Video games are treasure troves of hidden surprises, aren’t they? For us gamers, knowing all the secrets in a game often means it’s time to move on. That’s why developers cleverly hide mysteries, ensuring there’s always something new to find, sometimes years later! But what happens when these secrets are more creepy than cool? We’re diving into 10 video game secrets so unsettling, you might wish you’d left them undiscovered.
10. The Forgotten Crypt: World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft (WoW) is known for its vast and diverse landscapes, making the discovery of the Forgotten Crypt all the more surprising and deeply unsettling. This isn’t a place you’d stumble upon during your usual quests. Tucked away behind the Karazhan tower in the cemetery at Morgan’s Plot, the Crypt is an abandoned, unfinished location that’s inaccessible through normal gameplay. Many fans speculate it might have served as a testing ground for the game’s developers. To get a glimpse, players often have to die near its gate and then pass through it as a ghost.
Inside the Forgotten Crypt lies the truly horrifying “room of upside-down sinners.” This area features dozens of human figures hanging upside down in water, disturbingly bound by ropes and chains. The sight is enough to send shivers down your spine. If this location had been fully implemented, World of Warcraft would likely carry a mature rating, restricting it to older players. It’s definitely a secret many wish had remained forgotten.
9. The Inescapable Minus World: Super Mario Bros
The original Super Mario Bros. holds a famous secret known as the “Minus World.” Players can reach this glitch level by performing some tricky maneuvers at the very end of World 1-2. The Minus World itself is an underwater level, an exact copy of World 7-2, but with one crucial, terrifying difference: it’s impossible to complete. The pipe at the end of the stage is bugged, sending Mario right back to the beginning of the level instead of to safety.
Once you’re in the Minus World, there’s no escape. A “Game Over” is absolutely guaranteed. It’s the kind of loop that creates a sense of dread, making it a place no player wants to visit. While many have played Super Mario Bros., only a dedicated few have found this glitch, and those who have don’t consider themselves lucky. It’s a truly bizarre and unsettling discovery.
8. Monster Under the Bed: Death Stranding
Death Stranding is already a pretty eerie game. You spend hours trekking across a desolate, post-apocalyptic America, delivering packages with a baby strapped to your chest. The game is filled with creepy details, and one lurks right in Sam’s private room. While Sam is on his bed, players can move the camera to look at him closely. Zooming in on Sam’s crotch makes him react aggressively, even punching the camera.
However, if you zoom in on Sam’s feet, something far stranger occurs. A shadowy, humanoid creature wearing glasses suddenly appears from under the bed and grabs Sam’s ankles. Sam panics and struggles against its grip. Encountering this monster unexpectedly can be quite startling, making it another secret we almost wish we hadn’t found.
7. Ghostly Room: Call of Duty: Finest Hour
Many dedicated shooter fans will remember Call of Duty: Finest Hour. This game contains a bizarre secret location known as the Ghostly Room, found on the “Underground Passage” level. There’s a particular door in this passage that seems locked. However, if you throw two grenades at it, approach and press the action button, step back, and then throw one more grenade, the door will swing open.
Inside this hidden room, you’ll find candles floating eerily in mid-air. A small Sherman tank putters around the floor, while a miniature P-51 Mustang plane flies loops around the candles. There’s also a very dirty toilet to one side and, at the center, a cradle holding the ghost of a young boy. To top it off, under the stairs lurks an enormous rat. It’s another creepy space you might hesitate to explore fully.
6. In PT, Lisa Is Always Behind You
PT is infamous for being one of the most terrifying gaming experiences ever created. In this short teaser, you investigate a haunted house, never knowing what horrors await. Playing PT is incredibly anxiety-inducing, largely because of the constant feeling that the ghost, Lisa, is right behind you. You hear her unsettling noises as you walk the looping corridor, and sometimes you catch her shadow on the wall. It’s a deeply eerie sensation.
Well, guess what? That feeling isn’t just in your head. Thanks to a camera hack by a curious gamer, it was discovered that Lisa literally attaches herself to the player’s back once they pick up the flashlight. The developers intentionally designed it this way. Knowing Lisa is always there, unseen, just amplifies the chills. If you want to test your courage, try playing PT knowing this secret.
5. Towerful of Mice: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
“A Towerful of Mice” is a memorable secondary quest in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. In this mission, Geralt is tasked by Keira Metz to investigate a haunted tower on Fyke Isle and lift its curse. Using a magic lantern, Geralt can witness glimpses of the island’s tragic past, which helps him piece together the mystery behind the curse.
While exploring with the magic lantern, there’s one spirit in the tower that many players miss. If you stand at a specific spot during your investigation, you can see a mysterious, shadowy figure looming at the far end of a room. If you try to get closer, it vanishes, only to reappear when you return to that original spot. As a player, you’re usually ready to face known threats, but the ambiguity of this figure – its identity and purpose unknown – just makes the game’s atmosphere even more sinister.
4. Headcrab Zombies Are Screaming for Help in Half-Life 2
Headcrab Zombies are common and unsettling enemies in Half-Life 2. These unfortunate creatures are former humans whose heads have been taken over by parasitic headcrabs, turning them into lurching monstrosities. However, there’s a deeply disturbing secret about these zombies that only a few players have uncovered.
When you attack a Headcrab Zombie, you hear it make gurgling screams and moans. These usually sound like random zombie noises. But if you record these sounds and play them backward, you hear something truly chilling: clear pleas for help. Phrases like “Help, God, help!” and “Help me!” can be deciphered. This realization transforms them from simple monsters into tragic victims, still conscious and suffering. It’s a horrifying detail that adds a dark layer to the game.
3. There Will Be 8: Grand Theft Auto 5
In the sprawling world of Grand Theft Auto 5, a dark mystery surrounds a serial killer known as the Infinity Killer, or Merle Abrahams. Though never seen in the game, his grim handiwork is evident. Abrahams murdered eight male joggers before being caught. He died in prison before trial, never admitting to his crimes.
To find where he buried his victims, players must follow a series of cryptic clues scattered throughout the game. One clue leads to his dilapidated home, where bizarre messages are scrawled on the walls. Most notably, the chilling phrase “There Will Be 8.” Following all the clues eventually reveals the resting places of his eight victims, confirming his gruesome count. Discovering this sinister trail and Abrahams’ creepy messages can certainly give you the chills.
2. EggHead Status: Dark Souls
Dark Souls is renowned for its challenging gameplay and obscure lore, but the “EggHead” status remains a particularly bizarre secret for many players. You encounter certain characters in the game known as Egg Burdened. They are usually passive servants of the “Fair Lady.” However, if they become hostile, they might try to grab your character. Succeeding means a maggot bursts from one of their eggs and latches onto you, infecting you with a parasitic egg.
This EggHead status is quite peculiar and detrimental. Once infected, your character will start scratching their head. After a short period, your character’s head horrifyingly transforms into a giant, pulsating egg. This prevents you from wearing any helmet, significantly decreases your fire resistance, and cuts the number of souls you gain by half. The EggHead status offers no benefits, only handicaps. It’s best to avoid the slow-moving Egg Burdened altogether if you don’t want this gross transformation.
1. The Zombie Mannequins: Call of Duty: Black Ops III
The zombie mannequins in Call of Duty: Black Ops III are a hidden Easter egg on the Nuketown map that many wish they hadn’t triggered. Scattered around this futuristic version of Nuketown are numerous mannequins. Normally, they are harmless and stationary set pieces. However, if you manage to shoot off all their heads within a specific, short time limit, things take a creepy turn.
Once all heads are gone, the mannequins spring to life as aggressive zombies and start pursuing you. As if that isn’t unsettling enough, there’s a second way to animate them: shoot off all their arms instead. Accomplish this, and another wave of zombie mannequins will activate, relentlessly hunting you down. It’s a startling and eerie surprise hidden in a familiar map.
Some video game secrets are fun little nods, while others, like these, linger in your memory for all the wrong reasons. They remind us that even in virtual worlds, the unknown can be genuinely unsettling. Discovering these hidden corners, while sometimes regrettable, definitely adds a layer of unforgettable mystery to our gaming adventures.
What’s the creepiest video game secret you’ve ever stumbled upon? Did it make you wish you hadn’t found it? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below!
