Video game myths and legends have long been a part of history. They began as early as the 70s and 80s with arcade cabinets. Stories of unfortunate coincidences, such as passing away after playing a specific game, became realities for many gamers. These tales were passed on over time. After the release of the Nintendo console, the myths only grew worse. Some children told lies and these stories spread like wildfire.
In the early days of gaming, a majority of households didn’t have computers or the internet. Video game magazines did little to stop false information from being spread. Publications like Electronic Gaming Monthly occasionally printed April Fools jokes to fool readers. Their lies were so well-crafted that most readers believed them, or wanted them to be true. Gullible gamers believed the lies they were writing, even if readers were told they weren’t true. The myths kept spreading because no one could easily prove them wrong.
After the internet brought gamers together, the myths didn’t stop. It only became a more massive hub for urban legends to spread even more. Though many storytellers were doing it for fun, such as fun cheat codes or hidden characters. Others wanted to cause harm. These stories have the potential to harm developers. Even worse, some proactive parents will refuse to buy a game for their child if they heard it could cause medical issues or worse.
We’ve compiled a list of urban legends that gamers swore were true. Did you believe any of these myths?
25 One Of The Rarest Pokémon
Mew was once one of the rarest characters in the Pokémon universe. Gamers who lived near a Nintendo store could obtain him with a certificate. Others who didn’t have the luxury of visiting a store believed there was a way to unlock Mew within the game.
Trainers thought Mew was hiding under a truck near the S.S. Anne.
Unfortunately, this was a lie. There was no way to unlock Mew in Red and Blue without resorting to exploits and cheats.
24 This Starting Gift Should Be Skipped
When first starting Dark Souls, gamers can choose a Starting Gift to assist in their journey. One of those items is “The Pendant.” It’s description states “Trinket. No effect, but fond memories comfort travelers.” Dark Souls’ Game Director Hidetaka Miyazaki said gamers should choose this gift. Unfortunately, it was a trick. Players believed that this item had a higher purpose. Unfortunately, game miners discovered it has no in-game effects. They tried completing the game several times to see if the pendant had an unlockable power. True to its description, the only purpose of the pendant is to comfort travelers.
23 The Profit Wasn’t A Phantom
Nintendo and Sega fought over gamers’ wallets for years before Microsoft and Sony decided to join the market. Smaller companies also wanted to try developing a new console. The Phantom began making waves in 2004, including being showcased at E3. It would allow gamers to download games online and could play any game released on the PC. This legend turned out to be a major hoax. Two years later, CEO and Founder Timothy Roberts was called out on hyping up the console to inflate stock market prices. The Phantom had always been an illusion.
22 Small Changes Create A Large Fire
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was released on the Nintendo 64. The game has been ported to the Wii and WiiU. Nintendo patched out issues gamers previously experienced with the game. Not all of the changes were explained.
One unusual change was the music within the Fire Temple.
Some gamers became skeptical over the music swap. Rumors began circulating that the music might have been giving children nightmares or making them sick.
21 He Should Have Been Available From The Start
Super Mario 64 was the first title to be released on the Nintendo 64. Gamers were disappointed they could not play as Mario’s brother, Luigi. A rumor began to spread that it was possible to unlock the green-clad brother. They found a statue in the courtyard that read “L is real 2401.” Gamers tried to have precisely 2401 coins or even run around the statue 2401 times. Their efforts would go in vain. It is not possible to unlock Luigi in the game.
20 Used Games Don’t Deserve This Fate
Sonic the Hedgehog is a long-running series that has developed several unique urban legends over time. According to one gamer, a boy received a used copy of Sonic R as a gift from his father. After completing the game, he unlocked the “Tails Doll.” This doll would later ruin this child’s life. If unlocked, the Tails Doll would reportedly haunt your home and knock on the walls. Though this seems like an obvious hoax to most, it was enough to scare some from buying Sonic R.
19 She Won’t Come Back
Gamers were shocked when Sephiroth ended Aeris’ life early in Final Fantasy VII. After the terrible cutscene, they were confused if Aeris was gone for good. When she was hurt, there were no remains left on her body, Sephiroth’s sword, or the ground below her.
Some hopeful gamers believed that this was proof Aeris was still alive.
They developed elaborate gameplay requirements, such as defeating every enemy in the game. Sadly, Aeris cannot be brought back to life in Final Fantasy VII.
18 A Legend In Games And Real Life
Bigfoot is a mythical beast that many believe exists in North America. Gamers believe the creature can be found in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. In the San Andreas countryside, players have reported seeing Bigfoot in Back O’Beyond, Shady Cabin, or Mount Chiliad. Gamers first noticed this creature walking around. If they tried to get too close, he would run away or even attack. Players were unsuccessful in finding the beast within the game files, but some are determined to prove he does exist.
17 A Faulty Translation That Lasted For Decades
Street Fighter II contained a colorful roster of characters. Due to a faulty translation that missed quality control, at the end of the match, Ryu states “You must defeat Sheng Long to stand a chance.” Gamers wondered who Sheng Long was. EGM magazine published a lie that this was a hidden character, which only fueled the rumor. They later revealed it was an elaborate hoax. Sorry gamers, there is no Sheng Long. “Sheng Long” was originally meant to be Ryu’s signature move, the “Shoryuken.”
16 Why Else Would A Child Roam The World Alone?
Ever wonder why a 10-year-old would wander the world alone, and so few adults exist? The “Pokémon War Theory” is one of the most elaborate urban legends of the series. This theory states that most of the adults perished during a war. Children have no choice than to work hard and earn money.
This rumor was spread due to a conversation with Lieutenant Serge, who states that a Pokémon saved him during the war.
Nintendo has not commented on the legend. This theory may be a case of fans looking too deeply into the storyline of the series.
15 Unlock All The Heroes
GoldenEye 007 was one of the Nintendo 64’s most popular first-person shooters. The game adapted the movie of the same name with Pierce Brosnan as the protagonist. GoldenEye 007 contained 23 cheat codes that could be used to help improve player’ gameplay experiences. Rumors began floating around that there was a 24th cheat code that could enable other versions of James Bond in multiplayer. Although the code was false, the developer did program multiple James Bonds into the game. Unfortunately, they had to be cut from the final release.
14 Don’t Mention Him On Mojang’s Forums
The main protagonist of Minecraft is Steve. While playing the game, some players have reported seeing an unusual doppelgänger of Steve named Herobrine. Players have stated that the character is building unusual structures, cutting down their trees, and digging tunnels. Gamers have gone so far as to claim Herobrine is Notch’s brother, who passed away. Notch has never had a brother, and there is no code related to Herobrine in Minecraft. This doesn’t stop some gamers from believing in the legend.
13 A Game That’s Bad For Your Heart
Arcade cabinets were the only way to enjoy your favorite game before consoles. Berzerk was a popular game in 1981.
Few players reached the boss battle against Evil Otto, a smiley face, and got a high score.
Jeff Daily took the high score after facing off against the boss. After inputting his initials, he passed away from a heart attack. One year later, the next high score player named Peter Burkowski passed away from the same medical issue. Gamers started to believe the game was cursed.
12 Mysterious Messages Foretold The Future
Fallout 3 was released in 2008 but takes place in the future after a nuclear war. The game has various Morse code signals that are discovered during the Lone Wanderer’s journey. Most of them are meaningless, but some gamers believe these codes can predict the future. One of the messages was decoded to say “nine-four-five-four-two-zero-two-zero-one-zero. Accident in the gulf, several [perished]. Oil spill apparently averted.” Some believed that this referred to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that occurred in 2010.
11 An Unusual Survival Game
In the early 90s, it was rumored that a Russian video game developer created a survivor horror game. Killswitch let uses choose between a girl or an invisible demon. The player had to navigate through a spooky coal mine while battling enemies. After finishing the game as the demon, the game would be wiped from your computer. In 2005, the game was sold on eBay to Yamamoto Ryuichi for $733,000. He wanted to record a Let’s Play, but the only video he uploaded was of himself crying and staring at a blank computer monitor.
10 Takes Place After A Sad Event
In Luigi’s Mansion, the taller brother is searching for his missing brother, Mario. The game takes place in a creepy mansion filled with ghosts. Fans have developed an even scarier theory. Some gamers noticed the outline of Luigi’s body from a tree in the attic.
Players believe that Luigi’s Mansion takes place in the afterlife.
Luigi is now the one who is haunting the mansion. This urban legend isn’t true. The silhouette gamers noticed outside was just a lighting glitch.
9 Spend More Time Playing The Game Instead
When Tomb Raider was first released in 1996, some gamers were more interested in specific pixels on Lara Croft than the game itself. EGM published an April Fools joke stating that it was possible to see Lara even more exposed with a cheat code. Some gamers wasted their time trying to change the appearance of the heroine instead of enjoying the game. Lara was never programmed to appear without her iconic blue top and brown shorts.
8 Would The Next Gamer Share Ben’s Fate?
On a video game forum, a gamer stated he purchased a used version of The Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. There was one save on the game that belonged to “Ben.” The gamer deleted the game and went on to start a new adventure. Even though they used a different name, the NPCs still referred to him as “Ben.” As he continued playing, the NPCs referred to Ben’s terrible fate, eventually revealing Ben had perished. The gamer claims that he threw out the mysterious cartridge, afraid of repeating Ben’s terrible fate.
7 These Children Want To Rule The World
World of Warcraft offers several side quests and unusual sights. Within the Elwynn Forest are six children that have spawned several urban legends. They are known as the “Creepy Children.” During the game, they may appear in a house. Watch them carefully, and you’ll notice they have formed a pentagram.
Some gamers believe these children may be part of something much more sinister.
Others directly asked Blizzard about the children. They are an Easter Egg related to the Diablo franchise and nothing more.
6 This Is Why Mods Come With A Warning
One of the reasons why gamers love The Elder Scrolls series is because of mods. One Morrowind mod Jvk1166z.esp was posted online on a few forums. The mod acted more like a virus. If you tried to start Morrowind with the mod active, it would freeze the initial start screen for an hour, then crash the game to desktop. Those who could load the game could fight a powerful enemy. After exiting the game, players reported the character would enter their bedrooms or wander their hallways.
