15 Games with Hidden Developer Rooms Full of Secrets

Most players never stumble upon developer rooms – those hidden areas created for game designers. They’re often filled with test items, inside jokes, and a glimpse into how the game was made. You might find them by solving a puzzle within the game, using a strange trick outside the game (like changing your computer’s date), or even by using special commands. Here are 15 games with developer rooms packed full of secrets.

‘Dying Light 2 Stay Human’ (2022)

Techland, the creators of the game, included a secret “dev room” as a special treat for players who enjoy finding hidden secrets. You can reach this room by completing a specific set of actions in a skyscraper area. Inside, you’ll find the Korek Weapon Charm and plans for a funny, joke weapon called the “finger gun.” It’s clearly a leftover testing area that the developers turned into a fun collectible hunt. Just be sure you’ve made good progress in the game’s story before trying to find it, so you can safely reach the location.

‘Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ (2022)

Gearbox Software, the creators of the game, and 2K, the publisher, included a hidden developer room as a playful nod to their work. To find it, you need to progress far enough in the game to reach the right area and activate the entrance. Inside, you’ll discover a special space filled with hidden treats for players who enjoy exploring. Most guides will lead you through Brighthoof, but the entrance can be tricky to find if you don’t know what you’re looking for. This room is a well-designed secret that’s meant to be discovered through gameplay, not by exploiting glitches.

‘Celeste’ (2018)

Maddy Makes Games created a game with a hidden developer room – a collection of Easter eggs. Reaching it requires progressing through the story and mastering some tricky movements. The room itself is a tribute to the game’s creators and their previous projects. It’s designed to feel rewarding, earned through skill, rather than just being a random secret. It’s also a great goal for players who are practicing advanced game mechanics.

‘Cyberpunk 2077’ (2020)

CD Projekt Red created and released a game featuring a hidden room that serves as a fun nod to the development team. Players can access it by finding a keypad code and entering it at a specific market location. Unlike typical rewards, the room itself is the prize – it’s an Easter egg filled with items referencing the game’s creators, and you’ll only discover it by thoroughly exploring every locked door and keypad. It’s a perfect find for players actively seeking out the game’s secrets.

‘Saints Row IV’ (2013)

The game was created by Volition and published by Deep Silver. Hidden within the game is a playful “Volition room,” accessible through a secret door labeled “employees only.” Players typically find it by forcing their way into a shop in a way the game wasn’t designed for. This room is connected to an Easter egg weapon, the Tiny Pistol, and is presented as a special reward for finding it. It’s a humorous nod to the studio, typical of the Saints Row series, and functions as a sort of developer hideout. If you’re a collector of unusual weapons, this is one you’ll want to find.

‘Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando’ (2003)

The game was created by Insomniac Games and published by Sony. It features a hidden area called the Insomniac Museum, famous among players who love to discover secrets in games. Getting inside can be tricky – one popular method involves changing your console’s clock to a specific time to activate a teleporter. Once you’re in, the museum feels like a behind-the-scenes look at the game’s development, with exhibits showcasing the work of the developers and glimpses of content that didn’t make the final cut. It’s designed as a real place to explore, a thoughtful reward for dedicated fans, rather than just a random, accidental discovery. If you’re searching for secrets, plan to spend some time here – it’s a destination in itself.

‘Lock’s Quest’ (2008)

I recently rediscovered this awesome bonus after beating the game! The developers, 5th Cell, really went the extra mile. After you finish the main story, a new area opens up, but getting there takes a little work – you have to find and interact with a few specific things on the map. It’s called the Hall of Heroes, and it’s basically a secret ‘you did it!’ reward that a lot of people miss. It feels like something you’d only find out about by reading a guide or hearing from a friend, which is cool. Honestly, it’s a perfect excuse to jump back into a completed save file and explore again!

‘Chrono Trigger’ (1995)

Square both created and released the game, and one of its endings is a playful look behind the curtain at how it was made. This “developer room” ending is unlocked by completing specific actions, usually in a second playthrough with particular timing choices. In this ending, the game openly acknowledges it’s a developer space, letting you explore and see messages from the game’s creators. It’s a clever way to present a developer room through the game’s story, rather than hiding it as a secret area. If you’re trying to unlock all possible endings, this one offers the most unique “behind-the-scenes” experience.

‘Undertale’ (2015)

Toby Fox not only created the game but also released it himself, with help from 8-4 for console versions. Hidden throughout the game are secret rooms connected to the Dog Shrine. Some of these rooms can be found normally, while others require special methods to access, and their availability varies depending on the game version and platform. The Dog Shrine is a playful, hidden area with unique interactions—it feels like a little inside joke from the developer for curious players. Because different versions of the game have different features, it’s a secret that might be accessible on one platform but not another, so it’s worth investigating what your version supports.

‘The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past’ (1991)

Nintendo created and published this game, and it includes the well-known Chris Houlihan Room—a hidden area that seems like an inside joke from the developers. Players usually only stumble upon it by exploiting glitches or through very specific, unusual actions, which is why it’s often talked about more than actually discovered. Inside, you’ll find rupees and a tile labeling the room “top secret,” giving the impression it was a developer hideaway that unexpectedly became a legend. It’s one of the first examples of a secret room that spread through word-of-mouth and eventually became well-documented. It’s a must-see for anyone interested in classic gaming secrets.

‘Doom II’ (1994)

The game, created by id Software, is famous for its hidden secrets, particularly a well-known developer joke considered one of the most memorable in first-person shooter history. This joke appears during the final battle against the Icon of Sin, and isn’t found through normal gameplay—instead, players discover it by carefully exploring the level’s design and sharing their findings with the community. It’s cleverly hidden within the level’s structure, rewarding curious players who experiment with the map. Because fans have explored Doom so thoroughly over the years, these hidden elements have become a lasting part of the game’s legend. If you’re actively searching for secrets, the final levels are where you’ll find the most surprising and unusual content.

‘The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’ (2011)

Bethesda Game Studios created the game, and Bethesda Softworks released it. Hidden inside is QASmoke, a testing area that’s essentially a storage room for developer items. On PC, you can access it using a console command. Inside, you’ll find containers packed with tons of equipment and materials used for quality assurance and testing. It’s a direct look at how developers quickly access game content. However, be cautious! Taking too many items or altering test data can cause problems with your saved game, so it’s best to experiment on a backup file.

‘The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion’ (2006)

Bethesda Game Studios created the game, and Bethesda Softworks published it (with some help from 2K Games on certain platforms). Hidden within the game’s files are special testing areas that aren’t meant for regular players to find. These rooms are accessed using console commands and were used by the developers to test things like lighting, characters, and gameplay features without creating entire levels. For players, they offer a unique look at the unfinished spaces and behind-the-scenes work that goes into making a role-playing game. However, it’s important to be careful when exploring these areas, as they aren’t always designed with a clear path back to the main game.

‘Fallout 4’ (2015)

Bethesda created this game, and it includes a special testing area similar to what quality assurance teams use. On computers, players can access this area using a command that instantly takes them to a room full of containers overflowing with items. It’s like a cheat code that lets you get any item in the game, making it easy to see how the developers organized everything. While it’s a fun way to experiment with different gear, it’s best used as a tool for exploring the game’s systems rather than as part of a normal game experience. It’s a great way to understand how the game’s items and loot are structured.

‘Fallout 76’ (2018)

Bethesda created and published a game that became well-known for a hidden developer room players discovered through glitches. This room contained nearly every item in the game, including content that hadn’t been released yet, and seemed to be a place where developers stored and tested things. Bethesda responded by banning accounts that accessed the room through cheating. What set this developer room apart wasn’t that it was a fun secret, but that it was a security issue with the potential to disrupt the game’s economy. Today, it serves as a good example of the dangers of letting players access developer or testing areas.

I’m always on the lookout for cool hidden areas in games – you know, those secret developer rooms or test spaces! If you’ve found any, I’d love to hear about them. Share your best discoveries in the comments below!

2025-12-15 10:16