Silent Hill 2 – Dog ending
You might not expect a game as terrifying as Silent Hill 2 to have such a hilarious Easter egg. After players have completed the game multiple times to achieve all endings, a new ending will become available. ‘Dog ending’ sees protagonist James complete his mission, only to meet a Shiba Inu dog gleefully controlling the events of the entire game. James drops to his knees, dismayed, and the friendly pup gives him a face lick for his troubles.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed – Frozen Jar Jar
Jar Jar Binks isn’t exactly the most beloved character in the Star Wars universe, so his grizzly fate in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will have come as good news to many. When exploring the trophy room of an Imperial officer, the irritating Gungan can be seen forever frozen in carbonite, unable to annoy anymore. Poor old Jar Jar.
For Honor – ‘Tis but a scratch
Medieval fantasy game For Honor included a hilarious Easter egg for fans of the classic British comedy troupe Monty Python. During one attack, an armored torso can be found, in what is surely a cheeky nod to Monty Python and The Holy Grail’s Black Knight character. In the 1975 movie, the Black Knight is famous for losing both arms and both legs but never giving up on his fighting spirit.
Diablo 2 – Killer cows
The Diablo universe has no shortage of terrifying enemies in the form of monsters, demons and, in one secret level, bloodthirsty bovines. This level – hilariously known as Moo Moo Farm – can only be accessed after beating the game, by combining certain items to open a portal. The idea of murderous cows might be scary (and their aggressive leader the Cow King is pretty terrifying), but it’s also hilarious.
The Evil Within – Monster rave
Another serious and spooky game in which you might not expect to find a hilarious Easter egg is survival horror The Evil Within. This secret scene of monsters raving can be seen in The Consequence DLC, by having protagonist Sebastian Castellanos interact with a certain vending machine 15 times in a row. The player will be treated to a glimpse into the nightclub of the nightmare world. Hey, even monsters need to cut loose sometimes.
Half-Life – Gabe Newell room
Noclipping, or glitching through solid environments in video games, has often provided developers with a way to sneak in Easter eggs for unsuspecting players. One such example is in sci-fi shooter Half-Life, where players can cheat their way into a hidden room decorated entirely with a man’s face. Not just any man however – this room is actually a tribute to Gabe Newell, the co-founder and president of video game company Valve.
Grand Theft Auto V – Bigfoot
Legendary cryptid Bigfoot makes a few appearances throughout the Grand Theft Auto series and in GTA V, players can take on the role of Sasquatch in a drug-induced haze. Before this, Bigfoot can be spied through the lens of a sniper rifle during the aptly-named Predator mission. He’s not doing much except standing there looking gormless, which is a treat for players and Bigfoot believers alike.
Gears of War 3 – Lambent chicken
Hyper-macho shooter series Gears of War isn’t exactly famed for its humor, but players were treated to a laugh in Gears of War 3 when they were ambushed by a giant, golden chicken. During one encounter, players have the option to discover a perfectly normal chicken and upon shooting it, the plucky clucker will transform into the huge, fire-breathing Lambent Chicken.
Dying Light – Exploding teddy bear
Survival horror game Dying Light is full of dangerous moments, but not all of them are this adorable. During one mission, players can enter a daycare and find this cute pink teddy bear. Pressing the bear’s nose over and over will see the plushie progressively get more furious, and it will go from saying “I love you!” to “Stop it” to “You asked for it”, before exploding and injuring the player. And honestly? Fair enough.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Alien broadcast
In any other situation, the prospect of aliens broadcasting invasion plans on television would be terrifying. Thankfully, this Easter egg can be found in the adorable Animal Crossing universe, making it more funny than frightening. At 3:33am, players can turn on their in-game television to catch a mysterious alien addressing the AC:NH world in a broadcast that lasts for just one minute. Creepy – but very cute.
Pokémon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire – Lord of the Rings reference
Sean Bean’s iconic “One does not simply walk into Mordor” line from The Lord of the Rings has been spoofed and memed across countless movies, shows and games. You might not expect to see such a reference in hidden in a small, unassuming house in a Pokémon game – but it’s there if you go looking!
Final Fantasy IX – Furious Moogle
Adorable, pink little puffball Moogles are a staple throughout the Final Fantasy games, but even they have their limits. Throughout Final Fantasy IX, one Moogle can be called whenever you need to save the game or rest. Calling him too many times when you don’t need him however will cause him to throw a tantrum, threatening violence and screaming.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater – The End dies of old age
The Metal Gear Solid franchise loves to get meta and play with its players. One such example is during a boss fight with legendary ancient sniper The End. Rather than waste precious ammo fighting the old codger, if the player saves and turns off the game mid-battle, waits for at least a week and then comes back to the save, The End will have died of old age. Morbid, but hilarious.
The Last of Us Part I Remake – Dunder Mifflin office
This one might be a little morbid if you think about it for too long, but it’s a fun Easter egg for comedy fans nonetheless. Whilst exploring the post-apocalyptic world of The Last of Us, Joel and Ellie can happen upon a derelict office that looks very familiar – almost identical to the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company from NBC’s iconic sitcom The Office.
Duke Nukem 3D – Death Tank Zwei
Potty humor is never not funny. Shoot every toilet in Duke Nukem 3D (including the famously occupied one) on the Sega Saturn to unlock hidden game Death Tank Zwei. The 2D artillery game went on to ruin friendships across the nation, being hugely competitive despite its simplistic graphics.
Saints Row 2 – Giant sea Cabbit
The Cabbit – an adorable mix between a cat and a rabbit – appears a few times as a collectible throughout the Saints Row series, but never as huge as this. After exploring a series of secret areas and islands, the player sees a giant Cabbit rise from the waves like Godzilla, although thankfully much less destructive.
Stray – Doc and Seamus
One sweet and silly little Easter egg that fans might have missed in the futuristic adventure game Stray is that Doc and Seamus, estranged father and son robots who eventually reunite, look very similiar to two iconic movie characters. If the name Doc didn’t give it away, check his white lab coat and Seamus’ vest – the pair are based on Doc Brown and Marty McFly from Back to the Future.
Dead Rising – Jill’s Sandwiches
This Easter egg originated back in 1996, in the first ever Resident Evil game. In a humorously mistranslated line, Barry Burton tells Jill Valentine she almost became a “Jill sandwich” after almost being crushed. Ten years later, horror survival game Dead Rising opened a store in its zombie-infested mall called Jill’s Sandwiches.
The Sims 4 – Roomba cat
Life simulator series The Sims is famous for recreating the realities of day-to-day life – including the chaos of beloved household pets. In The Sims 4, if a player purchases a Roomba vacuum and sets it free to roam, their in-game cat will seize the chance to go for a ride around the house. Hilarious and adorable, just like real life cats.
Perfect Dark – Hidden cheese
Sci-fi shooter game Perfect Dark encourages exploration and rewards players for taking the time to scour every inch of the map. To assist with this, the game developers added a secret, hidden piece of cheese to each level. The cheese does nothing, and adds nothing to the gameplay experience, but it’s nevertheless an un-brie-levably funny little Easter egg.
Assassin’s Creed III – Assassin Turkey
It seems there’s nothing developers like more than including a funny little animal in their games. This is true for Assassin’s Creed III, in which protagonist Ratonhnhaké:ton can turn a turkey into his gobbling sidekick, complete with assassin’s hood and cloak. Players should approach the turkey, feed it, and then input the infamous ‘Konami code’ (up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, Start) to transform the bird.
The Elder Rolls V: Skyrim – Pac-Man cheese
What is it with game devs and cheese?! Another dairy-based Easter egg comes in fantasy game The Elder Rolls V: Skyrim. Players can eat the delicious yellow snack as a way to regain a small amount of health, but this particular cheese wheel found in Endon’s house is the one doing the eating. A totally useless little treat for players in need of a giggle.
Hitman: Blood Money – Silver coin party
Now this one is simply bizarre – during a mission in which Agent 47 has to infiltrate a party in a Southern mansion, the player can spot a small, silver coin-shaped object in the water. Upon shooting the object, a group of male guests who were previously fighting will suddenly run towards you, shirtless and clapping in celebration. Why? Who knows, but it’s hilarious.
Resident Evil 2 Remake – Tofu survivor
Taking down hordes of bloodthirsty zombies is a terrifying prospect at any time, not least if you’re a quivering block of soft, soggy tofu. This Resi Easter egg pays homage to a secret character from the original game, who is – you guessed it – a block of tofu. Beating and ranking the game six times in a row in under two and a half hours with a perfect ‘A’ ranking will unlock this mini game – good luck!
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess – Ganondorf vs fishing rod
The mighty Ganondorf proves to be a formidable foe for Link across The Legend of Zelda series. He’s also part cat, apparently, as one Easter egg in Twilight Princess sees the warlock completely distracted by Link’s fishing rod if he chooses to wield it during the final duel, giving the player a chance to get a few good swipes in.
Left 4 Dead 2 – Jimmy Gibbs Jr. zombie
Throughout the Dead Center level of Left 4 Dead 2, lovable hillbilly Ellis will make multiple references to Jimmy Gibbs Jr., a famous stock car racer in the fictional post-apocalyptic world. Upon reaching the final level, the team has to gas up Jimmy’s car and escape, but there’s a small chance he’ll spawn as an aggressive, powerful zombie, much to poor Ellis’ dismay.
Gran Turismo 7 – Cow abduction
Racing game Gran Turismo 7 has a wacky and wild Easter egg for players patient enough to take a break from the fast-paced tracks. Park up at Mount Panorama and wait for about ten minutes – over the horizon, you’ll be able to spot a mysterious UFO grabbing a poor unsuspecting cow in its tractor beam, never to be seen again.
Hogwarts Legacy – Slug bucket
A nauseating but entertaining Easter egg can be found in the hospital wing of the grand magical school in Hogwarts Legacy. Fans might remember a moment in the books and film where protagonist Ron Weasley finds himself on the receiving end of a particularly unpleasant slug-vomiting charm. Looks like this poor guy met with much the same fate.
Silent Hill 3 – Heather throws shade
The aforementioned Silent Hill 2 features a moment in which protagonist James – who is strange, to say the least – plunges his hand into a toilet to look for an item. Playing Silent Hill 3 while using a memory card full of Silent Hill 2 data will see protagonist Heather make jibes towards James throughout, including (rightfully) refusing to put her hand in a filthy, overflowing toilet.
Fallout: New Vegas – Dogs playing poker
Cassius Marcellus Coolidge’s painting Dogs Playing Poker is a kitsch classic, and the Fallout series paid tribute with this entertaining Easter egg. During the Old World Blues DLC, players can peek into a cyberdog testing area that sees the robotic pups eagerly attending lessons. However, looking again with the Wild Wasteland perk will see them engaged in a riveting game of poker.
Borderlands 3 – Tannis rides a giant fish
Borderlands fans will be more than familiar with the ongoing Easter egg that sees Dr. Patricia Tannis riding on a giant fish, but the one from Borderlands 3 is particularly special. Hidden in the Rogue’s Hollow hideout, players will find 5 elemental barrels. Shoot the barrels in the right order to see Dr. Tannis and her fishy steed leap from the water, as fireworks celebrate the moment.
Final Fantasy XIII – Leave Lightning alone
Lightning, the stoic, fiercely independent protagonist of Final Fantasy XIII, doesn’t take kindly to being messed around by anyone – even the person controlling her. Reddit user Kazesora28 discovered that wiggling the controller and making Lightning move around in a jerky, foolish way will see her stop and throw her hands up in an exasperated manner, as if to question why you’re wasting her time.
Goat Simulator 3 – Pilgor the Jedi
The very existence of Goat Simulator III is hilarious enough, but it also has countless hidden Easter eggs within for mischievous little Pilgor. This one can be found in Brumehill Cemetery by hitting church bells in the right order to play the Imperial March tune from Star Wars. Get it right, and Pilgor can discover and equip a Lightsaber, turning him into a Jedi goat master.
Halo 3 – IWHBYD Skull
This hidden Easter egg is notoriously hard to find, but so worth it. Completing a series of actions in the correct sequence during The Covenant level will see protagonist John-117 collect a skull known as the I Would Have Been Your Daddy skull. It doesn’t effect gameplay in any way, but nabbing the skull will lead to some hilarious dialogue from NPCs in the rest of the game.
Hitman 3 – Giant lucky cat
The Hitman series has no shortage of hilarious and random Easter eggs, and so fans are always on the lookout. Trigger happy players found that by shooting all five Japanese lucky cat statues on Ambrose Island would trigger a giant golden one to rise from the lake and throw fish at Agent 47. Which is fair enough, because you did shoot all his little siblings.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – No Easter eggs
Here’s an Easter egg that’s funny because it’s…not an Easter egg. Using a jetpack to fly to the top of the bridge between San Fierro and Las Venturas will see CJ met by a rather stern sign telling him ‘There are no Easter eggs up here. Go away.’ Grand Theft Auto players are always on the hunt for hidden secrets and treats around the city, but it seems like in this instance the devs were fed up of adding them.
Skate 3 – Dead Space skater
Everyone needs to get out and exercise now and then, even Isaac Clarke, the protagonist of the terrifying sci-fi horror game Dead Space. In Skate 3, players can enter a cheat code to unlock Isaac as a playable character, and it’s pretty hilarious to see this usually-serious character hit a 360 ollie heelflip.
Mortal Kombat II – Toasty!
Perform a particularly nasty manoeuvre in iconic fighting game Mortal Kombat, and you might be greeted by a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo of sound designer Dan Forden popping into the right hand corner of the screen. In celebration of your vicious fighting movie, Dan will exclaim “Toasty!” in a high-pitched voice – and a legend was born.
Minecraft – Vindicator Johnny
Hostile villagers known as Vindicators are everywhere in the Minecraft universe, but there’s one Easter egg that makes them both scarier and more hilarious. Naming a Vindicator ‘Johnny’ will cause the Vindicator to go on an attack rampage while brandishing an axe, in what is most likely a reference to the character of Jack Torrance from legendary horror movie The Shining, and his famous line “Heeeere’s Johnny!”
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Botrick
This Easter egg is funny in a moving way. After the passing of Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata, developers on Breath of the Wild wanted to pay homage to the famous gamer by including a character who resembled him. With his middle parted hair and glasses, Botrick looks just like Iwata and gives Link a task to carry on the game. It’s a lovely tribute that Iwata would surely have enjoyed.
