Throughout gaming history, one of the greatest struggles faced by developers has been the need to keep players engaged with their projects for as long as possible. This challenge has led to countless shortcuts, workarounds, and new mechanics designed to keep the game progressing smoothly through minimal interruptions and a greater feeling of immersion for modern titles. Because who would want something like a boring old atmospheric opening of a mysterious door, or a tone-setting loading screen to showcase the lesser appreciated details and lore of a game waiting to be deeply understood? No one. Or, at least not me. No, I tend to appreciate the art form more when we bring it to a snail’s pace, a dead halt, even a slight intermission, one might say.
Luckily, it seems that many of the greatest minds in modern gaming development tend to agree with me. Which has resulted in a huge increase in one of my favorite pastimes. Squeezing through as many gaps, cracks, and assorted chasms as I can find. There’s truly nothing like it, and now I get to share that feeling with you with these top 10 cracks in walls that are just BEGGING to be shimmied through.
#10 — Tomb Raider (2013)
To some, this is where it all began—or at least when they started noticing it. As an avid explorer, Lara Croft faces many challenges during her travels, making it a welcome treat when, every so often, she gets a chance to just chill. When she’s not getting shot with arrows or being torn apart by an actual fully grown bear, she gets to indulge in a nice shuffle through the nearest set of exposed pipings or even a good pair of boulders.
#9 — Silent Hill 2 Remake (2024)
It’s safe to say that Silent Hill is not the best town for most people, especially if you’re in need of a great amount of therapy. Newest resident James Sunderland gets to experience the best of both worlds, however, because what could be more therapeutic than rummaging around an unknowingly disgusting random hole in the wall. Oh, what I wouldn’t give to get my hand right up in there to discover all sorts of hidden treasures.
#8 — Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019)
It’s comforting to know that even in a galaxy far far away, across multiple planets, in the depths of a collapsing Star Destroyer, or in the dwellings of an abandoned ancient village. There will always be…
A good place for squeezin’…
Through.
#7 — Amigara Fault (Junji Ito)
Junji Ito’s classic tale of horror in the mundane still holds the spot for—what many would say—to be the most significant use of a simple hole in any piece of media. Even beating out the black hole from Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar and the hole left in my heart after watching Alien vs. Predator. And it’s easy to understand why. There’s just… there’s something about it. Every part of my being is telling me that I need to get up in that hole. My hole.
#6 — The Callisto Protocol
The most beautiful aspect of The Callisto Protocol is that almost the entirety of the game is spent squeezing through cracks, crawling through vents, and going up and down near hundreds of ladders. The one problem is that they interrupt all that fun to focus on the most boring protagonist of all time and whatever it was that he was going through. Something about shooting their arms off? Space religion? Who knows?
#5 — Final Fantasy XVI
Now to be completely honest, I haven’t played this entry in the franchise yet, but I am completely willing to commit to the first 15 releases in order to understand this decades-long tale that many have claimed to be one of the best video game franchises ever made. If only there were a way to just jump ahead so I could do my duty of wiggling and jiggling through these graphically magnificent gaps.
#4 — The Shawshank Redemption
It often comes as a shock to fans of this classic film when they learn that the pivotal climactic scene is often misunderstood. While most would believe that the warden and his accompanying guards would be upset with Andy Dufresne, it turns out that the writers intended the actor’s emotion to be closer to disappointment rather than anger. Andy didn’t give them a turn in the secret hole, in fact, he hid it from them. I know that if I were that warden, and I found out this way, I’d give him the chair.
#3 — Unreal Engine 5 Demo
Unreal Engine 5 is the latest and greatest in the evolution of game creation tools, and during its groundbreaking demo showcase all the way back in 2020, fans and developers alike got a glimpse into its impact on the foreseeable future of gaming. Cracks baby! We’re gonna be getting them in every game, every genre, everywhere. Whether it’s indie or AAAA. You’re gonna get ‘em, and you’re gonna love ‘em, because you’ll have no other choice.
#2 — God of War (2018)
God of War (2018) is considered by many to be as close as you can get to a perfect game. A masterclass in storytelling, game design, and character that will keep the bar raised for years to come. Which is why it is very disappointing that the joy of gap scootin’ is squandered by this little twirp you have to babysit throughout the entire experience. We get it, your mom just died, but can you please be quiet for two seconds! Not to mention Kratos being a huge grump at all times, like, lighten up buddy! If only there were a game that was just as good but without all the children, and maybe with a protagonist who was… idk, more of a little guy? Maybe someday.
#1 — Astro Bot
Oh my god…
