Last month, my friend Maya texted me a screenshot of her Elden Ring “100% Complete” trophy—then followed it up 20 minutes later with a panic video. “I just saw a clip of someone using a Pal that fights for them!” she yelled, her character getting pummeled by a Tree Sentinel. “Where did they get that? I played 85 hours and never saw it!” Sound familiar? Whether you’re wandering Limgrave or neon-lit Night City, the best parts of Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077 aren’t just handed to you—they’re hidden like Easter eggs in a grocery store, easy to miss if you’re in a hurry. I’ve been there too: I called my Cyberpunk playthrough “done” until I found out Keanu Reeves’ Johnny had a secret ending I skipped, and I spent 4 hours replaying Elden Ring just to grab a weapon I’d walked past 10 times. So let’s break down the hidden gems you’re probably missing—no confusing jargon, just straight talk from someone who’s been burned by “I thought I finished it.”
First up: Elden Ring’s Mimic Tear Ashes. This isn’t just another collectible—it’s your invisible sidekick. Imagine having a clone that fights for you, soaks up damage, and even uses your weapons. It turns brutal bosses like Godrick the Grafted from “I need to quit” to “I’ve got this.” Here’s the tea: I missed it for 30 hours, thinking it was a myth streamers made up. Turns out, it’s hiding in a cave in Limgrave—Coastal Cave, right off the shore. You’ll need a Stonesword Key to open the fog gate (grab one from the merchant near the first Site of Grace), and once inside? Beat the two Demi-Humans guarding it, and boom—your new best friend is yours. Even Asmongold, the guy who’s basically an Elden Ring pro, admitted he missed it on his first playthrough. “I wandered Limgrave like a lost tourist,” he joked on stream. “Turns out the best item was behind a rock I ignored.”
Then there’s Elden Ring’s Dark Moon Greatsword—arguably the coolest weapon in the game, and I almost skipped it because I thought Raya Lucaria Academy was “just for quests.” Here’s how to grab it: After beating Rennala, don’t bolt to the next area. Head to the rooftop of the academy (take the elevator by her boss room, then climb the ladder) and you’ll find a portal. Jump through, and you’ll land in Liurnia’s Moonlight Altar. Follow the path until you find Ranni the Witch—finish her side quest (it takes 2 hours, max) and she’ll hand you the sword. It’s like missing the post-credits scene of a Marvel movie—short, but it changes everything. I used it to beat Malenia, and suddenly that “unbeatable” boss felt like a regular enemy.
Now, Cyberpunk 2077—let’s talk about the secret ending you probably skipped. You know, the one where you team up with Johnny (Keanu Reeves, duh) to storm Arasaka Tower alone? It’s the game’s best ending, and 90% of players miss it because they didn’t spend 5 extra minutes with Johnny. Here’s the trick: After the oil field mission (where you and Johnny argue), go back to the oil fields and talk to him. Choose every dialogue option that lets him vent—no interrupting, no brushing him off. It’s like listening to a friend rant after a bad day—you just need to show up. Do that, and when you get to the final mission, you’ll get an option to “call Johnny” instead of choosing the other allies. Trust me, fighting alongside Keanu in that tower? It’s way better than the “default” endings. I missed my first playthrough because I rushed to the final mission, and when I replayed it? I texted Maya immediately: “Why didn’t we know about this?”
A quick pro tip: Grab a Game Save Data USB Drive before you hunt these down. I once messed up Ranni’s quest in the Elden Ring and had to replay 10 hours—if I’d backed up my save, I could’ve fixed it in 2 minutes. And for those late-night hunts (we’ve all been up at 1 AM looking for a hidden cave)? An LED Gaming Desk Lamp saves your eyes from squinting at dark corners of Limgrave or Night City. Small stuff, but it makes the grind way less annoying.
At the end of the day, these games aren’t just about beating bosses or finishing quests—they’re about the little surprises you find along the way. I still laugh when I think about Maya’s panic video, or the time I yelled when I finally found the Mimic Tear. Don’t be the person who calls their playthrough “done” just to miss the best parts. Grab your USB drive, fire up that lamp, and go hunt—your next favorite game moment is probably hiding right around the corner.
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