(Originally published on SundaeNight’s personal Tumblr in August 2025. Some amendments and small edits have been made. Namely adding Melly Plinius aka Entomologist/”Queen Bee” who released a few months after the original post and adding Emil who was recently announced to be getting an identity switch named “Hertztier.”)
I find the concept of Identity Switches in IDV so fascinating. I come from Dead by Daylight and only started playing IDV in April of last year for the Ib crossover, and practically binged Ashes of Memory parts I and II and the Closing Night the very first day I picked up the game. So I was introduced to characters with Identity Switches very very early on.
Regardless, I knew nothing about Identity Switches much less knew about the existence of such a system but I do remember thinking after seeing Norton in this rather infamous breakfast scene and saw how this gentleman looked like the “pursuer” (as the game called him) from the night before. I already knew it was due to the drugs in Alice’s system that was hallucinating this guy as some monstrous rock being but it was still something I found interesting and worth a deeper dive.
It’s just him, his bread, and his milk…no one and nothing else matters.
So what exactly is an identity switch?
Sev, the character designer for the likes of “Fool’s Gold” and Journalist amongst others.
First introduced in 2021, the IDV developers created a new system that would explore characters in a new form that would hopefully break barriers in the lore and gameplay. According to Sev, a character designer working on the game, Identity Switches do NOT have to be the same person nor did it always have to be a hunter to survivor switch and vice versa.
For instance, the prime example of this is Alice DeRoss who is a survivor to survivor identity switch in the forms of “Little Girl” and Journalist. While “Little Girl” is Alice in a sense, they are not exactly the same person as the former is born from “Orpheus'” fragmented memories of Alice when she was a child.
However, up to the time I’m writing this, we have yet to see a hunter to hunter identity switch and we have not seen yet a switch that are two different people. The closest we have to the latter is Frederick Kreiburg who is thought to be the identity switch of Mary aka Bloody Queen.
Yet, we don’t see a little Muse symbol on either of them nor do we see the usual connections we see in other identity switches. I personally believe we have to wait until the closing of the main story (at least Alice’s part) to see just what they do with Frederick and Mary.
Patiently waiting to see just exactly what their plan is for Frederick. His EP that dropped before the release of the Cage of Yesteryear story possibly hints at the confirmation of his identity switch.
Who has an actual identity switch then?
As of now there are only 7 characters with identity switches in the game currently with an 8th on the way. The next identity switch, “Hertztier” which will be Patient’s Hunter identity will possibly drop towards the end of the summer with the release of “Divergence.” This will tell the story of Game Zero aka “The Control Group” which features “Psychologist,” Patient, The Mind’s Eye, and Sculptor. There is also the mysterious Roy Kafe who we learned a bit more about in Cage of Yesteryear as someone who may or may not be just another identity of “Orpheus.” Time will tell.
But why do identity switches happen?
So there’s both a simple answer and a complicated one especially as the latter contains reasons that are different for each character we see but the patterns exist. The simple answer: drugs. Yup, drugs created by “Orpheus” that can affect how one sees other people. Usually the drugs make ordinary people look, well, like hunters—those who look malicious and sometimes downright evil.
As for the more complicated answer, identity switches occur due to each individual’s personal experiences and psychology which I will explain as best as I can with the information we have at hand at the time of writing this up.
While I’d love to go more in depth with why each character has a switch, I want to keep this on the shorter side since I hope to write up more in-depth posts for each identity switch in the game. I’ll try my best to summarize each though.
Id vs Ego: And How it Relates to (some) Identity Switches
But first, a little psychology lesson that I hope will prove useful as you read on. See, in Fool’s Gold’s Concept Interview by the developers, they mentioned that the identity of a character and the character itself are somewhat akin to the concepts of the Id and the Ego.
Id: The instinct-driven, “I want this now,” instant gratification part of ourselves that is motivated by primal instincts. “The id is the impulsive (and unconscious) part of our psyche that responds directly and immediately to basic urges, needs, and desires…the id lacks any sense of right or wrong…concerned only with fulfilling instinctive needs.” Think of it like the little devil on your shoulder at worst. (SimplyPsychology)
Ego: “…the rational part of the psyche that mediates between the instinctual desires of the id and the moral constraints of the superego, operating primarily at the conscious level.” The ego is shaped by from societal norms, rules and etiquette. How should we behave in society? How should we act in front of other people? Interestingly, despite having a moral compass unlike the id, the ego doesn’t necessarily have a concept of right or wrong either. Something is good if it doesn’t cause harm to itself or the id. The ego also tends to be weaker than the id, who the ego tries its best to point in the right direction. “If the ego fails to use the reality principle (finding realistic ways to satisfy the id in a way that follows societal standards) and anxiety is experienced, unconscious defense mechanisms are employed.” (SimplyPsychology)
Superego: Basically the angel on your shoulder. The part of your psyche that represents the core morality you hold on to due to societal values and standards (can also include what you learn from guardian figures like your parents). It is there to control the id’s impulses and to push the ego to have more moralistic goals over realistic ones. In short, our inner voice, our inner critic. (SimplyPsychology)
IDV Example:
Fool’s Gold (Id): I need to break out of this wretched fate and find this treasure even at the cost of the lives and blood of others (plus it sounds fun~). Time for an explosion–boom~! (Plus, that sounds fun, too)
Prospector (ego): I shouldn’t blow up the mine because killing is against the law, it won’t do me any good (no need for all that attention too) but I’m so close…
??? (Superego): Yeah, no. Let’s not blow up anyone or anything and continue to work hard and live without harming others or ourselves. I’ll reach my goal and change my fate…one day.
Side Note: These concepts are founded by Sigmund Freud who I know is a controversial figure in the field of psychology so take it as you will. But geez, at least with Norton, it kinda fits to a T. It’s no wonder they brought up it up in Fool’s Gold’s concept video.
Characters with Identity Switches and Why:
Novelist/“Nightmare”
“Orpheus” possibly has Dissociative Identity Disorder and thus have two separate personalities in one body. This is most evident in the previous main story, Time of Reunion, where Detective “Orpheus” recounts how he discovered sometime during his 10 year amnesia that he had another identity inside of him. He loathes his other self but reluctantly asks for his other half’s help a couple of times. This could be “Nightmare” or another identity. However, “Nightmare” is possibly the identity who is behind the manor games while Novelist himself doesn’t seem to know this and has participated in at least a couple games.
Weeping Clown/Smiley Face
Theorized to also have DID possibly. Smiley Face is also said to be emulating Sergi, another clown from the Hullabaloo circus and Magaretha/Natalie’s husband. Natalie is someone Joker adores. Joker felt threatened by Sergi in terms of his position being replaced in the circus and for Natalie’s affection and thus aimed to emulate him in a way. Or maybe Joker sought to become the opposite of the sad weeping clown he had been forced to play and once he put on the mask that covered his true disfigured face, it was easier to play the part he always wanted. Interestingly, this is one of the identity switches where the survivor and the hunter are different ages: Weepy being 20 while Smiley being 35.
Professor/Evil Reptilian
Luchino Diruse always aimed to seek the next level of human evolution. He believed the key was in reptiles and after being bitten by a venomous snake, his body started to transform. He started to become less human and more reptilian. Again, there is an age difference with Professor being 30 while Evil Repetilian is 35. This could be due to the fact that Evil Reptilian is simply the Professor 5 years older.
“Little Girl”/Journalist
Alice is seen as the 6 year old she once was by “Orpheus” under the influence of his own drugs. This is seen primarily in “Time of Reunion,” the original main story, and the official lore videos: “Memory,” “Go Hunting,” and “Da Capo.” This is also why “Little Girl” is referred to as “Memory” because she is literally just the memory of Alice as a child. This is also seen in the fact that “Little Girl” has no deduction notes and has birthday letters that are written by “Orpheus” during his time at the manor for the final manor game.
Prospector/“Fool’s Gold”
Norton’s personality has been constantly said to have shifted back and forth especially after the Golden Cave incident where he was the cause of the deaths of 13 miners and the destruction of the last fragments of his morality and expectations of society. His duality between his diligent and quietly hard-working self vs. his vengeful and unrestrained self is a constant struggle within the man. Considering the previous discussion of the id vs the ego, it is simply a matter of the id ignoring and taking over the ego within Norton. Yet, there still appears to remain an ever constant mental battle between the two identities of Mr. Campbell.
Acrobat/“Hullabaloo”
After finding out about the truth behind the incident at the Hullabaloo circus where he grew up blissfully unaware of what his fellow circus members felt, Mike Morton grows quickly disenchanted and disgusted by the so-called circus he once called home. Yet, the vestiges of the Hullabaloo circus is what made Mike who he is today and thus, how can it be so easily given up? “The surviving body was nothing more than an empty shell; after that cruel night, he had become a moving ruin” – IDV official social media post. The death of Mike’s happy-go-lucky carefree memories of the Hullabaloo circus died and gave birth to the embodiment of disappointment and despair wrapped in a walking ruin.
Entomologist/”Queen Bee”
Artist: Yaoyaobae
Melly Plinius was ardently passionate about entomology and through her husband, Joshua Plinius, was able to enter a world she could have only dreamed of being a part of as a child. For a time, she naively believed she would be able to become a person similar to her husband who was lauded in the entomology community. She longed to be in his position in a field that still catered more to men than women. Through Joshua it would’ve been possible, if he had seen her as equals. Instead, his betrayal along with other painful experiences led Melly to finally realize that humans were no better than some of the insects she studied. Upon this realization, Melly concluded she had to change in order to attain what she truly wanted.
Patient/”Hertztier”
While “Hertztier” hasn’t been officially released as of yet, I’ll still include Emil here since he has been confirmed to get one. I also already talked a bit about why it’s understandable that he gets an identity switch in my character study on him and Ada. However, to reiterate my point, given Emil’s tragic background of being treated more like a dog than a human being most of his life, it makes sense another identity that shows him being an actual dog, or wolf rather, lives inside him.
“Hertztier” itself means “heart-animal” in German and at Emil’s core where the inherent traits of a human being should be, instead houses traits belonging more to that of an animal. This is due to the fact Emil spent his formative years growing up in a cage and being forced to participate in a dog fighting ring before he escaped and made his way to White Sand Street Asylum where he was only treated just as bad. It was only when Ada entered his life when things started to change for the better for him. She was the first to treat him humanely and unfortunately, that only lasted 3 years before his condition which had been improving under her methods, started to deteriorate.
Ada felt at her wit’s end and finally decided to go to the manor for the promised treatment for Emil hoping that he would find himself in the process. And by a sick twist of fate, he did find himself. Just not in a way either him or Ada had hoped.
Note: Mind you, these are more the psychological reasons identity switches happen. Obviously the reason we see Norton or Mike for instance as Hunters would be due to the effects of the drugs. For example, Norton is seen as a monstrous rock creature due to the drugs effecting Alice when they first meet in the Dark Woods. This is made clear by the fact it shows a clear reflection in a puddle of water of plain ole prospector Norton. This is the case for Norton, Orpheus, Alice, and everyone else in the final game.
For the likes of Mike who dies before he becomes “Hullabaloo,” it seems a bit more complicated. As for Joker, that is due to Margaretha seeing him as a hunter along with Violetta in the Closing Night side story.
And lastly, for Emil, we just have to see when “Divergence” drops later this year.
Possible identity switches in the future?
Sculptor, Galatea, as seen in the trailer for “Divergence.”
Here is a quick list of who may get an identity switch along with why they might:
The Sculptor: May get a survivor identity (as seen above).
The Mind’s Eye: Originally I had Helena on this list as many had speculated she would receive one as she had been labelled as the “only punisher” in the group who also fell for Galatea’s trap. However, with Emil being confirmed to be getting the identity switch and with Galatea appearing to possibly get a switch herself, it seems highly unlikely they would have 3 different identity switches in one game. Though never say never, I suppose.
Composer: As speculated above. He appears as a Hunter in Alice’s eyes and while it is that of Bloody Queen, it is still possible he may receive a switch as everyone in the main story line as a switch. There is also his EP and Character Background trailer which shows his duality at odds with each other (duality being a theme they love to explore with identity switches).
Feaster: In his Character Day Portrait, his shadow looks like a survivor with most people speculating it is Arthur Byers, a participant of game 6 (with Luchino actually).
Axe Boy: Possibly a Hunter to Hunter switch with his sister, Dolores Whyte, as she is seen as his shadow in his Character Day Portrait.
Coordinator: Again, Character Day Portrait shows different shadows though this can just be an indicator of the different identities portrayed herself as.
Perfumer: Her portrait shows her shadow carrying a knife/dagger which could suggest Hunter…or maybe, survivor.
Priestess: Her portrait shows her portal as her shadow suggesting another identity (some specular it’s Yog-Sothoth).
Photographer: His portrait shows the shadow of what looks like an old man. Though it is unclear whether this would be a survivor or hunter. It may also just be a reflection of what Joseph should in reality look like.
Forward: William survived his original game with Mercenary (Naib) and tried to escape but failed and was brought to what was called the “processing room” in one of his birthday letters. It is possible he was used in another manor game as a hunter.
Thief: Some have pointed out that one promotional image for Thief had a Muses Symbol which usually represents a possible identity switch in the future. On the other hand, the developer’s confirmed in a QnA from last year that the story of Game 4’s characters (Thief, Doctor, Lawyer, Gardener, and Hell Ember) was finished with the exception of Gardener.
“Escapologist”: Similar to Thief, some have pointed out that Efron’s promotional image that originally announced him as an upcoming survivor shows a Muse Symbol in the background. I was able to find this one and yes, there definitely is. Guess it remains to be seen if this will be confirmed in the future.
As I mentioned earlier, this is speculation based on information we have of the lore so far and my interpretation of it. Naturally, there may be more characters who possibly will get an identity switch including some that seem out of left field (dear reader, even I once upon a time speculated that Fire Investigator may get a switch. Who knows?). Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Since this post was more for summary purposes, I hope to explore more in-depth about each identity switch character in later posts of their own.
Until then, thank you if you read all of this! Take care.