Since it takes place in a single city, Final Fantasy VII Remake is not nearly as open as other RPGs. However, with that being said, plenty of secret locations are still scattered throughout the world for players to uncover. The ten hidden places listed below serve different purposes.
Some hold items or are part of side quests while others exist simply to make Midgar feel more alive by adding nuanced details. After all, if every room off the beaten path offered an item, the world would feel less organic, and one of Final Fantasy VII Remake's greatest victories is how grounded Midgar feels. Explore every nook and cranny by checking out these hidden locations.
10 The Vista In Aerith's House
Aerith's house is one of the most beautifully detailed areas in the game, an impressive feat for such a visually gorgeous experience. Go upstairs past the two bedrooms to reach a balcony with a divine view of the massive garden Aerith and her mother have cultivated. Nothing of note is up here except the view, so take a knee and drink in the surrounding environments. The house is so big and tidy, it makes one wonder how Elmyra can afford it.
9 Corneo's Secret Stash In The Sewers
One of the quests in Chapter Fourteen culminates in locating three of Don Corneo's hidden loot areas. Players who do every side quest as they come get burned by this particular one because the game does not tell Cloud that they have to progress a little further into the story before reaching the sewers. When it comes time to find the three stashes, do the next story beat, and the crime boss's stash should be in plain sight in the underground dungeon after activating a switch which lowers the water levels.
8 Shinra Combat Simulator Chapter Seventeen
Normally found in Chapter Sixteen during the campaign, a more conveniently accessed Shinra Combat Simulator becomes available just a couple of minutes into Chapter Seventeen after beating the game.
This is home to some of the hardest fights in the game, but beating these matches also nets some extremely useful items. Hitting the level cap is recommended before taking on the more challenging foes here.
7 Behind The Locked Door In The Church
While escaping the church with Aerith, the player comes upon a locked door with Materia behind it. Ignore it for now and progress through the story. Once side quests open up and Cloud is able to freely move about Sector Five, return to the church. Head to the back right side, which was previously blocked by those enigmatic shadowy figures, and the room will be accessible. Inside is a yellow Chakra Materia.
6 Clothing Store In Wall Market
Wall Market is bustling with life and secrets. Many locations inside the den of sin are purely details meant to make the area feel more lived in. Depending on which side quests one unlocks during Chapter Nine, the clothing story will either play a minor role in one or will not pop up at all. Regardless, one can still walk inside at anytime and admire the environment. It is in the middle of town on the west side of the map.
5 All The Air Buster Items
The build-up to the Air Buster fight is impressive considering how minor the boss is in the original game. When disabling certain parts of its capabilities, the dismantled pieces show up in a separate room later on, shortly before the fight. There is a minigame where the player has to disable three locks at the same time. After the first mandatory one, another one opens up nearby. Completing it opens up the door with all the loot.
4 Corneo's Secret Stash Collapsed Expressway
Players journey through the collapsed expressway a couple of times throughout the story. However, they may have missed the fancily decorated doors which lock the player out from Corneo's treasure.
Fortunately, it is right by the entrance to the ruined highway, so players do not have to venture far into it once the time comes to unlock these gates. Corneo is such a sleaze, it feels great to steal from him.
3 Hotel In Wall Market
In the south area of Wall Market, next to Chocobo Sam's stables, is the hotel. While initially inaccessible, it is necessary to travel there for a quest. One of the tunes for the "Power of Music" side quest is inside, held onto by an old man. However, the icon notifying the player of its existence only pops up if one is close by within earshot of the music, so it can tough to spot for many.
2 Corneo's Secret Stash In Steel Mountain
Steel Mountain is in the Sector Five slums. Players pass through it in the story at least once but venture into it several times for side quests. During their journey, one probably noticed a nicely decorated gate. Only later is this revealed to be one of Don Corneo's treasure vaults. Because people in Final Fantasy VII Remake apparently cannot climb gates, the treasure is safely hidden out in the open behind the locked door.
1 Broken Vending Machine In Wall Market
This little Easter egg in Wall Market is easy to miss if players have their sights focused on the main path. An NPC tells the player to buy something at a vending machine nearby. Upon going inside and activating the console, it malfunctions and shoots at Cloud. Fortunately, his reflexes kick in just in time to prevent any serious wounds. It is found near the entrance to the Wall Market, by Chocobo Sam's stables. While inconsequential, it is a detail carried over from the original PS1 game.