Summary
- Fan theories can enrich open-world games due to explaining some Easter eggs and video game mysteries.
- Some fan theories, like Skyrim's strange bugs in jar theory, are likely just leftover assets from cut content.
- Many Easter eggs in Rockstar-developed games hint at a possible shared universe.
When experiencing a medium like a video game, it’s easy for the mind to wander and come up with its own explanations for certain mysteries within the game world. This is especially the case when developers hide little Easter eggs, leave some things open to interpretation, or cut some content but forget to remove everything involved with the aforementioned content.
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Open-world games are often enriched by fan theories, since the best of the bunch tend to have deep and immersive world-building, plus an abundance of otherwise empty space for developers to fill with secrets. Many fan theories are often easily disproved, but there are times when they are incredibly compelling and slip very nicely into the head canon of the majority of players.
Red Dead Redemption
Undead Nightmare Is Purgatory For John Marston
Red Dead Redemption Undead Nightmare Pack
- Released
- July 26, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar San Diego
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, Android, iOS, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox 360
Given the supposed timeline of when Undead Nightmare occurs in Red Dead Redemption, the most likely explanation is that it is non-canon, which makes even more sense when considering the supernatural premise. Still, it’s largely regarded as one of the best DLCs ever made for good reason, and a fan theory that John Marston is in purgatory seems to explain proceedings better than anything.
According to those who buy into this idea, John was never fully redeemed in life, but his attempt at redemption means he has another chance to prove himself in purgatory. While searching for a cure for the zombie infestation, John retains his humanity and seeks to help those around him, especially his close family, thus hopefully achieving salvation in his own mind and that of his God.
Cyberpunk 2077
The Mysterious Mr. Blue Eyes
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Mr. Blue Eyes is a figure who rarely appears throughout the runtime of Cyberpunk 2077, but he certainly leaves a massive impact, thanks to the intrigue surrounding him. Many seem to view him as the equivalent of the enigmatic Gaunter O’Dimm from the Hearts of Stone DLC in The Witcher 3, due to his inexplicable levels of power and knowledge and eerily calm demeanor.
His ability to appear and disappear at will, as well as NPCs around Night City discussing him, have prompted many to speculate about Mr. Blue Eyes. Many believe he is either an AI, the puppet of a rogue AI, or possibly even a resurrected or reconstructed version of the city’s founder, Richard Knight.
Mario Kart World
Why Are There 394 P-Switches?
Mario Kart World
- Released
- June 5, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch 2
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Scattered throughout the open-world environment of Mario Kart World during free roam, players will come across P-Switches that give them time-based challenges to complete. There are 394 in total, which is a somewhat puzzling number and has encouraged some to question why the total is not a nice round number like 400.
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Since three and nine are "san" and "kyuu" respectively in Japanese, it could be that Nintendo has made a pun that sounds like the polite "thank you" expression in English. Adding four, sounding like "for," and if the P-Switch stands for "playing" in this case, it spells out "thank you for playing," which is just the kind of hidden message that Nintendo would typically include.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
The Zonai Are Aliens
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Released
- May 12, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Action, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
There are many popular fan theories about the Zelda series, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is full of mysteries for fans to speculate on. One major aspect that is never fully explained is the origin of the Zonai, who play a major role in the game thanks to their long-dormant but powerful technology, deliberately vague ancient origins, and the many bizarre goings-on in Hyrule.
All that is really known about the Zonai is that they are an ancient civilization that either perished or departed from Hyrule long ago and allegedly descended from the sky. This celestial arrival, combined with their advanced technology, suggests that they are either extraterrestrials or Gods, but this will likely never be clarified in future games.
Minecraft
The Player Is The Real Villain
Minecraft
- Released
- November 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Mojang
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
- Platform(s)
- 3DS, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii U, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
As one of the most popular games of the last decade, it makes sense that there are many interesting fan theories about Minecraft. Perhaps the most compelling of them all is that the player is the real villain in any given world, rather than hostile mobs. Such mobs live a generally peaceful life, coexisting alongside the natural environment and the non-aggressive creatures of the block-filled world.
The player, or players in a multiplayer world, do untold damage to the environment as they mine, hunt, fish, and craft. The various creatures of Minecraft, belligerent or otherwise, generally have a shorter life expectancy whenever the arguably nefarious players enter their territory.
Rockstar Gaming Universe
Many Rockstar Games May Be Set In The Same Universe
Rockstar Studios
- Date Founded
- December 1, 1998
- Headquarters
- New York, New York, United States
- CEO
- Sam Houser
- Parent Company
- Take-Two Interactive
- Subsidiaries
- Rockstar North, Rockstar Lincoln, Rockstar Toronto
- Known For
- Grand Theft Auto
Shared universes are something that many gamers love to speculate about, and there is ample evidence to suggest that the various offerings from Rockstar are somehow linked to one another. These could simply be explained away as mere Easter eggs, as Rockstar and other developers like to include such fascinations, but many feel that they are strong connections suggesting a shared universe.
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The juggernaut Grand Theft Auto series contains the majority of hints, from references to Bully’s Bullworth Academy and Manhunt’s Carter City to characters and artifacts featured in Red Dead Redemption. Given their real-world settings, the only real outliers include L.A. Noire, Midnight Club, and Max Payne, but they even include subtle nods towards other Rockstar works.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
The Purpose Of The Bugs In The Jars
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
It’s been more than a decade since millions of Dragonborns took their first tentative steps into Skyrim, the eponymous provincial setting of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. Within its rich world, there are many jars containing a variety of bugs, seemingly serving no purpose and causing many to speculate on their meaning.
The three excellent DLCs offered no further explanation, but the combination of runic inscriptions adorning the jars, the insects dwelling within, and their locations on the map caused many to believe that they pertain to a plot to end the world. These jars most likely relate to a questline that was cut from the final release, but there is something very entertaining about the thought of somebody capturing creepy crawlies to initiate an apocalyptic event.
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