20 Hidden Mechanics Discovered in Recent Games

Video games often contain hidden mechanics that players discover years after release, offering new ways to play. This summary explores 20 such recently discovered mechanics. In **Crimson Desert**, an unexplained mechanic allows players to achieve super high jumps for climbing or initiating combat. By using the "force palm" skill downward while jumping, players can launch themselves higher, culminating in a "meteor kick." This technique is not explained in the game but proves very useful. **Silent Hill F** includes a hidden mechanic linked to its UFO ending. Unlocking this ending grants a PP 801 lightsaber sword. Initially short and with low durability, its length and effectiveness increase with each additional ending unlocked in the game. To maximize the lightsaber's length, players must complete all available endings, requiring multiple playthroughs. **Metal Gear Solid Delta** introduces a new camo mechanic. When Snake crawls in mud and dirt, his outfit becomes progressively dirtier, which in turn increases his camo index, making him harder for enemies to spot. This effect isn't limited to mud; leaves, grass, and other debris also stick to him, enhancing his camouflage. This subtle detail was not present in the original Metal Gear Solid 3. **Resident Evil Reququum** (also referred to as Resident Evil 9) expands on Leon's combat abilities. Beyond parrying physically understandable attacks like tyrant claw strikes, Leon can now parry seemingly impossible projectiles. With precise timing, he can deflect RPGs from bosses and even individual bullets from SMGs in late-game sequences, a significant and "insane" extension of the parry mechanic. **Death Stranding 2** features secret pizza-themed melee moves. By assisting a pizza chef character mid-story, the protagonist unlocks new kung fu moves, such as a spinning launch, inspired by pizza dough. These "pizza fu" moves are visually distinct and are accompanied by humorous cutscenes. Additionally, the game includes the ability to dig personal hot springs, which offer various benefits, though less overtly entertaining than the pizza-inspired combat. **Kingdom Come 2: Deliverance** has numerous hidden perks that require significant dedication to uncover. One notable secret involves the player's starting horse, Pebbles. By consistently riding Pebbles for a total of 35 kilometers, the horse receives a massive stat boost, transforming it into the game's best and fastest steed. Other hidden perks include gaining poison immunity from handling poisonous herbs without gloves and earning extra money from pickpocketing after stealing over 10,000 coins worth of items. In **Shadow the Tree from Soft Games**, a deeply hidden mechanic involves the "Yolan and Anna" spirit summon. This is presented as the only spirit summon that can be transformed through specific, non-obvious in-game actions. Players must complete a hidden quest line involving a knight named Yolain, give Yolain a "secret item" called the Iris of Grace to obtain their unique spirit summon. Subsequently, reaching a hidden shaman's village and interacting with a puppet body in a secret tower room upgrades Yolain's summon to the "Yolan and Anna" spirit summon, allowing the player to summon two knights simultaneously. **Hollow Knight Silk Song** offers an alternative way to brave the chilly Mount Fay area. While an upgrade later in the game provides permanent warmth, an earlier tool, the "flint slate," can also keep Hornet warm. The flint slate, typically used to buff Hornet's sword with fire, has a hidden secondary function of providing warmth in cold environments, similar to using fire in open-world games like Zelda. **Mortal Kombat 1** (and other games in the series) features an interactive element during fatal blow cutscenes. Players can increase the damage dealt by tapping attack buttons in sync with the strikes shown in the cutscene. Conversely, the victim can reduce incoming damage by pressing attack buttons during the same sequence. This reveals that these cutscenes are not purely non-interactive. **Look Outside** incorporates a unique vending machine that dispenses advice rather than typical items. This vending machine, which sometimes briefly reveals its true form, can be conversed with by purchasing "cans of advice." Building a friendship with the machine through repeated interactions and hidden milestones eventually allows it to join the player's party and even be invited to live in their living room, offering soda on demand. It can also be upgraded later with a car mechanic. **Blueprints**, a randomly generated puzzle game, has a secret related to radiation levels. By completing experiments in the laboratory, players can raise the estate's radiation level. Raising it sufficiently triggers a special event that unlocks every door on the map. This is a significant mechanic in a game where keys are consumable and tightly controlled, as it provides unprecedented access. **Hitman: World of Assassination** features an absurd interpretation of "accidental kills." Drowning a target in a toilet, pushing an unconscious target off a rooftop, or electrocuting them in an overflowing sink (if unseen) all count as accidents. This allows players to maintain their "silent assassin" rating despite these seemingly suspicious deaths. In **Super Mario RPG**, the "Lamb's Lure" ability is an elaborate, multi-step hidden mechanic leading to a largely useless power. Players must first get Peach as a party member and purchase the Nurture Ring. Later, they acquire a Mystery Egg from a Toad. Equipping Peach with the Nurture Ring and using the Mystery Egg 10 times in battle causes a lamb to hatch, unlocking the "Lamb's Lure" ability, which occasionally turns enemies into lambs but yields no XP. Using "Lamb's Lure" another 100 times unlocks the "Sheep Attack," transforming all enemies into sheep with no rewards or XP. **Doom the Dark Ages** includes a hidden melee attack and an unstated benefit to a parry perk. By sprinting, double jumping, and dropping on enemies with a shield melee, Doomguy performs an alternate "demon buzzsaw" attack that cuts monsters in half. Additionally, a special parry perk that recharges melee attack cooldowns also "banks" melee charges, allowing for significantly more frequent melee attacks than suggested. **Delta Rune Chapter 3** features a "show mantle" hidden mechanic within its retro 8-bit TV world sequences. Achieving a perfect score in these challenges unlocks a hidden "green room" area between challenges. This bonus area allows players to break the game, explore unintended map sections, and leads to one of the toughest bosses in the game, fought in real-time top-down combat rather than a JRPG battle. **Mio Memories in Orbit** has a major hidden mechanic involving "the wheel" in a lab area. Using this device changes the orientation of ship sections, granting access to a final hidden location called "The Crucible." Solving this puzzle also unlocks the "flowing step" traversal ability, which leads to challenging platforming and another difficult final boss. **Wu Chong Clung Feathers** contains an extremely obtuse and hidden morality system. Every dialogue choice with incidental characters subtly influences the player's overall morality, leading to one of four different endings. The game provides no clear indication of this system, requiring players to consult guides to understand the specific requirements for each ending. **High on Life 2** conceals a significant fishing mechanic. Early in the game, in the Thinkline Harbor area, players can use one of their gun powers to raise a sunken fishing boat belonging to an NPC. This action provides a fishing rod, unlocking fishing spots across the map. Fishing can yield upgrades, collectibles, and even one of the three crucial balls needed for the "secret ball guy gun." **Tears of the Kingdom** features a bizarre but lucrative money-making method involving "Dondons." These large, docile elephant-like creatures in Bras's forest will eat luminous stones dropped near their pen. After leaving the area and waiting 10 real-life minutes, the Dondons will excrete rupees, making this one of the most profitable ways to earn money in the game. Finally, **Red Dead Redemption 2** includes a "bear bravery" mechanic. When confronted by a charging bear, standing completely still and staring it down can cause the bear to go passive and retreat. Attempting to draw or fire a weapon, or even moving slightly, will not have the same effect. This counter-intuitive strategy allows Arthur Morgan to de-escalate a bear encounter without resorting to violence.