Some Secrets Are Better Left Alone
Video games have spent decades encouraging us to explore every corner, investigate suspicious objects, and interact with anything that looks remotely interesting. In fact, you can’t even touch completing some games without overturning every rock and collecting every feather (looking at you, Rockstar). However, certain developers have a much less generous attitude toward those of us who can't leave well enough alone. Come with us as we go through which 20 games prove that sometimes the smartest decision is to mind your own business.
1. Fable II
The Demon Doors scattered throughout Albion promise hidden treasures, so we were obviously going to kick chickens at as many of them as we could. But the one in Brightwood is just plain rude. First, it asks you to bring cheese, then insists that you change your hairstyle and wear an increasingly embarrassing collection of clothing before allowing you inside. After going through all that trouble, you'll discover that your reward is another collection of clothes. Real funny, guys.
myself (User:Piotrus) on Wikimedia
2. Elden Ring
Early explorers might notice a treasure chest hidden underground. The thing is, you might want to reconsider touching it. Opening the wrong one activates a transporter trap that sends you straight to the Sellia Crystal Tunnel in Caelid, where enemies can easily snuff you out. Oh, and since fast travel is unavailable until you escape the tunnel, one little attempt at finding treasure becomes a real pain.
3. Dark Souls
Dark Souls couldn’t wait to punish your thievery, either—especially with what’s hidden inside its chests. In Sen's Fortress, an apparently ordinary chest can suddenly reveal itself as a Mimic and grab you in an attack that deals enormous damage. You bet that’ll make you nervous of every chest for the rest of your game.
William Tung from USA on Wikimedia
4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Exploring Hyrule's forests eventually leads to the Floret Sandbar, where Magda has carefully planted flowers around a shrine. You might assume that walking through the garden is harmless, but stepping on her flowers causes her to freak out and attack you, leaving Link with minimal health.
5. Minecraft
Deep underground, you can discover Ancient Cities filled with loot and mysterious structures. Unfortunately, making too much noise can summon the Warden, a powerful creature that can kill even well-equipped adventurers. Heaven forbid we poke around one dungeon without something attacking us.
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6. Resident Evil 4
While exploring the lake in the original Resident Evil 4, you might get curious about what happens if Leon shoots into the water. Go ahead—try it. Keep trying it, however, and the game actually has a special response prepared: a huge creature that emerges and swallows Leon whole.
7. Hollow Knight
The Spirits' Glade has all kinds of ghosts that you can speak to and examine. That curiosity will only land you in hot water, though. Using the Dream Nail on these spirits attracts the attention of Revek, who aggressively attacks anyone disturbing the residents.
8. Fallout: New Vegas
You’ll need The Dead Money expansion for this one, but if you’d rather we just tell you, here it is: you’re taken into the Sierra Madre Casino, where the mysterious vault has the treasure everyone's been looking for. If you become distracted by the riches and read the wrong terminal entry, you can activate a security system that seals the vault permanently, trapping you inside.
9. Inscryption
During the first act, you'll spot a group of starving survivors who offer to improve one of your cards by warming it beside their campfire. That should’ve been a red flag, but even if you trust them, the first upgrade is actually safe. Choosing to leave your card there for additional improvements, however, introduces the possibility that the survivors will eat it.
10. Super Mario 64
Big Boo's Haunt has plenty of unusual furniture, including a piano sitting innocently in one of the mansion's rooms. Should you walk up to it, though, the instrument reveals a mouthful of sharp teeth before lunging toward our poor, unsuspecting plumber. It's sort of like Baby’s First Jump Scare.
11. Control
While exploring the Panopticon, Jesse discovers an employee who's been ordered to stare at a seemingly normal fridge. Investigating his situation eventually leads to the optional mission "Fridge Duty," where interacting with the appliance transports Jesse into the Astral Plane to fight Former. Who knew a portal was in the freezer the whole time?
12. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team
Kecleon's shops offer useful items, provided you're willing to pay for them. If, however, you develop sticky fingers, Kecleon just attacks you. It’s not only Kecleon—additional shopkeepers chase you down, too.
13. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
During "The Whispering Hillock," Geralt discovers a spirit trapped beneath a tree that offers to rescue a group of endangered children. Sounds like a noble quest, right? Well, freeing the creature results in the destruction of Downwarren and devastating consequences for the Bloody Baron's family. It’s not like this game makes its moral implications easy to predict, so what were we expecting?
14. Terraria
Terraria is massive, and that’s exactly how it tricks you into peering behind every nook and cranny. Sure enough, new players might encounter the Dungeon and decide to investigate. You’ll wish you didn’t. Entering too deeply before defeating Skeletron summons the Dungeon Guardian, an overwhelmingly powerful enemy that can basically end you with a snap of its fingers.
15. Spelunky
Finding a golden idol inside one of Spelunky's levels can feel like easy money. Unfortunately, removing an idol from its pedestal also activates a trap, such as a rolling boulder that destroys nearly everything in its path. At the end of the day, you need to ask if it’s even worth it.
16. Prey
Talos I is filled with countless everyday objects that seem perfectly harmless…until you spot the Mimics. They can disguise themselves as the very things you’re trying to inspect: coffee mugs, chairs, and other ordinary items, attacking when Morgan approaches. Eventually, even a conveniently placed office supply can become suspicious.
17. Dead Cells
Certain chests in Dead Cells offer valuable rewards, all without you needing to slay a boss to get it. Opening a Cursed Chest, however, places a curse on you that causes the next hit you take to kill you instantly. You can’t get rid of it until you've defeated enough enemies, either.
18. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Ancient machinery, strange enemies, enough hidden passages to keep curious adventurers occupied for hours—Skyrim's Dwemer ruins have it all. But exploring certain ruins can bring you into contact with powerful Dwarven Centurions capable of wiping you out if you aren’t careful. Even discovering a promising new route can become a problem.
19. Undertale
Undertale practically encourages experimentation with decisions, which makes getting whacked on the hand for it all the more upsetting. Pursuing the Genocide Route eventually leads to increasingly disturbing events, a brutal confrontation with Sans, and consequences that can affect later endings even after resetting the game. No evil playthroughs for you.
CERO, Nintendo, 8-4, Ltd, Temmie Chang and Toby Fox on Wikimedia
20. Bloodborne
While exploring the Forbidden Woods, you can actually encounter a Suspicious Beggar standing near a few bodies. Again, red flag, but inviting him to Oedon Chapel secretly transforms him into an Abhorrent Beast. He then starts killing certain other residents you've rescued.
