The following article contains spoilers for Digimon Ghost Game through Episode 49, “The Crimson Harvest Festival,” streaming now on Crunchyroll.
One of Digimon Ghost Game’s most heartwarming storylines has been Gammamon’s bond with Hiro Amanokawa. However, Gammamon’s dark past is an underlying mystery that may be more central to the series than the team realizes. Gammamon has transformed into his dark form, GulusGammamon, multiple times throughout the series, but he usually does not remember his actions when he transforms back into Gammamon. While GulusGammamon has been ruthless in his appearances, he may have been an even more powerful figure in the Digital world than previously shown.
In Episode 49 “The Crimson Harvest Festival,” Witchmon asked Gammamon if he was the Dark Conqueror. While Gammamon was bewildered by the question, it is likely that “Dark Conqueror” is either a title that GulusGammamon has used in the past or someone he has worked with before. Examining GulusGammamon’s past appearances shows that Gammamon might truly have been an evil major player in the past — and could be a force behind the transportation of Digimon from the Digital world to the human world.
What Digimon Ghost Game Has Revealed About GulusGammamon So Far
While Gammamon’s dark side was hinted at in Ghost Game, GulusGammamon did not appear until Episode 13 “Executioner.” Overwhelmed with grief after Sealsdramon murdered Bokomon, Gammamon transformed into GulusGammamon and executed Sealsdramon in revenge. Subsequent appearances have shown GulusGammamon as aloof and ruthless, while still showing signs of caring for Hiro. GulusGammamon has seemed disappointed each time Hiro does not sync with him in this form, which could either be a grab for more power or a sign that GulusGammamon still seeks connection even in his dark form.
The biggest clue to GulusGammamon’s power may come from an episode in which he did not even appear on screen. In Episode 19 “The Witching Hour,” Picklemon, a Digimon with time travel powers, tried to travel back in time to stop Gammamon from ever existing. He returned seemingly quickly but looked far more beat up than before. Picklemon questioned what Gammamon even was before traveling to the future to try to find out. Luckily, Picklemon decided that Gammamon’s future self was cool and decided to stop fighting the team. However, Picklemon’s fear of Gammamon’s past self indicated the latter was a powerful figure in the Digital world before meeting Hiro or Hokuto.
The Dark Conqueror Title Recontextualizes GulusGammamon’s Past and Future
Many Digimon have questioned what Gammamon is throughout Ghost Game. However, in Episode 49 “The Crimson Harvest Festival,” Witchmon may have given a title to Gammamon’s past: the Dark Conqueror. Thus far, GulusGammamon’s actions have been reactive rather than proactive. He has usually transformed when Gammamon reaches his limit, taken care of the problem and transformed back. A title like Dark Conqueror has more active implications and implies that GulusGammamon, like Witchmon herself, wants to rule.
If GulusGammamon was indeed the “Dark Conqueror,” then he might be central to the mystery of the transportation of Digimon into the human world. One of the most important aspects of GulusGammamon’s first appearance was his ability to transform the digital space, even though he has not used that power since. The Digimon Ghost Game team has often used their digivices to transport themselves, their Digimon partners and the enemies they face into digital spaces that resemble the human world, but any battles there do not actually do damage to the human world. In Episode 13, GulusGammamon was able to break a hole in one of these digital spaces to the real world and tried to escape to wreak havoc there.
This ability to break through these liminal Digital spaces to the human world could have larger implications for GulusGammamon’s past and Ghost Game as a whole. Since he already has shown the ability to break through between worlds, GulusGammamon could be responsible for the portals that transported the Digimon from the Digital world to the real world. If so, he may have previously been plotting to take over the human world — especially if he had already taken over a large portion of the Digital world as well.
Hiro and Gammamon’s Partnership Could Be an Attempt to Stop the Dark Conqueror
Gammamon’s possible past as the Dark Conqueror also recontextualizes his entire relationship with Hiro. Their introduction in Ghost Game’s premiere initially seemed simple. After Clockmon attacked Hiro, Gammamon appeared in Hiro’s room along a hologram message from Hokuto, Hiro’s father. In the message, Hokuto told his son that Gammamon was his brother now, seemingly laying the responsibility for him at Hiro’s feet. Hokuto might have sent Gammamon to protect Hiro, and might have been completely unaware of Gammamon’s possible transformation into GulusGammamon.
If GulusGammamon was truly a major threat to the Digital and human worlds, then Hiro and Gammamon’s entire bond could be a set-up to try to stop the Dark Conqueror from returning. Had Hokuto known about GulusGammamon, he may have sent Gammamon to Hiro to prevent GulusGammamon from returning. Since Hiro has repeatedly proven that his compassion is his greatest strength, Hokuto might have hoped he could teach Gammamon — and by extension GulusGammamon — more kindness and empathy. Hiro took to the role of older brother well and has truly cared for Gammamon throughout their partnership. In turn, Gammamon has flourished under Hiro’s care and grown to be empathetic toward other Digimon and humans as well.
Therefore, GulusGammamon may have been a major figure in the Digital world in the past and acted as a true conqueror rather than a random Digimon wreaking havoc on a small scale. If so, he could be the central figure in all of Ghost Game’s mysteries. However, the series has also paved the path for GulusGammamon’s redemption; through Gammamon’s bond with Hiro, GulusGammamon has already shown to be slightly more caring, at least toward Hiro. As Ghost Game continues, Gammamon’s continued growth could prevent the Dark Conqueror from returning and help the team truly understand why Digimon have come to the human world.
