Ubisoft has certainly tried to up the ante with Assassin's Creed. For better or worse, this historical stealth series seems filled with more gimmicks and larger worlds with each successive entry. The most recent game, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, is possibly the most expansive title to date. It presents players with the vast open world of Medieval England, engulfed in a bloody struggle between the various squabbling kingdoms and the invading Vikings.
Standard in any open world is a plethora of side quests and secrets. Valhalla has those in spades, boasting an overwhelming number of locales for players to explore. The most elusive ones, however, can only be found by a true Viking champion.
10 Asgard
One does not reach the realm of the gods (or any of the nine realms) through normal means. Rather, the path is paved through dubious substances, specifically those brewed in Eivor's own backyard. Yes, it's that unorthodox.
One individual players can invite to their settlement is Valka, an enigmatic woman from the old country. After fulfilling the prerequisites for her to settle in England and building a Seer hut for her, Eivor can complete the questline involving a mysterious potion that Valka cooks up. Drinking this mixture transports the unsuspecting warrior to Asgard, home of the Aesir.
9 Jotunheim
Similarly to Asgard, Eivor accesses the land of giants by partaking in another mysterious concoction. Following their run-in with the gods, the Viking hero can complete another quest for Valka. This also involves seeking out plants for a potion. Time to raid another cave!
Drinking the brew sends Eivor to Jotunheim, the mythical land of giants (Frost giants, to be exact), and it once again takes cues from Asgard. It's an explorable area with several new quests and secrets to uncover. Obviously, players must venture off the beaten path to see what lies beyond Midgard.
8 The Tomb Of The East Anglian Sisters
In the land of East Anglia, Eivor comes across a homestead that's been thoroughly trashed. Haunting notes litter the house, which is good for a scare and some worldbuilding, but it wouldn't normally pique much interest beyond that.
Players willing to stick around, though, will find a nearby tomb. This houses a statue guarding a door requiring three keys to pass. To get these keys, Eivor must venture out into the world, find the homeowner's three daughters, and defeat them in grueling combat. Only then can the Viking raid the tomb. Here's hoping it's worth it.
7 The Resting Place Of Excalibur
Standard in any Assassin's Creed game are the hidden weapons and armor that can only be attained by collecting a certain number of artifacts or fulfilling a specific set of tasks. The prize in Valhalla is Excalibur, the legendary sword wielded by King Arthur.
The required tasks are secretive enough, as they involve seeking out several hidden caves and defeating three zealots, who themselves never stay in one place. Finally, players traverse one final cave at Stonehenge (part of which is underwater) and pull the sword from the stone. Sadly, this doesn't grant Eivor dominion over England; it just deals a ton of damage.
6 The Dark Souls Bonfire
It's curious that Ubisoft packed so many Easter Eggs into Valhalla yet hid them in places so easy to miss. For this one, however, that difficulty is probably deliberate. In a small Mercian town, eagled-eyed players can spot the ruins of an old castle. Stepping into the rundown structure eventually puts Eivor in a small chamber, where a small fire burns with a sword in its center.
This is not part of a quest and not a priority destination for the Vikings. As such, many fans likely missed it without a guide. Considering how hard it is to navigate the meat grinder that is the Dark Souls series, Ubisoft may have been right on the money with the way this area was hidden.
5 The Dunwich Cell
This is where Ubisoft's penchant for winks and nods rears its head once again in Valhalla. In the ruins of Dunwich castle, players find a cell that contains no less than three references. The first of these is a note that describes otherworldly horrors right out of mind of H.P. Lovecraft.
The second is a large smear of blood on the floor, which is surrounded by small birds. This harkens back to the cuccos in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. They even swarm Eivor in the same annoying way. Finally, the most noticeable aspect of this cell is the lack of a fourth wall. This massive gap plunges potential prisoners off the side of the castle to a rocky death, a grisly fate that almost befalls Tyron when he's a a prisoner of Catelyn Stark's sister in Game of Thrones (a series that shares Valhalla's aesthetic). The sheer number of callbacks stuffed into this single room is as subtle as a slap in the face.
4 Rapunzel's Tower
There's no telling what players might find in Valhalla by simply exploring and engaging in sidequests. If Eivor wanders through Ledecestrescire, they come across a woman seemingly trapped in a tower. She constantly talks about her savior, asserting that her love will rescue her from her predicament and cut down anyone who would do her harm.
This little encounter has nothing to do with the main story, and it can easily get lost in the slew of other locales and side quests that Eivor finds on their journey. Those who miss it, though, won't be privy to a fairy tale brought to life in Medieval England. Dreams do come true.
3 The Horcrux Hideout In London
Medieval London may not be as big as the modern equivalent, but it's still comprised of many buildings. Only one of them, however, is guarded by a snake. If Eivor manages to find this structure and kill the serpent, they discover a small room.
This may not look like much at first glance, but on the desk is a list of important items. Harry Potter fans will recognize these as Horcruxes: objects used by the villainous Voldemort to split his soul into seven pieces. Some of these trinkets are even lying on the desk. Is there a Viking-era Tom Riddle running around? He could give the dastardly Basim a run for his money.
2 The Glade Of The Green Children
This is one of the more obscure secrets in Valhalla, as it stems from English folklore rather than a popular media franchise. What initially appears to be an ordinary offering altar in East Anglia soon leads to Eivor's money being stolen right out from under him/her. Following a trail of footprints leads the Viking to two children, covered in green paint and pilfering pennies to survive.
Players who aren't familiar with the folktale of Woolpit's green children won't know the significance of this gimmick (children in Valhalla are unnerving enough as it is). Plus, the unassuming nature of the altar (and the apparent lack of rich rewards) is sure to throw off many would-be Vikings. It's reminiscent of another quest involving children in The Witcher 3 and it's just as easy to miss.
1 The Hill Of The Snake
Near the southern border of Cent lies a wavy mass on the map. This is actually an enormous snake carved into the side of a hill, and somewhere within this oversized art project lies hidden treasure. It's also an ideal spot for killing snakes.
While the location itself is not as secretive as others, players may not notice the serpentine design unless they view it from an elevated position. Knowing Ubisoft, this is likely a reference to Jörmungandr, the colossal serpent that stretches around the entire world. It would certainly be more direct than other locales in the game. Most of these obscure secrets probably flew right over gamers' heads, but Valhalla is packed with them.