As the summer slowly rounds out and fall rolls in, does the air feel…shifty? Perhaps a little mysterious? Could there be something hiding in the shadows? If we’re talking about games (and we are) then, yes! Here at Virtual Bastion, we’re heralding the change of seasons with a month of posts that focus on the concealed, clandestine, and covert in games. In other words, our favorite secrets and easter eggs!

Since nearly the beginning of mainstream gaming, developers have been keen to hide away lore, tributes, and other goodies deep in the darkest corners of their games. Some players will stop at nothing to find every secret in a game; others may simply relish in the happenstance of stumbling across the unknown. No matter the drive, there’s joy in discovering something new or unique or even top-secret in games. Sometimes, the secrets alone are what keep players playing, as finding them could be attached to attaining particular achievements. Some secrets become so fabled that the search for them is akin to treasure hunting. They motivate exploration and serve as challenges to overcome.

Sibling to gaming secrets is easter eggs. Recognized now as small homages or inside jokes developers place in their games, easter eggs may not change the course of a game, but they invite whimsy and fun, along with the desire to seek out more. What makes up an easter egg can range widely, from simple “product placement” to entire playable levels, and they can be easily missed, especially if they may only appeal to or be recognized by a subset of players. While easter eggs don’t necessarily define the games they are in, they demonstrate the enthusiasm that we – the players and developers – have for the medium.

Starting next week and throughout September, we’re going to celebrate this same passion with posts about our favorite secrets and easter eggs in games. As much as we enjoy sharing our stories, we hope to hear from our readers, too! Tell us about the elusive secrets for which you’re still searching or the best easter eggs you found in the game you played yesterday. Let’s all take some time to revel in the delight that comes only from video games and uncovering the hidden treasures that make them special.

Lede image captured by The Duck of Indeed during gameplay of The Talos Principle: Road to Gehenna (© Croteam).