Since it happens in other entertainment media. I think it’s also done here since videogames are now a multi billion dollar industry. An easy one to see would be Super Mario 64.
A white gloved man with an M on his hat starts here.
The hero is tasked by the city to find the cause of a mysterious plague that is killing everyone. The brothel in the center of town is mysteriously spared however.
After discovering it was actually the religious leader of the city behind the plague. You discover he is linked to a far larger organization that spreads outside the city. Resulting in you finding ancient ruins you have to investigate.
Eventually this leads you to underneath the city where you find the plague was made to fuel human sacrifices to awaken hibernating ancient Draconic humanoids who are about to return to rule the world. Very David Icke-ish
“He inhales them to copy their abilities and then teleports them away unharmed. The official explanation from the game developers is that when swallowed, enemies are not digested and are instead sent to another location in the game world. This is a deliberate design choice to avoid making the game too violent and to explain how enemies can reappear in later games. “