From hidden characters to impossible unlockables, gaming history is full of myths that fooled even the most dedicated players. Some were based on glitches or half-truths, while others came from wishful thinking. Here we take a trip down memory lane and look at some of the weirdest and most memorable game myths that had us fooled.
1. The “Nude Code” in Tomb Raider
When Tomb Raider was released in 1996, Lara Croft became one of gaming’s first major icons. And with that fame came a ridiculous rumor: that somewhere in the game’s files there was a “nude code” that let players remove Lara’s clothes.
Players tried every key combination imaginable, and some even downloaded shady “patches” that claimed to unlock it. Core Design, the studio behind Tomb Raider, repeatedly denied the rumor. Still, magazines and online forums spread the myth endlessly.
2. Mew Under the Truck in Pokémon Red & Blue
In the late ‘90s, Pokémon fever was everywhere. And players of the game Pokémon Red & Blue were especially convinced of one thing: That the mysterious 151st Pokémon, Mew, could be found under a random truck near the S.S. Anne.
The story went that if you used Strength or Surf in a very specific way, the truck would move and Mew would appear. Of course, none of it was true. The truck was just scenery, and Mew could only be obtained through official events or glitches. But back then, before datamining and wikis, the idea that a secret Pokémon could be hiding in plain sight was too exciting not to believe.
3. The Secret of Polybius – The Haunted Arcade Game
Few gaming myths are as eerie as the story of Polybius, an arcade machine that supposedly appeared in Portland, Oregon, in the early 1980s. According to the legend, Polybius was no ordinary game. It was said to be part of a secret government experiment, where players who tried it supposedly experienced strange side effects like nightmares, memory loss, and even hallucinations.
The story claimed that mysterious “men in black” would visit the arcades to collect data from the machines, only for Polybius cabinets to vanish without a trace soon after. But no physical evidence of Polybius or its “tests” has ever been found.
4. “Guaranteed Win” Strategies
When it comes to casino games, there is one myth that trumps them all, and that is that certain “secret” strategies can guarantee a win on slot machines or roulette tables. Many websites and influencers have claimed to know the “perfect timing” to spin, or the pattern that ensures a payout, and many gamblers have fallen for it. But the truth is that when it comes to these games, it is all about luck.
While this myth is far from the truth, there are other strategies or “hacks” that can help gamblers. Among others, playing at an online casino that offers a competitive casino bonus can give more to play for. But while bonuses can extend playtime and give you more chances to win, they never change the odds of winning.
5. Luigi in Super Mario 64
For years, rumors claimed that Luigi was hidden somewhere in Super Mario 64, waiting to be unlocked through an impossible task. The myth started with a mysterious message on a statue in the game’s courtyard that looked like “L is real 2401.” Players spent months trying everything, from collecting all 120 stars to waiting 2,401 in-game minutes, hoping Luigi would appear.
Nintendo finally made the rumor true decades later: the 2020 Super Mario 64 PC leak revealed unused Luigi files, confirming he was once planned but never implemented. It was both a satisfying and bittersweet ending to one of gaming’s longest-running mysteries.
6. Herobrine in Minecraft
Few modern myths have the staying power of Herobrine. First mentioned in 2010, Herobrine was said to be a ghostly figure in Minecraft with glowing white eyes, silently haunting single-player worlds. Players shared screenshots of eerie sightings, tunnels appearing out of nowhere, and animals arranged in strange patterns.
The story claimed that Herobrine was the ghost of creator Markus Persson’s deceased brother – a completely fabricated detail. Mojang even played along, jokingly adding “Removed Herobrine” to official patch notes for years. The myth grew so big it became part of Minecraft’s culture, reminding us that even in the age of YouTube and instant information, we still love a good digital ghost story.
7. The Secret “Hot Coffee” in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Finally, a myth that was actually true. In 2005, players discovered hidden code in GTA: San Andreas called the “Hot Coffee” mod. This was an unfinished and inaccessible minigame where the main character could engage in explicit scenes with his in-game girlfriend.
Put simply, Rockstar Games had disabled the content before release, but modders found a way to unlock it. The controversy that followed led to lawsuits, stricter game ratings, and the recall of countless copies. It was one of the few times a supposed “myth” turned out to be very real and served as a reminder of how curious players can uncover things developers never intended to be seen.
Conclusion
While most of these myths turned out to be false (or half-true at best), they also made gaming richer. They gave us stories to share, mysteries to chase, and reasons to replay our favorite titles. Even in today’s hyper-connected world, new myths still appear, and maybe that’s a good thing. Because as long as players keep believing there might be one more secret to uncover, games will never lose their sense of wonder.
