Games
Discover facts about games. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Games
Animal Crossing lets you literally plant money
In New Horizons, burying Bells in a glowing spot can grow a money tree. The reward arrives as bags hanging from its branches, turning a metaphor into…
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Pink spherical blobs consume foes to steal identities
After inhaling an enemy, the pink character can copy its ability and use it as an attack.
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Zelda turns household pottery into an emergency fund
Break pots in many Zelda games and you can uncover rupees or useful supplies. The reward makes ordinary scenery worth investigating between battles. A hero…
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Assassin's Creed makes the landing spot a promise
An eagle call, a high perch, and a haystack teach players to recognize a Leap of Faith. The hay marks a safe game action even when the drop would be deadly in…
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The Pokémon that evolves from helpless to terrifying
After years of flopping around and doing almost no damage, it evolves into a powerful sea serpent.
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An umpire's tiny brush keeps home plate visible
Dirt can cover the edges of the plate during play. Brushing it off keeps the base of the strike zone easy to see for the umpire, pitcher, and batter. The tool…
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Giant oceanic fish are a source of deep disappointment
The huge shadow might turn out to be a common fish rather than the rare shark you hoped for, followed by an avatar's groan-worthy fish pun.
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The slime that can eat your strongest shield
A legendary metal shield may shrug off lasers and lava, yet a generic acidic slime can dissolve it in seconds—sending you back to a smug merchant for a…
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Pool chalk is designed to drastically increase cue friction
Chalk increases friction between the cue tip and cue ball, helping the tip grip instead of slipping during a shot.
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In GTA Online, the person you robbed can put a bounty on you
Stealing an NPC's vehicle can trigger a threatening message and a cash bounty other players can pursue. A quick car theft can therefore invite a much larger…
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Octodad forces players to maintain an awful human disguise
Players try to pour coffee and mow the lawn while wrestling with unwieldy tentacles. The joke is that their suburban family somehow never notices the suction…
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Cornhole bags once attracted rats
Older cornhole bags were filled with dried corn kernels, which could sprout or rot when damp—and attract rats.
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Failing Cooking Mama can set her eyes on fire
In Cooking Mama, slice an onion incorrectly or burn a stew and Mama’s eyes can erupt in flames, turning a small cooking mistake into a dramatic scolding.
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Microsoft Flight Simulator can mirror real-world weather
The simulator uses real-world meteorological data, so its conditions can match actual storms—and you can try steering a Cessna into a hurricane.
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GeoGuessr turns random roads into detective work
GeoGuessr drops you onto a random road and asks you to identify the location from visual clues. Players scrutinize details like utility poles and soil before…
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Water polo once involved riding painted barrels
Players straddled floating wooden barrels painted like horses and used oars to propel themselves and hit the ball—more aquatic jousting than modern water polo.
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Temple Run features terrifying demonic monkeys chasing you
After you steal an artifact, ape-like monsters chase you over crumbling ruins; a single stumble can end the run.
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Lawn darts were banned in the United States
Weighted, pointed darts could cause severe injuries when a missed throw struck someone rather than the target. The U.S. banned their sale in 1988 after fatal…
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Skiing backward makes the slope harder to read
Skiers riding switch move downhill with their backs facing the direction of travel. Looking over a shoulder gives them information about what's coming, while…
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California hosts surfing contests for dogs
At California dog-surfing contests, dogs ride waves on foam boards while wearing life jackets. The challenge is to stay balanced without panicking.
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Cities: Skylines lets bad plumbing poison your own city
Place an intake where sewage reaches it and the water system can carry contamination to residents. The pump does not know which water you intended it to…
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Cut the Rope solely relies on feeding candy to a green beast
Players cut strings to drop a peppermint into the monster’s mouth while trying to keep spiders from stealing the candy.
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Pitching horseshoes requires exactly forty feet of distance
The regulation gap between the stakes is 40 feet, leaving throwers to send heavy U-shaped irons across the distance.
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Why sumo wrestlers throw salt before a match
The salt is meant to purify the ring and drive away evil spirits before the wrestlers compete.
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