From Crashed UFOs to Amazing Movie Homages, These Grand Theft Auto Easter Eggs Will Keep You Digging For More
From Crashed UFOs to Amazing Movie Homages, These Grand Theft Auto Easter Eggs Will Keep You Digging For More
Nobody Does It Like Rockstar
We’ve lost countless hours, grown hundreds of grey hairs, and screamed into our favorite pillows—all to 100% a Rockstar game. In all that chaos and failed missions are hilarious easter eggs scattered across the map, and we’ve narrowed down our favorites across the franchise.
1. Bigfoot, GTA Franchise
GTA is no stranger to satirizing real-life events—namely Bigfoot. Players weren’t exempt from the mystery as the furry cryptid has been sighted across multiple games. Most recently it popped up in GTA V in a mission where Michael needs to comb through the woods with infrared; if players hover over the found Sasquatch, he disappears.
2. “No Easter Eggs,” GTA San Andreas
Rockstar loves toying with gamers, both in their incessant use of easter eggs and their humor. If you climb atop the Gant Bridge in San Andreas, you’ll spot a neatly tucked away sign that reads, “There are no easter eggs up here. Go away.”
3. Hillary Clinton’s Face, GTA IV
Not even political figures are safe from Rockstar’s scrutiny (duh). After launching a lawsuit against Rockstar for their “Hot Coffee” mod, the company slapped her face over the Statue of Happiness. What was in the statue’s hand? That’s right—a coffee.
4. Scarface Homage, GTA Vice City
It’s hard to make a game like Vice City and not pay homage to one of the greatest films of our time. Rockstar tipped its cap to Scarface by including several hardcore easter eggs in an otherwise abandoned building. Fans of the film will recognize them immediately.
5. Frozen Alien, GTA V
You never know what’s lurking under thick sheets of ice…so many monsters just waiting to be discovered. Well, dilly-dallying players figured it out by taking a little detour in the game’s very first mission. They risked life and mission failure to spot a Xenomorph-looking creature frozen in the ice.
6. Frankie’s Outfit, GTA Vice City
Hey! Congratulations! You scored 100% completion on a Rockstar game. Know what your prize is? A shirt that literally reads, “I completed Vice City and all I got was this lousy t-shirt.” Though it seemed a slap in the face at first, players could actually use the outfit to get rid of one to two-star heat.
7. Zombotech, GTA San Andreas
As if zombies weren’t hard enough to beat in Rockstar games (we’re looking at you, Undead Nightmare). Thankfully, this San Andreas easter egg came with nothing more than a fun sign for players to discover. Pop over to a creepy abandoned building to spot “Zombotech. Sinister Zombie Virus Research Association.” At least they welcome visitors.
8. Text Messages, GTA V
With three playable protagonists, the possibilities were truly endless—that included messing with the other two. Ever wondered what would happen if you crept up on Michael’s house? How about stealing Franklin’s car? Brace yourself for angry text messages and phone calls from said protagonist!
9. Hidden Sign, GTA III
You love alleyways and Rockstar knows it, which is exactly why they included several hidden messages across various games. Most notable is a hidden message in an alleyway near Staunton Island. It’s a simple white sign with black text that reads, “You weren’t supposed to be able to get here you know.”
10. Ghost of Mount Gordo, GTA V
We all know about the Mount Gordo ghost, but that doesn’t mean she’s easy to find. She only appears between 23:00 and 0:00 in-game, which means players missed her for years. That’s probably a good thing since she’s nightmare fuel.
11. Scientology, GTA V
Oh, you thought Scientology was off the table in this franchise? Nope. Say hello to the Epsilon Program, a tongue-in-cheek jab at Scientology that you can only access with Michael. Donate money, climb the ladder, and figure out what’s at the bottom of it all.
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12. Crashed UFO, GTA V
If you have an extra $250K lying around, you can pop into a submarine and travel across the Pacific Ocean for a nice surprise. Just off the map, you’ll spot a crashed UFO in the water. There’s nothing flashy about it. It’s just there for any player who likes to explore.
13. Zombie Elvis, GTA III
No, we’re not talking about an actual zombie (though this is Rockstar, so that was never off the table). No, we’re talking about a newspaper headline that reads, “Zombie Elvis found.” It’s not as big a deal as other easter eggs, but we thought it was funny.
14. Baby Stroller, GTA IV
On the other hand, this is the exact opposite of funny—it’s a baby stroller abandoned under the Broker-Dukes Expressway. You can’t do anything to it, but our bigger question is…can it do anything to us? (Also no.)
15. Back to the Future, GTA V
Players discovered at least three Back to the Future easter eggs scattered around GTA V. Movie fans can spot a “Hill Valley” sign by the Vinewood Cemetery, a sticky note in Lester’s place that reads, “88 mph. Time travel,” and “1.21 GW” on most railroad powerboxes.
16. Rusty Wheelchair, GTA San Andreas
San Andreas’ rusty wheelchair is sort of like GTA V’s baby stroller. You can’t interact with it, you can’t do anything with it, but it’s a chilling little thing. It’s at the end of a dock in Fisher’s Lagoon and some speculate that it’s a nod to Leatherface. Either way, we hate it.
17. No Country for Old Men, GTA V
This egg’s just as terrifying but in a much cooler way. Cormac McCarthy fans undoubtedly recognize the notorious scene from No Country for Old Men wherein Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon a deal gone wrong. It’s recreated in an amazing, but freaky easter egg just off U.S. Route 1.
18. Niko’s LifeInvader, GTA V
We may have moved onto different protagonists but that doesn’t mean we forgot about Niko. Rockstar didn’t either, which is why you’ll find his LifeInvader page on Jimmy’s laptop. It’s a bit hard to read, but the whole page is a great nod to the game’s predecessor.
19. The Moon, GTA San Andreas
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you aimed your scope at the moon? Well, wonder no more because San Andreas had the answer! If players took a shot at the moon, it would randomly change size. You could only do it with a sniper rifle though.
20. John Marston’s Book, GTA V
We close with our favorite worlds colliding—GTA and Red Dead Redemption. Take a peek at Franklin’s bookshelf in Vinewood Hills. If you look real close, you’ll spot a book titled Red Dead. The author? J. Marston.
