20 Resident Evil Easter Eggs in Other Games

“Astro Bot” (2024)

The 2024 3D platformer phenomenon features a ton of different characters that helped PlayStation become the gaming powerhouse it is today. Among the more than three hundred bots you can rescue are bots based on Leon, Claire, Jill, Chris, and Wesker. Each bot even has their own special items to unlock for secret interactions, and each interaction alludes to the typical items and puzzles you’d come across in “Resident Evil”. Knock over a statue to make Leon panic. Help Claire figure out which key can open a locked door. Teach Chris how to use a typewriter. Or - and this is the best one - try to force Jill to confront some sinister-looking dogs. Honestly, any fan of “Resident Evil” would be gushing over these references!

“CrossCode” (2018)

If you haven’t played “CrossCode” before, it is absolutely worth checking out for yourself! This top-down action RPG puts you in the role of Lea, a player character sent into a fictional MMORPG to discover her origins and uncover some shady conspiracies. At one point in her journey, Lea may come across an NPC that drops a pretty explicit, yet hilarious reference to “Resident Evil”. While exploring Basin’s Keep Corner Mall, you can find a lady blocking one of the stores. Talk to her, and she will tell you, “I'm sorry, dear customer, but Umbrella Inc. is currently experiencing a...sort of outbreak. In order to avoid any residents from getting inf--from having a bad time, we have closed off access to the third floor."

“Dead Rising” (2006)

It only makes sense that other Capcom games would reference other Capcom games, and we will see some of that throughout the list. As for “Dead Rising”, you don’t have to look hard for this reference as it can be found fairly early in the game. Many of the stores are pretty generic for the most part and serve as nothing more than places to scavenge for health items and additional weapons. But there is one food chain that pays tribute to “Resident Evil’s” leading lady. Anyone wanna grab a bite at Jill’s Sandwiches? They’re a master of unlocking great flavors!

“Digimon World” (1999)

“Digimon”? What in the world is a franchise like “Digimon” doing referencing an intense horror game like “Resident Evil”? Well, it’s subtle enough to where most kids probably didn’t spot this at the time. Now that most of us are grown up and older, maybe it’ll be more obvious. The reference can be found in Grey Lord’s Manor, but it isn’t an item or a piece of the map that references “Resident Evil”. No, it’s the map itself! Yes, the entire map of Grey Lord’s Manor has almost the exact same layout as Spencer Mansion from the 1996 original game. Like we said, this was something that likely flew over most of our heads back in the day. It all makes sense now.

“Hitman: Absolution” (2012)

Some might say this is a bit of a reach. Others may choose to believe the connection here. No matter which way you see it, it’s hard to say this is a coincidence. In the Death Factory mission, Agent 47 is given three targets to take out, but two of these targets have the same last names as two “Resident Evil” characters. Come on, you can’t sit there and say Doctor Valentine and Doctor Ashford are NOT references to Jill and Alexia, especially when one of them is a bioengineer!

“Ion Fury” (2019)

“Ion Fury” already has a plethora of easter eggs for players to discover that reference plenty of movies, TV shows, and other video games. Clearly, the developers at Voidpoint were big fans of “Resident Evil” as they threw in a reference almost as subtle as “Digimon World’s”. At some point, you might spot an advertisement for a strange restaurant called Cannibal’s with its own unsettling slogan: “Itchy, tasty!” Not sure if anyone would want to grab food from a place like that, but we can appreciate the callback to the OG “Resident Evil”.

“Guacamelee! 2” (2018)

Now, this one might be easy to miss if you aren’t paying attention. In some corners of “Guacamelee! 2”, you’ll spot various decorations inspired by luchador wrestling including posters advertising various matches between characters you may never encounter. Among these is a poster advertising a match between two goliaths named “El Nemesis” and “Piramide Roja”. If it wasn’t obvious enough, well, something tells us this will be a one-sided fight; there is no escape from El Nemesis.

“Borderlands” (2009)

While we’re on the subject of the seemingly unstoppable Tyrant, “Borderlands” hides a fairly on-the-nose reference to Nemesis. As you explore the wastelands of Pandora, you may come across legendary weapons with unique properties that can make them deadly. One of these weapons is called the Hyperion Nemesis, which features a flavor text that reads “There is no escape.” Much like the “Resident Evil” monster we’ve come to love, the Nemesis pistol is known to be one of the best weapons in “Borderlands” with its high Shock damage and ability to fire several bullets within a single pull of the trigger. Honestly, it'd be a boon for any Vault Hunter to have in their arsenal.

“Alisa” (2020)

This survival horror game really wears its inspirations on its sleeves. As you play through “Alisa”, you may pick up on several cues pulled from “Silent Hill” as well as the subject of today’s video, “Resident Evil”. There is even one famous line pulled from “Resident Evil” that is used in one particular moment. We won’t spoil too much of the plot, but as expected, we were bound to hear the “sandwich” line at some point.

“Overwatch” (2016)

One of the coolest aspects of “Overwatch” are all of the brief interactions the characters can have before the match starts. Of course, leave it up to D. Va to be the one to make all of the video game references. Should two players choose to control D. Va and Sombra respectively, there is a chance that they’ll get to hear their brief interaction. D. Va will ask Sombra about being “the master of unlocking”, to which Sombra will admit that she has no idea what the gamer girl is even talking about. Those of us who played the 1996 game know all too well, though.

“Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble” (2003)

For this easter egg, you cannot spot this with your eyes, but with your ears instead. In “Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble”, there is a special song referencing “Resident Evil 2” in the second level of the game. Pay close attention to the music playing in the background. Does it sound familiar? If not, this music is the same piece used when exploring the lobby of RPD in “Resident Evil 2.” Sure, this was likely used just to cut down on work, but it serves as a nice little easter egg. Not only that, but a large chunk of Horror World serves as a massive homage to the “Resident Evil” franchise as a whole.

“Spooky’s Jump Scare Mansion” (2014)

Many of the locations in “Spooky’s Jump Scare Mansion” are heavily inspired by various horror movies, shows, and games. You can almost say it’s the video game equivalent to the 2011 film “The Cabin in the Woods”. But for the few that reached Floor 800, there was a special level for “Resident Evil” fans. Upon entering, any fan will immediately recognize the location. Well, almost. The whole place feels eerily similar to Spencer Mansion! You can even find a note that simply reads, “What a mansion!” Sadly, don’t expect to run into Wesker. Instead, you will have to run away from a decrepit but deadly Old Man. Even more upsetting, this series of floors was removed from the 2017 HD re-release.

“Azure Striker Gunvolt” (2014)

If you have never played this series from indie developer Inti Creates, you are indeed missing out. A truly exceptional game from a truly exceptional studio! But we can gush over Inti Creates another time. “Azure Striker Gunvolt” briefly mentions Capcom’s legendary survival horror games during one moment. Zeno and Gunvolt will have a moment where they talk about an old horror game they really enjoyed, said horror game being about zombies created in a lab. Sounds an awful lot like something Umbrella Corp did, doesn’t it?

“Death Road to Canada” (2016)

In “Death Road to Canada”, you’ll meet all sorts of different characters that will create diverse playstyles for you. One such character is a special agent, on a special mission, and is equipped with a special sort of weapon, as the game puts it. What? No, that’s not Hunk, you goof. That is H*NK! This little guy is one of the rarest characters you’ll ever meet on your adventure to Canada, and he’s one of the best as he boasts remarkable shooting skills. And don’t worry - he is totally not going to betray you at any point in the game.

“Dead Pixels” (2012)

Never played or heard of this game before? Well, “Dead Pixels” is a fun little side scroller shooter with character designs akin to “Mega Man”. And it’s cheap, so you ought to grab it if you have a couple bucks to spare. Back to the topic at hand, “Dead Pixels” quickly shows some of its inspirations from various Capcom IPs, and “Resident Evil” is among the major contributors. Much like “Borderlands”, “Dead Pixels” features weapons manufactured by various fictional companies, one of those companies being simply known as Redfield’s. Sounds like Chris and Claire started a family business at some point.

“Master Detective Archives: Rain Code” (2023)

Those who have played the “Danganronpa” series should expect a few nods to famous games in Kazutaka Kodaka’s other works. After all, Kodaka grew up with video games starting with the NES and all throughout the rest of his life. So, “Master Detective Archives” was going to have a reference to some video game franchise. In this case, “Resident Evil” gets a slightly subtle shoutout in Chapter Five. This chapter’s mystery takes place in a laboratory that is crawling with zombies. As they are about to explore, Shinigami tells Yuma that he ought to look out for some green and red herbs. Any idea what good would come from that stuff?

“Dragon’s Dogma” (2012)

Oh, another Capcom game paying tribute to another Capcom game! And it won’t be the last. Not yet, anyways. This one, however, can only be found in a manner similar to “Viewtiful Joe”; look with your ears, not your eyes. Bitterblack Isle has a safe area with a very special piece of music that every “Resident Evil” ought to recognize. While “Viewtiful Joe” paid respects to RE2, “Dragon’s Dogma” paid respects to the legendary “Resident Evil 4” by placing its safe room music within Bitterblack Isle’s own safe room.

“Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney” (2012)

Not only was this a crossover no one had wanted nor anticipated, it featured an insanely strange piece of lore that is now a part of both “Professor Layton” and “Ace Attorney”. In this game, both the professor and the lawyer team up to fight a maniacal man named “the Storyteller”. Sometime within the last few chapters of the game, it is revealed that The Storyteller is actually the president of a shady pharmaceutical company called “Labrelum Inc.” Ah, an interesting acronym to show that Umbrella is absolutely not trying to screw up another part of the world.

“Bayonetta” (2009)

Now, this easter egg is for the diehard nerds out there who will play almost anything and everything with Capcom’s name printed on it. And Hideki Kamiya’s. At one point in “Bayonetta”, Luka will mention a few of the women he has slept with in the past. These four women are Trish, Silvia, Ammy, and…Claire. Not only is this a sneaky reference for “Resident Evil 2”, it is also a sneaky reference to “Devil May Cry”, “Viewtiful Joe”, and, oddly enough, “Okami”, all games that Hideki Kamiya himself worked on before he left to start up PlatinumGames.

“Street Fighter 6” (2023)

With this being the first “Street Fighter” to utilize the engine that “Resident Evil” would help pioneer, it is only fitting for “Street Fighter 6” to respect its younger Capcom sibling in some fashion. And what better way to do so than with a cheeky inside joke? The World Tour mode allows the player to bond with their favorite characters, learn their moves, and even give them gifts for fun conversations! For Luke, you can give him various horror games, one of which is called “Red Elevator 8”, a super subtle nod to “Resident Evil 8”. Luke will tell you how much of a coward he is when it comes to scary games, but eventually, you’ll convince him that “Red Elevator 8” is much more action-focused than jumpscare-focused. Gee, sounds an awful lot like one particular franchise we know, doesn’t it?

Did you spot any of these easter eggs yourself before seeing the video? Which one was your favorite? Let us know down in the comments, and be sure to subscribe to MojoPlays for more great videos everyday!