When it comes to video games, developers have been given the perfect opportunity to embed hidden treasures within their creations, discoverable for only those who are persistent and worthy. These are commonly known as Easter eggs.
Easter eggs are secret messages, inside jokes or references that are cleverly tucked away within the virtual world – they can even include such things as special items or secret levels. These subtle additions add extra layers of excitement for gamers who delight in uncovering these hidden gems. We’re going to look at 10 of the most intriguing Easter eggs you may have missed out on.
1. “The Truth” (Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas)
Gamers who delved into the nooks and crannies of San Andreas discovered a secret government facility, which, when infiltrated, revealed a quirky and incredibly humorous scenario known as “The Truth”. This well-hidden mission added a touch of abnormality to the game’s already diverse narrative.
2. The Heart of Liberty City (Grand Theft Auto IV)
Rockstar have always been known for adding strange and mysterious Easter eggs to their games and Grand Theft Auto IV held a heartwarming secret beneath the surface of Liberty City. Down in the depths you’ll find a heart sculpture, beating and glowing. This secret went unnoticed by many players amid the game’s bustling chaos.
3. Master Hand in Super Mario 64
An interesting and fascinating discovery within Super Mario 64 was the “L is Real 2401” mystery, which suggested Luigi’s presence within the game. Players speculated about this for years. The closest reference found was a discovered texture resembling Master Hand, a character from the Super Smash Bros. series.
4. The Monty Python Reference and the Retro Area 51 Arcade Game (Fallout: New Vegas)
Fallout: New Vegas included a humorous reference to Monty Python and the Holy Grail. There’s a hidden special encounter presented within the bridge keeper scene – complete with interactions and dialogue comparable with the iconic film. There’s also a hidden arcade game within the game itself. Players curious enough to venture into a specific location were given access to a retro mini-game that surprised many players.
5. The Secret Island (The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker)
Players who ventured off the map’s boundaries within this addition to the Zelda series discovered a hidden island with a cavern. Inside this cavern, after a lot of twists and turns, they found a triforce symbol and a room filled with rupees. This hinted at a possible connection to the series’ lore. There are many other hidden gems within this virtual world if you have the time and persistence to pursue them.
6. The Hidden Painting (Bioshock Infinite)
Bioshock Infinite included a nostalgic Easter egg that pays homage to the indie game “The Stanley Parable”. Inside of a hidden room there is a painting of The Lutece Twins from Bioshock Infinite, in which they are recreating a scene from The Stanley Parable – a reference that only gamers familiar with this indie game will notice. To anyone else, it just looks like any old painting.
7.The Hidden Developer Room (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt already contains a map that would take forever to explore, so finding Easter eggs within this addition can be a tricky task. Within this vast virtual landscape lies a secret developer room accessible only through an Easter egg quest. Within this room, players were rewarded with a tranquil scene where developers immortalised themselves in a painting, celebrating the game’s creation.
8. The Hidden Noob Saibot FIght (Mortal Kombat)
In the original Mortal Kombat arcade game. Players who won a certain number of consecutive fights were given the chance to battle against a character named Noob Saibot, a homage to the game’s developers, Ed Boon and John Tobias, whose names spelled backward form the characters name. Noob has made appearances in recent releases of Mortal Kombat, requiring different achievements to unlock the battle.
9. The Tribute to Game Developers (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater)
In the 3rd addition to the legendary Metal Gear Solid collection, players encountered a hidden nod to the game’s developers within a secret location called “The End’s Warehouse”. It was only accessible during a specific sequence in the game. Gamers who embarked on a diligent exploration found themselves in this secluded space, encountering a unique memorial within the warehouse. Inside of this warehouse they discovered a collection of photographs plastering the walls, depicting the development team behind Metal Gear Solid 3.
10. The ‘Mushroom Kingdom’ (Borderlands: The Pre Sequel)
The Borderland series is well known for its irreverent humour and in the (technically) 3rd addition to this series, there featured a secret area that pays tribute to Nintendo’s Mario series. Players who follow a specific set of hidden steps will discover a huge, pixelated world reminiscent of The Mushroom Kingdom. You’ll also find a few additional bonus boxes of loot.
