Collectibles & Easter Eggs

Collectibles & Easter Eggs

Minecraft: Story Mode, while driven by its narrative, rewards observant players with a treasure trove of collectibles and Easter eggs. These hidden gems, ranging from subtle visual gags to direct nods to the broader Minecraft universe and Telltale's other works, enrich the adventure and deepen appreciation for the game's world-building. Unlike traditional RPGs, "collectibles" here often manifest as environmental details, unique dialogue, or interactive moments that offer a moment of recognition or amusement. Easter eggs, conversely, are typically pop culture references, inside jokes, or homages, rewarding players with a keen eye for detail.

Types of Hidden References & Nods

Many of the game's Easter eggs are visual or auditory, requiring careful observation. Here are common categories:

• Minecraft Universe References: Given the game's foundation, expect numerous callbacks to the original Minecraft game. These range from subtle block patterns to direct mentions of mobs and items.
  • Iconic Block Patterns: Look for famous block formations (e.g., in EnderCon builds, specific biomes).
  • Mob Mentions: Listen for dialogue referencing Creepers, Endermen, Zombies, Skeletons, Ghasts, and other iconic Minecraft creatures.
  • Item Puns & Descriptions: Examine items in your inventory or in the environment for clever puns or references to their original Minecraft functionality and lore.
  • Redstone Contraptions: Observe the design and function of Redstone builds for authentic Minecraft engineering principles, including working doors, traps, and automated systems.
  • Biome Homages: Entire areas or dimensions may be designed as direct homages to classic Minecraft biomes like the Nether, End, or various Overworld biomes.
• Telltale Games Easter Eggs: Subtle nods to other Telltale titles (e.g., The Walking Dead, The Wolf Among Us, Tales from the Borderlands). These are often found in background details or specific dialogue choices.
  • Dialogue Choices: Occasionally, a dialogue choice might mirror a memorable line or a thematic element from another Telltale game, often with a humorous twist.
  • Environmental Details: Look for posters, books, graffiti, or background elements with logos, character silhouettes, or direct references to other Telltale titles. These are usually very subtle.
• Pop Culture & Gaming References: References to broader pop culture, video games, internet memes, and even real-world events. These can be visual, auditory, or dialogue-based.
  • Character Dialogue: Listen for lines familiar from movies, TV shows, other video games, or popular internet memes. These are often delivered by more eccentric characters.
  • Visual Gags: Environmental details, character actions, or specific animations might be visual homages to iconic scenes, characters, or popular internet culture.
  • Sound Effects: Occasionally, specific sound effects might be borrowed or altered from other games or media for a comedic or referential effect.

Specific Examples & Locations (Spoilers Ahead!)

Here are concrete examples of collectibles and Easter eggs across various episodes, detailing their locations and significance:

Episode 1: The Order of the Stone

• "Wither Sickness" Dialogue: During the EnderCon build competition, interact with various NPCs, particularly those near Ivor's booth or the general crowd. You'll hear humorous complaints about "Wither Sickness," a playful nod to common player ailments and status effects in Minecraft. This foreshadows the Wither Storm.
• Ivor's Secret Lab: After the EnderCon incident, when you first enter Ivor's hidden lab (accessible after following him), explore every corner.
  • Command Blocks: You'll see what appear to be rudimentary command blocks, hinting at Ivor's advanced, and perhaps dangerous, knowledge of Minecraft mechanics.
  • Potion Brewing Setup: A fully functional, albeit chaotic, potion brewing stand is visible, complete with various ingredients and bubbling cauldrons, referencing Minecraft's alchemy system.
  • Wither Sickness Research: Look for notes and diagrams detailing the Wither Sickness, directly linking back to the earlier dialogue and setting up the main antagonist.
  • Enchanting Table: A glowing enchanting table can be spotted, complete with bookshelves, a nod to Minecraft's enchanting mechanics.
• Jesse's Treehouse Details: Before heading to EnderCon, thoroughly explore Jesse's treehouse.
  • Friendship Bracelet: Inside a chest, you can find a "Friendship Bracelet," a sentimental item referencing the bond between Jesse and their friends, and a collectible that changes based on your chosen gender for Jesse.
  • Various Block Types: The construction of the treehouse itself, and the chests within, contain various block types (e.g., obsidian, netherrack, diamond blocks) hinting at future adventures and the diverse materials available in Minecraft.
  • Pet Pig Reuben's Trough: Interact with Reuben's food trough for a small, charming animation and dialogue, highlighting the importance of your animal companion.

Episode 2: Assembly Required

• Magnus's TNT Obsession (Boom Town): Magnus's fortress in Boom Town is a giant collectible in itself, showcasing extreme dedication to TNT.
  • TNT Blocks Everywhere: Every surface, wall, and even some furniture is made of or decorated with TNT blocks. Pay attention to the sheer volume and creative (or destructive) placement.
  • Booby Traps & Redstone: Observe the numerous booby traps, pressure plates, and Redstone circuits designed for maximum explosive impact. This is a true homage to Minecraft's chaotic side and the creative use of explosives.
  • Magnus's Personal Chest: If you manage to access Magnus's personal quarters, his chests are often filled with gunpowder, TNT, and other explosive materials.
• Ellegaard's Redstone Creations (Redstoneia): In stark contrast to Magnus, Ellegaard's temple in Redstoneia is filled with intricate, functional Redstone machinery.
  • Automated Doors & Traps: Observing her automated doors, complex traps, and defense systems offers a masterclass in Minecraft Redstone engineering. Look for pressure plates, repeaters, pistons, and comparators working in tandem.
  • Redstone Golems: The Redstone Golems themselves are an Easter egg, representing the pinnacle of Redstone engineering and a unique take on Minecraft's Iron Golems.
  • Ellegaard's Workshop: Her personal workshop is meticulously organized with various Redstone components, schematics, and experimental devices.
• Soren's Books (Sky City): If you choose to visit Soren first, his library contains numerous books with humorous titles and descriptions.
  • Parodies of Literature: Many titles parody real-world literature or famous philosophical texts, often with a Minecraft twist (e.g., "The Art of the Deal... with Creepers").
  • Obscure Minecraft Lore: Some books contain obscure references to Minecraft lore or fan theories, rewarding long-time players.
  • "How to Build a Portal" Guide: A specific book detailing portal construction can be found, which is a direct hint at the game's core mechanic.

Episode 3: The Last Place You Look

• The Portal Room's Design: The portal room and various dimensions often contain subtle visual cues referencing popular Minecraft biomes or fan-made creations.
  • Dark Lands Biome: The Dark Lands, where you encounter the Enderman, strongly resemble a corrupted Nether or a desolate End landscape, complete with obsidian, purpur blocks, and strange flora.
  • Block Palettes: Pay attention to the specific block palettes used in each dimension, as they often mirror classic Minecraft biomes (e.g., a desert temple-like structure, a dense jungle).
• Enderman Dialogue: When encountering Endermen, listen carefully to their sounds. While mostly garbled and eerie, some players claim to hear distorted English words or phrases, a long-standing fan theory from the original Minecraft that Telltale playfully incorporates.
• Soren's "Chicken on a Stick" Recipe: If you're in Soren's lab, look for notes or a whiteboard detailing his eccentric experiments, including a recipe for "Chicken on a Stick," a humorous take on survival food.

Episode 4: A Block and a Hard Place

• The Wither Storm's Components: As you confront the Wither Storm, its components and attacks are direct, exaggerated versions of the Wither boss from Minecraft.
  • Skull Projectiles: The Wither Storm fires destructive skull projectiles, identical in appearance to those fired by the vanilla Wither, but on a much larger scale.
  • Destructive Capabilities: Its ability to consume and destroy blocks in its path directly references the Wither's destructive behavior in Minecraft.
  • Wither Sickness Spread: The purple particles and effects associated with the Wither Storm's presence are a visual callback to the Wither Sickness status effect.
• The Formidi-Bomb: The creation and use of the Formidi-Bomb is a meta-reference to players creating powerful, often over-the-top, weapons in Minecraft to defeat difficult foes. Its sheer destructive power and the elaborate process of its creation are an Easter egg in themselves, celebrating player ingenuity.
• The "Nether Star" Core: The core of the Wither Storm, which you must target, is essentially a giant Nether Star, the rare drop from defeating a Wither in vanilla Minecraft.

Episode 5: Order Up!

• Sky City's Floating Islands: The entire aesthetic of Sky City is a grand homage to the floating island builds popular in the Minecraft community.
  • Diverse Building Styles: Each island often has unique structures or inhabitants that can be considered mini-collectibles, showcasing diverse building styles (e.g., a giant mushroom island, a meticulously crafted castle, a futuristic Redstone complex).
  • Community Builds: The concept of Sky City itself mirrors the large-scale, collaborative building projects seen in the Minecraft community.
• The "Build-Off" Challenges: The challenges in Sky City, particularly the building contests, are direct callbacks to creative mode and community competitions within Minecraft. Pay attention to the judges' comments, which often reflect common criticisms or praises from real-world build competitions.
• The "Ender Dragon" Statue: A prominent statue of the Ender Dragon can be found in Sky City, a tribute to the ultimate boss of Minecraft's End dimension.

Later Episodes (Season 2 & Bonus Episodes)

• Admiring the "Builds": Throughout Season 2 and the bonus episodes, you'll encounter impressive structures built by other adventurers or NPCs. Admiring these, and sometimes interacting with their creators, can reveal unique dialogue or insights.
  • Episode 6: A Portal to Mystery (S1 Bonus): The mansion is filled with references to classic horror tropes (e.g., haunted portraits, secret passages) and specific Telltale's The Walking Dead Easter eggs, such as a subtle Clementine-like drawing or a familiar hat.
  • Episode 7: Access Denied (S1 Bonus): The supercomputer PAMA's complex is a giant Redstone puzzle, and its core design is a nod to advanced Redstone computers built by players. Look for the intricate wiring and logic gates.
  • Episode 8: A Journey's End? (S1 Bonus): The "Old Builders" structures often contain ancient Minecraft lore references, such as early mob designs or forgotten crafting recipes.
• The Admin's Challenges (Season 2): In Season 2, the Admin's challenges often involve classic Minecraft scenarios, serving as interactive Easter eggs.
  • "Death Gauntlet" (Episode 1: Hero in Residence, S2): This gauntlet is a prime example, featuring classic Minecraft traps like lava pits, arrow dispensers, and mob spawners, reminiscent of player-made challenge maps.
  • The Admin's Form-Changing: The Admin's ability to transform into various Minecraft entities (e.g., a giant Prismarine Colossus, a menacing Enderman) is a visual Easter egg, showcasing different aspects of the game's mob roster.
• The "Potato" References: Keep an eye out for various potato-related jokes and items, a running gag often tied to specific characters (like Lukas's love for potatoes) or situations. These can range from dialogue lines to actual potato items in chests.
• The "Ocelot" Pet (Season 2): In Season 2, you can adopt an Ocelot as a pet, a direct reference to taming Ocelots in vanilla Minecraft. Its behavior, including chasing chickens and being skittish, mimics the game's mechanics.
• The "Gilded" Items: Throughout Season 2, you'll encounter "gilded" versions of classic Minecraft items (e.g., Gilded Obsidian, Gilded Prismarine). These are unique to Story Mode and represent a higher, more powerful tier of material, often used by the Admin.

Tips for Finding Collectibles & Easter Eggs

To maximize your chances of discovering these hidden gems, follow these actionable tips:

1. Explore Thoroughly: Do not rush through environments. Click on every interactive object, examine posters, read signs, and look behind corners or in less obvious areas. Many Easter eggs are hidden in plain sight but require a moment of pause and curiosity.
2. Listen to Dialogue: Some references are auditory. Pay close attention to background conversations, character quips, and subtle sound effects. Sometimes, an NPC will make a throwaway comment that is a direct pop culture or Minecraft reference.
3. Replay Chapters: For completionists, consider replaying chapters with different dialogue choices or actions. A specific choice might unlock a unique interaction, reveal a hidden detail, or lead you down a path where a new Easter egg is present.
4. Check Your Inventory & Examine Items: While not a traditional inventory-based game, examining picked-up items or items in your crafting menu can reveal humorous descriptions or references (e.g., the "Wither Sickness" potion in Ivor's lab often has a funny tooltip).
5. Interact with Everything: Click on every glowing object, talk to every NPC multiple times, and try different dialogue options. The game often rewards curiosity with extra dialogue, animations, or hidden details.
6. Look for Out-of-Place Items: An item or block that seems unusual for its environment, or a structure that doesn't quite fit the immediate theme, is often a deliberate Easter egg or a subtle nod.
7. Pay Attention to Background Details: Posters, signs, books on shelves, and even block patterns in walls or floor tiles can contain subtle references to other Telltale games, Minecraft lore, or pop culture.
8. Observe Character Animations: Sometimes, a character's idle animation or a specific reaction to an event can be a visual gag or a reference.

While these collectibles and Easter eggs don't impact the main story or unlock new gameplay mechanics, they significantly enhance the overall experience, providing delightful moments of recognition and adding depth to the already rich world of Minecraft: Story Mode. Happy hunting, and enjoy uncovering all the hidden secrets Telltale has woven into this blocky adventure!