait until an unsuspecting adventurer interacts with them. When you approach a Trap Door, Cecil will react with an exclamation mark above his head, your only warning before battle begins.
Mimic Chests, on the other hand, are even trickier. Upon triggering a battle, they will use their ability Call to summon a Magic Vice, a lizard-like enemy that is significantly stronger than the Mimic itself. Magic Vices can also steal items from your party, making them a real threat if not dealt with quickly.
Like most RPGs, Wuthering Waves features a world filled with treasure chests, each containing valuable power-up materials and currency. However, Rinascita introduced a new type of Tacet Discord known as Chest Mimics, deceptive creatures that disguise themselves as premium chests, distinguished only by their red lids.
When you summon a Chest Mimic echo, it will deal consecutive Spectro damage to your enemies for a short period of time.
If an unsuspecting Rover attempts to open one, the Chest Mimic will spring to life and attack. Defeating these tricky foes rewards players with Shell Credits and Ascension Materials, making them both a threat and an opportunity for those willing to take the risk.
