Open-World Games With Compelling Fan Theories

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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.

In the course of playing a video game, it’s quite natural for thoughts to stray and create personal theories about enigmas within the gaming environment. This tendency is even more pronounced when creators subtly include Easter eggs, intentionally leave some aspects ambiguous, or unintentionally overlook removing remnants of discarded content.

Open-world games frequently benefit from fan speculations due to their intricate and absorbing world design, as well as ample room left for creators to insert hidden mysteries. While numerous fan theories can be readily debunked, there are instances when they are extremely captivating and seamlessly fit into the shared understanding of most gamers as additional lore.

Red Dead Redemption

Undead Nightmare Is Purgatory For John Marston

Based on the assumed sequence of events where Undead Nightmare takes place within Red Dead Redemption, it’s reasonable to think that this event might not be part of the main storyline (canon), given its fantastical elements. Yet, despite being non-canonical, it’s widely recognized as one of the finest DLCs ever produced. A fan theory suggesting that John Marston is in a state between life and death (purgatory) seems to provide a more convincing explanation for the events portrayed.

Based on this perspective, it’s believed that John didn’t fully attain redemption during his lifetime, but he got a second opportunity to demonstrate his worthiness through this process in purgatory. In the midst of fighting off the zombie outbreak, John managed to preserve his humanity and showed compassion towards those around him, particularly his loved ones. This act might have given him hope for salvation, both in his personal beliefs and in the eyes of his deity.

Cyberpunk 2077

The Mysterious Mr. Blue Eyes

In the game Cyberpunk 2077, a character known as Mr. Blue Eyes seldom makes an appearance, yet he undeniably leaves a lasting impression. This is largely due to the mystery that swirls around him. Many players find him reminiscent of Gaunter O’Dimm from the Hearts of Stone DLC in The Witcher 3, owing to his seemingly boundless power and knowledge, his cryptic nature, and his calm disposition.

People are often left wondering about Mr. Blue Eyes due to his mysterious ability to materialize and vanish whenever he pleases, along with rumors among Night City’s inhabitants mentioning him. Some speculate that he could be an artificial intelligence, a manipulated AI, or perhaps even a reincarnated or reconstructed version of Richard Knight, the city’s original founder.

Mario Kart World

Why Are There 394 P-Switches?

As I breeze through the expansive, open-world landscape of Mario Kart World during my leisurely explorations, I frequently stumble upon P-Switches that set me up with intriguing time-based challenges. In all, there are 394 of these hidden gems scattered across the game, which has left some of us pondering why the total isn’t a clean, round number like 400. It’s definitely food for thought!

It’s possible that Nintendo has incorporated a clever play on words by using the numbers three (san) and nine (kyuu), which sound like the polite expression “thank you” in English, in their product. If we consider four as “for,” and suppose P-Switch represents “playing,” then the sequence forms “thank you for playing.” This kind of secret message is something Nintendo often includes in their products.

The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

The Zonai Are Aliens

In the widely-loved Zelda series, numerous fan theories abound, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is brimming with enigmas that fans are eager to decipher. One significant element left unexplored is the source of the Zonai, a crucial factor in the game due to their long-dormant yet powerful technology, elusive ancient background, and the peculiar occurrences within Hyrule.

The Zonai are an ancient civilization, believed to have either disappeared or left Hyrule a long time ago. They’re said to have arrived from the sky, and their sophisticated technology hints at them being either extraterrestrial beings or divine entities. However, it’s unlikely that their true nature will be revealed in future games.

Minecraft

The Player Is The Real Villain

It’s not surprising that, being one of the most well-loved games from the past ten years, there are numerous intriguing fan theories surrounding Minecraft. Among these, one of the most captivating suggests that in each world, it might be the player who is truly the villain, rather than the hostile creatures. These mobs usually live a tranquil life, harmonizing with nature and peaceful block-filled inhabitants.

In the Minecraft universe, whether it’s a single player or multiple players in a multiplayer world, they cause extensive harm to the environment through mining, hunting, fishing, and crafting. The diverse creatures within this game often face a reduced lifespan whenever players, who might be seen as disruptive or harmful, invade their habitats.

Rockstar Gaming Universe

Many Rockstar Games May Be Set In The Same Universe

Fans of gaming often enjoy pondering the idea of interconnected worlds, and it’s quite intriguing to note potential links between different titles from Rockstar. While these could be dismissed as mere Easter eggs, which game creators like to insert for fun, many believe they point towards a common universe.

The popular video game series, Grand Theft Auto, is rich with allusions, ranging from references to Bullworth Academy (from Bully) and Carter City (from Manhunt), to characters and artifacts seen in Red Dead Redemption. Since most of these games share fictional worlds, the exceptions are L.A. Noire, Midnight Club, and Max Payne, which have real-world settings, but still contain subtle homages to other Rockstar productions.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

The Purpose Of The Bugs In The Jars

Over a decade ago, I found myself among the masses of Dragonborns, venturing boldly into the legendary land of Skyrim – the star attraction in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. In this immersive realm, I stumbled upon countless jars filled with all sorts of bugs, which seemed to serve no apparent purpose, sparking endless discussions about their significance among us players.

The three remarkable downloadable content packages provided no additional information, yet the decorative runes on the jars, the creatures residing inside, and their positions on the map led numerous players to speculate that they were connected to a plan to bring about the end of the world. It’s probable that these jars are linked to a questline that didn’t make it into the final game, but there’s something intriguing about the idea that someone is gathering creepy insects to trigger an apocalyptic scenario.

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2025-08-07 01:30