The Most Creative April Fools’ Pranks in Gaming History

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Video game enthusiasts have consistently harbored dreams about the future, anxiously looking forward to the arrival of major updates, revolutionary features, and awe-inspiring launches.

However, on April Fool’s Day, certain game developers often seize the enthusiasm to play some of the most outlandish, amusing, and occasionally convincing pranks in video game history.

On April 1st, a few game creators take advantage of people’s excitement by playing some of the most absurd, funny, and sometimes realistic-looking tricks in gaming history.

Looking back at some humorous April Fool’s Day tricks from years past, we find amusing instances such as unattainable fictional characters and gaming publications overstating the greatness of seemingly ordinary games. These pranks left players both chuckling and shedding tears in disbelief.

Unlocking Sheng Long in Street Fighter II (1992)

1992 saw Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) publishing an article claiming that the secret character Sheng Long could be accessed in Street Fighter II, only under extremely challenging and seemingly unattainable in-game requirements.

The misconception originated when Ryu’s dialogue was misunderstood, leading to extensive conjecture among many gamers who tried to find a fictitious combatant that didn’t exist in reality.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but marvel at the lasting impression my prank left on the series. It’s widely speculated that this joke played a role in the development of Akuma in future installments. To this very day, Akuma remains a formidable force in the fighting game world. Interestingly enough, Sheng Long, once thought to be a mere joke, has been included as an NPC character in Street Fighter 6.

Advanced Lawnmower Simulator (1988)

In the April 1988 edition, Your Sinclair magazine orchestrated an iconic joke by presenting Advanced Lawnmower Simulator as a revolutionary game. With utter sincerity, the game was promoted as a pioneering simulation that would immerse players in the exhilaration of mowing lawns.

Initially, people thought they were dealing with something substantial. But soon enough, they discovered it was merely a jest. The only action it offered was clicking a solitary key to simulate cutting artificial turf, lacking any complexity, gameplay, or sophisticated visuals.

The dry wit of the magazine significantly enhanced the comedy, resulting in one of the most bizarrely amusing and long-lasting gaming hoaxes ever. Interestingly, similar types of games still exist nowadays; take a look at It’s Literally Just Mowing for an illustration.

CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 on Floppy Disks (2024)

CD Projekt Red jokingly revealed that the eagerly awaited Cyberpunk 2077 will be re-issued across an astounding number of 97,619 floppy disks, a humorous nod to the game’s massive file size.

Instead, they showed a prototype of an old-fashioned floppy disk box, featuring classic design aspects, to add authenticity to their presentation.

This amusing trick swiftly caught people’s eye, earning a spot among the most renowned and ingenious tech-themed gags in gaming history.

Blizzard’s World of Warcraft Bard Class (2008)

Back on April Fool’s Day, 2008, Blizzard Entertainment played one of their most iconic tricks when they announced the introduction of a Bard class in World of Warcraft. They teased that players could now use a Guitar Hero-style instrument to cast spells by playing rock music.

In this reimagined scenario, instead of brandishing swords, the characters in the bogus trailer are seen playing electric guitars, unveiling potent skills, thereby merging the thrill of conventional fantasy games with the energy of a rock performance.

In a playful manner, the Bard class was advertised as the pinnacle of support characters, employing guitar solos to boost allies and conjure magical abilities. The trailer, filled with extravagant, larger-than-life rock concerts and special effects, left fans chuckling and dreaming it was genuine, earning it a place among the most memorable gaming hoaxes in recent times.

Ermac in Mortal Kombat (1990s)

Ermac, the character from Mortal Kombat, was initially created due to a programming error within the game’s code. This error, known as “Macro error,” was represented by the name “Ermac.” Because of this glitch, there were whispers about a secret red ninja character in the game, which gained traction when an article in Electronic Gaming Monthly Magazine portrayed Ermac as a red ninja resembling Scorpion.

The publication also shared a grainy Polaroid image of the enigmatic figure, fueling even more intrigue. Some spectators speculated that Ermac was just an error leading Scorpion to appear red with his name swapped out. It wasn’t until later that it was disclosed as a falsehood, keeping the character’s identity shrouded in secrecy for some time.

Despite this, the developers continued to tantalize the fanbase with clues about Ermac’s presence, and as anticipation mounted, subtle hints of his existence were subtly woven into Mortal Kombat II. This sparked even more curiosity until Ermac was finally unveiled as an unlockable character in Ultimate Mortal Kombat III.

Regardless, Mortal Kombat remains one of the globe’s most well-known and cherished fighting video games, and a new sequel to the Mortal Kombat movie series is in development.

In the realm of video games, April Fool’s Day transcends ordinary jokes; it’s a celebration of imagination, wit, and the excitement of the unanticipated. Whether they transform a cherished character into a rock-star bard or announce fictional product launches or characters, these pranks embody the joyous spirit that keeps gaming innovative and always exciting with surprises.

Looking back at some of the funniest, most inventive instances in gaming, it’s evident that gamers have an endless capacity for humor, ingenuity, and shock factor. Each fresh trick leaves us pondering: What unpredictable delights might the coming year hold?

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2025-04-01 23:42