Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • Games
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Hardware
  • Video
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Deals
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • SFX
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
View
Trending
  • Summer Game Fest
  • New games for 2025
  • Upcoming Switch 2 games
  • Switch 2 stock

Recommended reading

Mario Kart World screenshot Switch 2
Action RPGs Nintendo Switch 2's kickflipping cow, 50-ft woman, and steampunk t-rex showed there's still great power in absurdity
Michi, Pinky, and the rest of the Promise Mascot Agency standing in front of Kaso-Machi in key art for the game
Simulation Games There are dozens of us: Paradise Killer's new open-world management sim aimed straight at Yakuza sickos is off to a great start on Steam with 98% positive reviews
Ben Starr presenting at the BAFTA Game Awards in clown attire
Roguelike Games "LocalThunk is really rich now": 2 weeks after winning yet another GOTY award, Balatro sends Final Fantasy 16 star to accept award in "suspiciously arousing" Jimbo attire
Putting cigarettes in fish mouths in Thank Goodness You're Here
Adventure Games Thank Goodness You're Here's developer says it was trying to design a game normally before realizing "we're s**t at video game design"
a character with half their face straight on the other half as though it's in profile. It's very Dali
FPS Games This dev's first game, a surreal trip based on a YouTube animated series, came out 3 days after Schedule 1 and is right on its heels for best-reviewed Steam release of the year
Early dark-haired character face model for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
RPGs Watch in horror and awe as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 director uses early builds of characters like a vtuber model in the only video on Sandfall's old YouTube channel
Screenshot from felt that boxing showing a puppet squaring up to a bigger puppet
Fighting Games Geoff Keighley can't help himself, pours gasoline on the memes as he unveils a real-time boxing game starring puppets: "You guys all know I love my puppets"
  1. Games

Poop, tofu, and other everyday things given life in video games

Features
By Ryan Taljonick published 28 May 2014

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

A new lease on life

A new lease on life

If you ever encounter a talking roll of toilet paper in real life, your heart will likely explode out of sheer surprise. Not to mention you'd probably find it at least a little bit difficult to tear off a few sheets and put them toward their intended use. Meet a roll of Charmin in a video game, though, and the two of you could become best of friends.

Video games, like all forms of entertainment, often stretch the imagination. Sometimes this is done through fanciful story telling; other times through over-the-top action. Then there are the instances in which inanimate objects are given life and turned into compelling characters, murderous nemeses, and all-around weirdos. The following are some of the strangest examples of random things that were given sentience by video games.

Page 1 of 14
Page 1 of 14
Poop (Conker's Bad Fur Day)

Poop (Conker's Bad Fur Day)

The thought of crossing paths with a festering pile of talking fecal matter is inherently terrifying. The only thing that could somehow make such a scenario any worse would be listening to that giant mound of discarded human waste use its beautiful falsetto voice to sing-taunt you. And boy does the Great Mighty Poo love to sing-taunt.

The big question: From whose humongous stink-star did the Great Mighty Poo emerge?

Page 2 of 14
Page 2 of 14
Records (EarthBound)

Records (EarthBound)

You've no doubt heard some captivating music in your lifetime--songs so beautiful or tragic that they captivate the mind. But Ness and his posse of scrappy children have had their fair share of encounters with animate physical media whose primary interest is murdering pre-teens. Let this be a reminder that kids should always travel the city streets with a yoyo and teddy bear in-hand. It's a maaaaad world.

The big question: What's it like to live in a world where your prized possession (a mint-condition copy of Hootie & The Blowfish's #1 album, Cracked Rear View) will destroy you at a moment's notice?

Page 3 of 14
Page 3 of 14
Tree (Broken Age)

Tree (Broken Age)

Fact: trees live a long time, and if they could talk, they'd probably have some tragic stories to tell. Stories of their best friends getting chopped in half by cruel human beings, who went on to horribly disfigure those lifeless tree corpses by turning them into building materials. When you think about it, it's really not surprising that the talking tree in Broken Age is absolutely disgusted by carpentry.

The big question: If a tree falls in a forest and no one's around to hear it, does it scream out in pain while all its friends watch, unable to help?

Page 4 of 14
Page 4 of 14
Toilet (Banjo-Kazooie)

Toilet (Banjo-Kazooie)

It's hard to imagine anything more miserable than being a living depository for human waste. Poor Loggo didn't choose to be born as a breathing, eating toilet--but he's not one to raise a stink about his situation, instead opting to be a kind-hearted soul. Yes, life certainly bestowed some lemons upon this ceramic companion; it's just a shame he's too busy drinking other peoples' lemonade to make any of his own.

The big question: Do sentient toilets prefer the seat being left up or down?

Page 5 of 14
Page 5 of 14
Tofu (Resident Evil 2)

Tofu (Resident Evil 2)

A hidden character in Resident Evil 2, Tofu was initially designed as a test for the game's collision detection. Upon realizing that keeping a walking slab of synthetic health food as a playable character in a survival horror game was far too funny a thing to cut, Capcom opted to make Tofu the star of a gruelingly difficult minigame. Bizarre, but awesome nonetheless.

The big question: If tofu takes on the flavor of whatever it's cooked in, does that mean RE2's Tofu tastes like zombie guts?

Page 6 of 14
Page 6 of 14
Onion (Parappa the Rapper)

Onion (Parappa the Rapper)

propanethial S-oxide

The big question: As pointed out in the hit-film Shrek, onions have many layers--but how many does Master Onion have, exactly?

Page 7 of 14
Page 7 of 14
Shapes (Thomas Was Alone)

Shapes (Thomas Was Alone)

Have you heard? Thomas' friend Chris is a total square. As in, he's actually a living square. 2010's Thomas Was Alone, an indie platform game, did an incredible job of personifying shapes, transforming rectangles and squares into surprisingly memorable characters. Why was Thomas alone? And did he ever become less so? You'll have to play the game to find out.

The big question: Does Thomas and his crew have something against circles?

Page 8 of 14
Page 8 of 14
Sun (Super Mario Bros. 3)

Sun (Super Mario Bros. 3)

Yahoo Answers user Helen Scott explains

The big question: If it takes the sun's light 8 minutes and 20 seconds to reach earth, does that mean the Angry Sun had to start scowling and throwing fireballs 8 minutes and 20 seconds before Mario arrived?

Page 9 of 14
Page 9 of 14
Ship (The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker)

Ship (The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker)

Riding on top of a talking ship that sails itself is probably as sci-fi as The Legend of Zelda will ever get. King of Red Lions--the awesome name for said ship--has a flair for the theatrical, as his dramatic use of language is rivaled only by his ability to float really well. At least his self navigation affords Link the opportunity to play his 3DS in transit.

The big question: Does he prefer to be called a "schooner" or is it alright that we just call him a ship? Like, is that an offensive thing for talking boats?

Page 10 of 14
Page 10 of 14
Ice cream (Pokemon)

Ice cream (Pokemon)

Look, there are enough Pokemon that are basically just ordinary objects with googly eyes to fill this entire list. But there's something particularly horrific about the idea of eating a Vanillite--a living ice cream cone. Picture it: There you are, with a cone of your favorite vanilla dessert, slowly biting away at it while it stares at you with a horrific googly-eye stare. It begs you to stop, but you cannot; it's far too delicious. You bite into the crisp, sugary shell, and it lets loose a blood curdling scream. But it's too late. The sweetness is overwhelming. Can't stop, won't stop.

The big question: Does it come in any other flavors?

Page 11 of 14
Page 11 of 14
Your hand (Vampire Hunter D)

Your hand (Vampire Hunter D)

Considering the myriad uses of hands, I think we can all agree that giving one of your appendages a mouth and a mind of its own would probably be a bad idea. The thought becomes especially creepy when self-aware hands have a ghoulish human face and the matter-sucking abilities of Nintendo's Kirby, as does D's left hand in the Vampire Hunter D saga.

The big question: [JOKE CENSORED BY EDITOR]

Page 12 of 14
Page 12 of 14
Cloth (Journey)

Cloth (Journey)

Journey is one of those rare, artsy games that forces one to pose deep, philosophical questions. Questions such as: "What is the meaning of life?" Or, "Who am I, really?" Or, "How the hell is that floating cloth-whale producing deep-sea mating calls?" Journey's fabric creatures may look like everyday textiles, but their flowing, organic movements and desire to escape captivity make it quite clear that those cross stitches have hearts and minds.

The big question: [TOO LAZY TO WRITE JOKE]

Page 13 of 14
Page 13 of 14
It's good to be alive

It's good to be alive

What other random objects have video games turned into sentient beings? Any of them particularly bizarre, or are you totally cool with them? Let us know in the comments below.

And if you're looking for more, check out 11 random objects that look like gaming executives and Pokemon that are basically just ordinary objects with googly eyes.

Page 14 of 14
Page 14 of 14
CATEGORIES
Android iPad iPhone PC Gaming Wii-u Nintendo PlayStation PS4 Xbox Xbox One Platforms Mobile Gaming
Ryan Taljonick
Ryan Taljonick
Social Links Navigation

Ryan was once the Executive Editor of GamesRadar, before moving into the world of games development. He worked as a Brand Manager at EA, and then at Bethesda Softworks, before moving to 2K. He briefly went back to EA and is now the Director of Global Marketing Strategy at 2K. 

See more Games Features
Read more
Mario Kart World screenshot Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2's kickflipping cow, 50-ft woman, and steampunk t-rex showed there's still great power in absurdity
Michi, Pinky, and the rest of the Promise Mascot Agency standing in front of Kaso-Machi in key art for the game
There are dozens of us: Paradise Killer's new open-world management sim aimed straight at Yakuza sickos is off to a great start on Steam with 98% positive reviews
Ben Starr presenting at the BAFTA Game Awards in clown attire
"LocalThunk is really rich now": 2 weeks after winning yet another GOTY award, Balatro sends Final Fantasy 16 star to accept award in "suspiciously arousing" Jimbo attire
Putting cigarettes in fish mouths in Thank Goodness You're Here
Thank Goodness You're Here's developer says it was trying to design a game normally before realizing "we're s**t at video game design"
a character with half their face straight on the other half as though it's in profile. It's very Dali
This dev's first game, a surreal trip based on a YouTube animated series, came out 3 days after Schedule 1 and is right on its heels for best-reviewed Steam release of the year
Early dark-haired character face model for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Watch in horror and awe as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 director uses early builds of characters like a vtuber model in the only video on Sandfall's old YouTube channel
Latest in Games
The Outer Worlds 2 screenshot showing a handgun being reloaded in the middle of combat
After playing The Outer Worlds 2, I'm convinced that it has the potential to be Obsidian's greatest game – and the best FPS of 2025
The Witcher 3 next-gen
"Suddenly a lot of people who loved Skyrim started paying attention to The Witcher 3": CDPR says an old E3 demo was a turning point for its defining RPG
Grounded 2 screenshot showing the entrance to the Ice Cream Truck chill area, with Summer Preview 2025 branding
Everything is bigger in Grounded 2, but Obsidian never considered stretching beyond four-player co-op: "It would have undermined what Grounded was really about"
Grave Seasons art showing a man with tied-back black hair wielding a hoe while a crow rests atop a fence nearby
This Stardew Valley-ish farming sim looks super cozy until you find out about the supernatural serial killer (who you can also romance)
The Witcher 4 cinematic screenshot showing a closeup of Ciri, protagonist of the new adventure
The Witcher 4's narrative lead is holding onto some of his earliest Witcher 3 feedback for the RPG's sequel: "We don't do fetch quests"
Grounded 2 screenshot with Summer Preview logo
After playing Grounded 2 for 30 minutes, it's clear that my favorite survival game is getting a massive glow-up
Latest in Features
The Outer Worlds 2 screenshot showing a handgun being reloaded in the middle of combat
After playing The Outer Worlds 2, I'm convinced that it has the potential to be Obsidian's greatest game – and the best FPS of 2025
Grounded 2 screenshot showing the entrance to the Ice Cream Truck chill area, with Summer Preview 2025 branding
Everything is bigger in Grounded 2, but Obsidian never considered stretching beyond four-player co-op: "It would have undermined what Grounded was really about"
Grounded 2 screenshot with Summer Preview logo
After playing Grounded 2 for 30 minutes, it's clear that my favorite survival game is getting a massive glow-up
Marco Ng as Alan in The Way We Talk
A new Hong Kong drama about three d/Deaf friends brings sign language to the big screen in a different way
Kill Team: Typhon box and card decks on a wooden table
Kill Team: Typhon introduces an unexpected twist to its competitive gameplay, and I think it might be a game-changer
End of Abyss Summer Preview
I played 30 minutes of the new game from the original Little Nightmares devs, and it turns out a twin-stick survival horror Metroidvania is a recipe for spooky heaven
  1. Nintendo Switch 2: Welcome Tour screenshot
    1
    Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour review: "Mostly a fancy toy and not much more"
  2. 2
    MindsEye review: "An uninspired and forgettable sci-fi action adventure that feels like a Netflix movie you watch while on your phone"
  3. 3
    The Alters review: "More tactile and story-heavy than the Frostpunk dev's earlier games, but the fight for survival is just as fierce"
  4. 4
    Splitgate 2 review: "A slick and enjoyable free-to-play FPS, but a disappointing sequel"
  5. 5
    Date Everything review: "A masterclass in character design full of wonderful faces I love meeting, but juggling so many means sacrificing depth"
  1. The Yautja in Dan Trachtenberg's animated movie Predator: Killer of Killers
    1
    Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation"
  2. 2
    From the World of John Wick: Ballerina review: "Brilliant action, even if the plot gives you a sense of déjà vu"
  3. 3
    Karate Kid: Legends review: "Better than Karate Kid (2010), nothing on Karate Kid (1984)"
  4. 4
    Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning review: "Wraps up this spy franchise in spectacular style with Tom Cruise in peak condition, even if its villain lacks terror"
  5. 5
    Final Destination Bloodlines Review: "Meticulous murderous mayhem"
  1. Rebecca Romijn as Una Chin-Riley / Number One and Anson Mount as Captain Christopher Pike in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
    1
    Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date"
  2. 2
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling"
  3. 3
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision
  4. 4
    Rick and Morty season 8 review: "Largely plays it too safe after years of crossing boundaries"
  5. 5
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 6 spoiler review: 'The Interstellar Song Contest' is "a blast and sets the stage for a thrilling season finale"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...