The Top 10 Strangest Video Game Easter Eggs: When Developers Get Creative
When you think of Easter eggs in the gaming world, you might think of hidden power-ups or a subtle nod to another game. However, some developers manage to take this concept to a whole new level, hiding some of the most bizarre and unexpected surprises within their virtual worlds. In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 strangest video game Easter eggs that have left players both bewildered and fascinated.
- The Ghostly Room in Hitman: Contracts (2004)
In the mission “Traditions of the Trade” in Hitman: Contracts, players can come across a hotel room numbered 106. By obtaining a key, they can enter a seemingly ordinary room, but when the door is shut, ghostly apparitions and chilling music suddenly appear. For a game that revolves around stealth and precision, this paranormal Easter egg was certainly an eerie encounter. - The Chris Houlihan Room in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)
This secret room was created as a result of a contest held by Nintendo Power, where the winner, Chris Houlihan, earned the right to have his name hidden in the game. This room can be accessed by performing a specific set of actions and contains 225 rupees and a cryptic message from Chris himself. This little-known Easter egg remains a cult favorite among Zelda fans. - Psycho Mantis Reads Your Memory in Metal Gear Solid (1998)
Psycho Mantis, a boss in Metal Gear Solid, provides one of the most memorable and bizarre Easter eggs in gaming history. During a cutscene, he demonstrates his psychic prowess by reading the player’s memory card, commenting on their progress in other games (including other Konami titles like Castlevania). This fourth-wall-breaking moment was truly ahead of its time and left gamers amazed. - The Giant Rat in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006)
In the seemingly unremarkable coastal city of Anvil, players can discover a strange concealed room beneath a warehouse. While this room may seem like any ordinary storage space, it features an abnormally large, dead rat. With no apparent purpose or connection to the rest of the storyline, this bizarre Easter egg left players scratching their heads. - The Cavemen in Halo 3 (2007)
In the Sierra 117 level of Halo 3, players can find a hidden family of cavemen with odd proportions and distorted features. If that’s not strange enough, these cavemen bear the face of Marcus R. Lehto, the game’s creative art director. This bizarre Easter egg is a tribute to one of the game’s creators, albeit an unsettling one. - The Dancing Zombie in Just Cause 2 (2010)
Within the dense tropical forests of Panau, a surprising Easter egg can be discovered in Just Cause 2. In the corner of a tiny island, players can encounter a lively, dancing zombie surrounded by graves. The undead partygoer dances enthusiastically to lively music as the player approaches, making for a strange and amusing sight. - Minecraft’s Creepy Disc 11 (2011)
Minecraft is known for creating endless, procedurally-generated worlds, but among the plethora of iconic music discs players can collect, Disc 11 stands out for its eerie nature. Unlike the other cheerful tunes, Disc 11 features distorted audio and unsettling, cryptic noises, leaving players to wonder what grim tale lies hidden within this chilling Easter egg. - The Alien in Batman: Arkham City (2011)
Batman faces many challenges in Arkham City, but few would expect to encounter an extraterrestrial twist. Within a hidden chamber, players can interact with a mysterious console to trigger the appearance of an alien corpse within a secret room. This baffling Easter egg has no connection with Batman’s universe, leaving players mystified. - The UFO Conspiracy in Grand Theft Auto V (2013)
Rockstar Games is notorious for including Easter eggs in their titles, and GTA V is no exception. Scattered across the vast landscape of San Andreas, players can find strange symbols, UFO encounters, and mysterious government facilities all related to alien conspiracy theories. While these discoveries don’t lead to a definite conclusion, it’s left many gamers enthralled by the possibilities. - Kojima’s Escape in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015)
Hideo Kojima, the creator of the Metal Gear Solid series, left Konami under controversial circumstances in 2015. In The Phantom Pain, Kojima cleverly inserted himself as a character named “Hideo” who can become a part of the player’s base of operations, almost like he is seeking asylum from the confines of his former company.
These top 10 strangest video game Easter eggs represent the lengths developers go to in surprising, entertaining, and sometimes downright bewildering players. As the gaming world continues to expand and explore new frontiers, one can only imagine how Easter eggs will evolve, keeping us searching for secrets in every digital nook and cranny for years to come.
