Summary
Though their exact point of origin is still disputed, Easter eggs have been a common part of the video game industry since its very conception all the way back in the early 1970s. From the developer’s name being hidden in the background of a stage to references to popular movies and TV shows to cameos from other video game IPs,Easter eggs come in countless different forms, and theBorderlandsfranchise is home to some of the very best around.
While Easter eggs can be found across just about every video game genre, the biggest and best are often found in open-world titles, where the player’s exploration and curiosity are rewarded with little references. Being an open-world action-adventure series,Borderlandsis naturally suited to housing its fair share of Easter eggs, and the franchise has routinely gone above and beyond in that department, delivering some of the best Easter eggs in gaming.
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Borderlands 2’s Minecraft Cave Easter Egg
Starting with not onlythe most iconicBorderlandsEaster egg, but arguably the most popular Easter egg in all of gaming,Borderlands 2’sMinecraftcave is still special all these years later. Located in a small crevice in the side of a cliff face in Caustic Caverns, players can find a wall made up of peculiar-looking blocks of sand. Fans ofMinecraftwill immediately recognize these low-res blocks, which can be smashed to reveal a hidden location underneath the cliff. This cave contains a handful ofMinecraftCreepers, along with someMinecraftblocks that can be broken down for the chance to unlock some uniqueMinecraftweapon skins and character cosmetics.
Borderlands 2’s Dark Souls Easter Egg
Another iconicBorderlandsEaster egg can also be found elsewhere inBorderlands 2’s Caustic Caverns. Just north of the giant Crystalisk Blue, players will be able to spot an island in the middle of the poisonous lake with a large tree on it. With high enough shields and health, players can make their way over to the island and find a littleDark SoulsEaster egg. Along with a bonfire, players can find a knight named Solitaire, and the soul of a knight that keeps phasing in and out of existence.
Borderlands 2’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Easter Egg
Moving on to some of the more involvedBorderlandsEaster eggs,Borderlands 2’sTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesquestlineis still one of the most Easter egg quests in gaming. In a quest named “Splinter Group,” players will be tasked with luring out a group of mutant rebels hiding in the sewer and eliminating them. To lure them out, players are given a freshly baked pizza. Upon placing the pizza down, Lee, Mick, Dan, and Ralph will all crawl out of the nearby sewage pipes, and killing them will lead players to Flinter, the leader of the group.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel’s Super Mario Bros. Easter Egg
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequelmay not have been the most beloved entry in the franchise, but its Easter eggs were easily on par with some of the series' best, and itsSuper Mario Bros.Easter eggis the perfect example of that. Toward the end of the game, players will find themselves in a room filled with rising platforms, one of which will take players up into a pipe where they’ll be transported to aMario Bros. level. After defeating a few waves of enemies that spawn out of some pipes, players will be rewarded with a few loot chests. What makes this Easter egg even better is that players can even jump their way up to the top of the level and find a hidden room filled with pipes, serving as a reference inside of a reference toMario Bros.' hidden pipe rooms.
Borderlands 3’s Lord of the Rings Easter Egg
One of the best Easter eggs fromBorderlands 3is its “Demon in the Dark” questline, which acts as a not-so-subtle reference toLord of the Rings. During the quest, players will make their way through a location that looks eerily similar to the Mines of Moria, even being tasked with dropping a bucket down a well like Pippin does inFellowship of the Ring. At the end of the mine,Borderlandsplayers will face off against a fire-based foe clearly inspired by the Balrog.
