How Easter Eggs in Video Games Came to Be

Discovering hidden secrets in video games has become a popular hobby in itself. A recent example is the many Easter eggs found throughout Resident Evil Requiem, proving developers still enjoy hiding messages for players to find. However, the practice of including secret details in software dates back to the 1960s, and the first known instance in a video game was in 1973’s Moonlander. Players who successfully navigated the lunar module through several screens encountered a hidden McDonald’s restaurant their astronaut could visit. While this is considered the first video game Easter egg, another game would later give the term its official name.







