The Best Video Game Easter Eggs Part 2

We love a good Easter egg—those hidden secrets that developers sneak into games for us to discover. Last year, we brought you an article on their origins and highlighted five of our favorites. Now, we’re back with part 2, bringing you more amazing video game Easter eggs you need to know!

The Legendary Cow Level in Diablo 2

Few video game Easter eggs are as iconic as the Secret Cow Level in Diablo 2 (2000). It’s a prime example of how a joke within the gaming community can become reality. Back in the days of Diablo (1996), a rumor spread that clicking on a cow in Tristam a certain number of times would unlock a Secret Cow Level. It wasn’t true, but it gained enough traction that Blizzard took notice. Instead of dismissing it, they made the Cow Level real in Diablo 2.

The absurdity of fighting an army of cows led by the Cow King made this Easter egg an instant classic. The Cow Level also became a recurring joke throughout Blizzard’s games. Diablo III outright denies its existence with loading screen messages like “The Cow Level is a lie,” a nod to Portal’s famous “The cake is a lie.”

Jar Jar Binks in Carbonite in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Hardly any Star Wars character has been as divisive as Jar Jar Binks. Introduced in The Phantom Menace, the clumsy Gungan quickly became one of the most ridiculed figures in the franchise. By 2008, when Star Wars: The Force Unleashed was released, many fans were still less than thrilled with his over-the-top antics.

For those who weren’t exactly on Team Jar Jar, The Force Unleashed offered a bit of catharsis. In one of the game’s levels, you could discover a carbonite-frozen Jar Jar Binks, a reference to Han Solo’s fate in The Empire Strikes Back. The moment was an amusing acknowledgment of the character’s notoriety. While there was no way to thaw him out and bring him along on Starkiller’s journey, many fans probably preferred it that way.

Who Wants Some Ice Cream? – Hitman: Absolution

Hitman: Absolution puts you in the shoes of the ever-cool and lethal Agent 47. But as much as 47 is known for his precision kills, the game sometimes offers an alternative.

During the End of the Road mission, you face off against Lenny, a rather pathetic target who isn’t much of a threat. Instead of pulling the trigger yourself, there’s a hidden way to let fate (or something supernatural) do the job for you. If you take the time to shoot down all five vultures circling in the desert, a rogue ice cream truck will suddenly come out of nowhere and run Lenny down. The weirdest part? No one’s behind the wheel.

DOOM: A Portal to the Past

When DOOM (2016) launched, it wasn’t just a reboot but a revival. id Software didn’t try to reinvent the legendary Doom Slayer but instead brought him back in all his demon-slaying glory. And as a special treat for longtime fans, they threw in a nostalgic surprise in the form of retro secret areas.

Throughout the game’s campaign, you could stumble upon hidden levers. Pulling one of these levers would unlock a door leading to a classic DOOM level, complete with original 1993 textures, sprites, and enemies. These retro sections served as a direct homage to the franchise’s roots, offering a stark contrast between the game’s modern visuals and the pixelated charm of the past. In total, there are 13 classic levels to find, providing a fun challenge and a trip down memory lane.

Indiana Jones and the Fridge Incident – Fallout: New Vegas

The Fallout series is no stranger to pop culture references, and Fallout: New Vegas delivers one of its best with a nod to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. In the movie, Indiana Jones survives a nuclear explosion by hiding in a lead-lined fridge, a scene that quickly became one of the most debated (and mocked) moments in the franchise.

The developers at Obsidian Entertainment clearly had some thoughts on this infamous scene. If you have the “Wild Wasteland” perk enabled and explore the Mojave Wasteland near Goodsprings, you may stumble upon an open refrigerator. Inside, you’ll find a skeleton wearing a fedora—eerily reminiscent of the legendary archaeologist himself. Unlike Indy’s miraculous escape in the movie, it seems this poor soul wasn’t so lucky when the bombs of the Fallout universe dropped.

Gordon Freeman in GTA: San Andreas

Rockstar Games has a long history of dropping clever Easter eggs into their titles, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is no exception. During the Black Project mission, you have to infiltrate Area 69, San Andreas’ own version of the infamous Area 51. This high-security facility is packed with sci-fi vibes, experimental tech, and, of course, one of the most memorable rewards in the entire series—the jetpack.

But if you take a moment to explore the base’s inner rooms, you’ll spot something familiar: a crowbar resting on a table in one of the labs. This is no random piece of equipment but a direct reference to Half-Life’s protagonist, Gordon Freeman, whose signature weapon is a trusty crowbar. The resemblance between the interior of Area 69 and the Black Mesa Research Facility from Half-Life only strengthens the connection.

Split Fiction meets FromSoftware

If you’re a fan of Soulsborne games, you’ll be happy to find that Split Fiction contains some of the best homages to FromSoftware’s legendary titles.

Elden Ring, one of the most successful FromSoftware games of all time, introduced you to the Roundtable Hold. In this central hub, Tarnished Warriors gather to rest, upgrade their equipment, and interact with important NPCs. In Split Fiction, during the level called The Hollow, you stumble upon a nearly identical round table decorated with swords.

Mio, one of the protagonists, immediately reacts to the sight by exclaiming, “Woah, is this like a safe haven?”—a clear reference to the Roundtable Hold being a combat-free sanctuary. The setting is remarkably faithful to Elden Ring, complete with towering stone statues and a golden light illuminating the center of the table.  Since Zoe can see the Grace, does that mean she’s Tarnished?

Another brilliant Soulsborne Easter egg appears in the Moon Market side story. You can come across a small campfire that instantly evokes memories of Dark Souls’ iconic bonfires. When Mio and Zoe sit by it, on-screen text appears that reads: “Moonfire Lit.” This is a clear homage to the famous “Bonfire Lit” message that pops up whenever you activate a rest point in Dark Souls.