History Main / SecretLevel

* ''VideoGame/BubbleBobble'', NES (and thus Virtual Console) version has a secret path that the players must take to get the best ending. [[NintendoHard It wasn't there in the arcades]].
* ''VideoGame/ToeJamAndEarl'' has one of the most puzzling floors in the game: Floor 0. How do you get to it? By swimming to a far, far away island in the 1st level of the game. ''Main/GuideDangIt''!

* ''VideoGame/Wolfenstein3D'' has one secret level in each episode (two in ''Spear of Destiny''). Of note is the one from Episode 3: It's a gigantic maze where you collect bonus orbs for high score where you're beset upon by four ghosts. Four giant colourful ghosts. With googly eyes. Yes. It's a level of ''VideoGame/PacMan''.

** ''VideoGame/DoomII'' has two secret levels set in levels taken from ''{{VideoGame/Wolfenstein 3D}}'', with one accessed from a secret exit found in the other. The second one requires you to kill four clones [[spoiler:of VideoGame/CommanderKeen hanging from a noose]] to access the exit.

* ''VideoGame/{{Descent}}'' has some secret levels late in the game. They are difficult, but you can be rewarded with a lot of points and some weapons upgrades.
* ''VideoGame/{{Quake}} 2'' has three secret levels. The first - Lost Station - has noticeably more enemies than usual, but doing it will reward the player with an early Super Shotgun. The second - Sudden Death - is an interesting one: upon entering, you have 30 seconds to grab as much stuff as you can, then you're thrown back to the previous level and can't enter again; and its entrance is an innocuous waterfall in plain sight but can only accessed via a RocketJump. The third - Comm Satellite - is set on a space station accessible via a hidden teleporter and as such, has low gravity and only flying enemies.
* ''VideoGame/RiseOfTheTriad'': There's a secret level in each episode; locating them not only requires deep exploration, but also careful attention (since the exits leading to them are no different from those taking you to the next regular levels).

* The ''VideoGame/{{Blood}}'' GameMod ''Death Wish for Blood'', which places great emphasis on [[DirectContinuousLevels making level transitions logical]], puts a spin on this -- each secret level is followed by revisiting a fragment of the previous map, where the player has to face a single tough fight (usually a boss and his flunkies) before he can head to the regular exit to resume normal level progression.

* ''VideoGame/{{Marathon}} Infinity: Blood Tides of Lh'owon'' has several of these, which are either alternate endings where the W'rkncacnter destroy the universe, or "co-op carnage break" levels that can (or are supposed to) only be accessed in multiplayer mode. Then there's the three Vidmaster's Challenge levels, found via a secret exit on the final stage. The best-hidden secret level is [[http://marathon.bungie.org/story/hangar96.html "Hats off to Eight Nineteen,"]] which can only be reached by noting down strings of hex code found on terminals in the first and last levels, copying them into a text file and unzipping the file twice, whereupon it turns into a map file you can load in the game.
* ''VideoGame/{{Nitemare 3D}}'' goes straight from level 4 to level 6 if you play it normally. Or, you can simply push a bunch of boxes in front of one of a pair of dumbwaiters (which will otherwise just transport you back and forth) and get in the other to jump to level 5, which is full of gun-wielding human enemies.

* The secret Cow Level in ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'' 2, which was made after various rumours about one in the original Diablo.

* ''VideoGame/PrinnyCanIReallyBeTheHero'' and its sequel has this. Considering that this is that [[PlatformHell kind]] of [[NintendoHard game]], they also count as a [[BrutalBonusLevel Brutal Bonus Level]]. In the sequel, you have to collect a set amount of dolls and it's a lot easier said than done. Thankfully enough, these levels set your lives at infinite, unfortunately, [[ButtonMashing your device]] and sanity weren't considered.
* ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'' (in ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando Going Commando]]'', ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal Up Your Arsenal]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureACrackInTime A Crack in Time]]'') has the Insomniac Museum, a DevelopersRoom where the game's designers stuck a bunch of stuff that "[[DummiedOut didn't quite make it into the finished game.]]" The handheld entries (''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankSizeMatters'' and ''VideoGame/SecretAgentClank'') have the High Impact Games Treehouse, which serves the same purpose.

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD'' has the DummiedOut 8th Special Stage. To access it, the player has to enter a code in the title screen to open the secret SoundTest, then enter another code on it.
* ''Legend of Grey Moon'' has a number of well-hidden secret rooms; these are typically much easier than the rooms that make up normal areas, if not totally harmless, and most of the time are either silly jokes or completely meaningless. Particularly interesting are one level made of EpilepticFlashingLights which is reached through a secret passage in ''another'' secret room, another containing a secret seventeenth gem, and the Special Thanks To room, a DevelopersRoom of sorts.
* The ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series has many of its installments featuring secret levels, sometimes in spades:
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosTheLostLevels'' has World 9, which the player can access only by playing the first eight worlds without warping. Meanwhile, Worlds A through D are accessed by playing through the main game [[NewGamePlus eight times]] (in the ''All Stars'' version, you go straight to them after World 8 or 9).
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' has many, many secret levels and two entire secret worlds. The secret levels are usually unveiled in the map after finding a golden key in a regular level and placing it in a keyhole to enter a secret exit. In one case (Secret Ghost House in Donut Plains), you have to defeat a hidden MiniBoss (Big Boo) instead.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand2SixGoldenCoins'' has two secret levels in the Pumpkin Zone, and one each in the Tree Zone, Macro Zone, Space Zone and Turtle Zone (this leaves Mario Zone as the only standard world without secret levels).
** ''VideoGame/WarioLandSuperMarioLand3'': Starting from this game, almost every game in the ''VideoGame/WarioLand'' series has many secret levels, including whole secret worlds.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld2YoshisIsland'' has one secret level per world (accessed by 100% completion of the normal levels), generally based around a gimmick, much harder than other levels, or both. The Game Boy Advance remake has another secret level per world once the game has been beaten.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' has various secret levels hidden in the hub area, and one more within one of the regular worlds (namely the one in Hazy Maze Cave, where you find the switch that enables the use of the Metal Cap). The UsefulNotes/NintendoDS remake adds even more.
** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' has secret exits that have red flags instead of the standard black flags; reaching them usually unlocks a hidden level (though in other cases they [[SequenceBreaking let you skip sizable chunks of the game]]).
** ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'' has multiple hidden, secret or otherwise unneeded rooms inside the game, which are essential for 100% completion and getting all of the ghosts, but is often entirely optional and one may even forget to do them while playing because those rooms are never mentioned.
** In both ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2'', Hungry Lumas take Mario and Luigi to secret galaxies after they're fed with enough Star Bits.
* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry2DiddysKongQuest'' and ''[[VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry3DixieKongsDoubleTrouble DKC3]]'' have a "secret" world that allows access to a better ending, and certain items you collect are focused around gaining access to these levels.
* ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' has several of these:
** [[VideoGame/CrashBandicoot1996 The first game]] contains two levels that need you to get keys from the Cortex Bonus stages to be unlocked.

* ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic and Knuckles]]'' has both secret areas that are only accessible by one of the characters, and a different final stage for HundredPercentCompletion.
* ''VideoGame/{{Iji}}'' has Deep Sector, featuring a fun little battle against ''seven'' Assassins. Considering the most you ever have to deal with at one time other than that is ''one''....
* ''VideoGame/{{Eversion}}'''s secret level is unlocked after collecting all 240 gems in the game, and is necessary to get the good ending.

* World 8, [[LevelInTheClouds Sky Roost]] in ''Videogame/HarmoKnight'', which is unlocked after collecting 5 Tori Birds, is an entire Secret Level merged into one big world. It tries to mimick the earlier worlds, but (as the princess says) puts a twist on them. These eight levels look like normal levels, but then you enter one of the levels, and see thousands of Mooks, SpikesOfDoom, and BottomlessPits. You get the sudden realization that the princess told you these levels are NintendoHard. Final Trial is just simply [[DeathCourse a gigantic death trap]].
* ''VideoGame/KidChameleon'' has many levels named "Elsewhere". All of them are technically secret levels. Early on, they generally have to be discovered and act as shortcuts, but later in the game, there are plenty that can accidentally be accessed and lead backwards (or just through to a different path of levels).

* In the Nintendo video game adaptation of ''Film/AttackOfTheKillerTomatoes'', there is a bonus level if you sit through the end credits.

* ''Wonderland Secret Worlds'' has several secret levels. They're invisible until you locate them on the world map and give out rainbow stars upon completion instead of the usual gold stars. Completing all of them allows you to access [[BonusLevelOfHeaven Cloud City]].

* ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpiresII'' has a level based on the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxon_Wars Saxon Revolt]] hidden in the files. It must be imported into the game by following instructions provided by the Read Me.
* ''[[VideoGame/CreeperWorld Creeper World 4]]'' has the aptly-named [[spoiler: Ever After.]] The mission can be found by [[spoiler: scrolling far, far to the bottom right in the Farsite level-selection menu.]] It tasks the player with completely de-Creepering a difficult planet and letting all its forests regrow. [[spoiler: This marks the start of Danu's new life alongside her [=AI=] friends as an eternal defender of the universe,]] serving as an epilogue for the campaign.

* ''VideoGame/MuseDash'' songs normally have three difficulties: Easy, Hard, and [[HarderThanHard Master]]. However, "[=MopeMope=]" has a hidden level 11 chart[[note]]the hardest difficulty rating in the game[[/note]] accessed by tapping on the Master icon until a popup shows up reading [[spoiler:"The Ultimate Children's Day Gift"]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Quest 64}}'' has a secret level in the [[ShiftingSandLand desert]]. While in a completely unrelated and skippable area, it does have a ton of powerups which are normally hard to find.

* ''{{VideoGame/Undertale}}'' has Hard Mode, a version of the first area with more difficult-to-spare monsters, activated by giving the fallen human [[spoiler:the same name as the player character]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Rez}}'' has the Lost Area, unlocked by completing all the normal areas. [[BrutalBonusLevel It is quite difficult]]. Same for ''VideoGame/ChildOfEden'''s Hope level.

* ''VideoGame/{{Gradius}}'', as a series, is flat-out obsessed with hidden levels. Most games in the series have a secret alternate path, usually be doing something during the level to change the boss you fight. This gets lampshades in ''[=ReBirth=]'', where you can fight a different boss but end up in the same level 2 stage regardless - the actual Secret Levels (there are three) are much better hidden. Not every game uses hidden stages, but rather Multiple Paths. The self parody series ''VideoGame/{{Parodius}}'' makes fun of this along with everything else - the secret levels in some of those games are even more insane than the standard ones.
* ''VideoGame/DoDonPachi Maximum'' has a hidden level that can be accessed by unlocking Stage 5-E, then setting the difficulty to Easy and tapping on where Stage 5-E would be. [[spoiler:It's a BrutalBonusLevel that pits you against stages and bosses from ''VideoGame/{{Ketsui}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Espgaluda}} II'', culminating in a showdown against Evaccaneer DOOM, the TrueFinalBoss of ''Ketsui''.]]

* ''[[VideoGame/AdvanceWars Advance Wars: Black Hole Rising]]'' and ''Dual Strike'' have secret levels accessed only by finding a map in the preceding level, which would be found when you captured a specific property. Sometimes you'd get a hint in the form of the enemy's banter prior (Such as them telling a {{Mook}} to make sure it's hidden), while other times there'd be no hint at all and you'd just have to go looking. Finding the map and beating the following mission unlocks Black Hole exclusive units like Piperunners, Neo Tanks, Black Bombs, and Black Boats for you to deploy in later levels.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Wide-Open Sandbox]]
* ''VideoGame/SaintsRow2'' has ''Revelation'', which provides closure to the ending of [[VideoGame/SaintsRow1 the first game]] and is not unlocked through the standard story progression. Instead, you are given a hint to go to the police headquarters, where you can listen to three wiretap conversations and find Dex's phone number, who directs you to the mission start.

* In the ''VideoGame/FridayNightFunkin'' mod ''VideoGame/BETADCIU'', there are two examples.

* Pretty much every early 2.5D FPS (and 3D, with ''VideoGame/{{Quake}}'') has a secret level at some point or other, whether it's once an episode or just one or two in the whole game. They are usually accessed by using a hidden, secret exit on a level rather than the regular exit.
** ''VideoGame/DoomII'' had two secret levels set in levels taken from ''{{VideoGame/Wolfenstein 3D}}'', with one accessed from a secret exit found in the other. The second one required you to kill four clones [[spoiler:of VideoGame/CommanderKeen hanging from a noose]] to access the exit.
** The Playstation 1 version of the original ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' had two secret levels (one being the iconic "Club Doom") that remain exclusive to this version of the game. As with ''Doom II'', one was only accessible from within another secret level.
** ''VideoGame/{{Descent}}'' had some secret levels late in the game. They were difficult, but you could be rewarded with a lot of points and some weapons upgrades.
** ''Quake 2'' had three secret levels. The first - Lost Station - has noticeably more enemies than usual, but doing it will reward the player with an early Super Shotgun. The second - Sudden Death - is an interesting one: upon entering, you have 30 seconds to grab as much stuff as you can, then you're thrown back to the previous level and can't enter again. Oh, and its entrance is an innocuous waterfall in plain sight but can only accessed via a RocketJump. The third - Comm Satellite - is [[ThatOneLevel set on a space station accessible via a hidden teleporter and as such, has low gravity and only flying enemies]].
** ''VideoGame/Wolfenstein3D'' itself had a secret level in a gigantic maze where you collect bonus orbs for high score where you're beset upon by four ghosts. Four giant colourful ghosts. With googly eyes. Yes. It's a level of ''VideoGame/PacMan''.
* The Aztec and Egyptian levels in ''VideoGame/GoldenEye1997''. The former deals with the Drax Corporation from ''Film/{{Moonraker}}'', and the latter has [[Film/LiveAndLetDie Baron Samedi]], who somehow procured the [[Film/TheManWithTheGoldenGun Golden Gun]] and is taunting [=MI6=] with it (that level doesn't make a whole lot of sense story-wise, come to think about it). The levels carry their own unique challenges: the Drax soldiers have an over-reliance on grenades which sharp-shooting players can turn against them, and the Egyptian tomb has a GuideDangIt method of getting the Golden Gun.

* The secret levels in ''VideoGame/PerfectDark'' are markedly different from those in ''[[VideoGame/GoldenEye1997 Goldeneye]]'' mentioned above. Instead of brand-new levels with no plot significance, they're retreads of previous levels from a different point of view, which reveal different parts of the story. The first one shows how an alien {{Mook}} [[spoiler:kidnapped the CEO of dataDyne (she was later killed aboard the ship) and imploded the building, effectively destroying the company]]. The other two missions let you play as the [[TheGreys grey]] aliens, one where Elvis alerts the Institute of being captured by Area51 and you play through the entire level with diminished health, and the other has you play as a soldier among a platoon who landed on the planet after Joanna dropped the shields. Both missions are ''[[BrutalBonusLevel insanely]]'' difficult.
* ''VideoGame/{{Marathon}} Infinity: Blood Tides of Lh'owon'' has several of these, which are either alternate endings where the W'rkncacnter destroy the universe, or "co-op carnage break" levels that can (or are supposed to) only be accessed in multiplayer mode. Then there's the three Vidmaster's Challenge levels, found via a secret exit on the final stage.
** The best-hidden secret level is [[http://marathon.bungie.org/story/hangar96.html "Hats off to Eight Nineteen,"]] which can only be reached by noting down strings of hex code found on terminals in the first and last levels, copying them into a text file and unzipping the file twice, whereupon it turns into a map file you can load in the game.

* The ''[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Super Mario Bros.]]'' series ''loves'' secret levels, with a great many of its installments featuring them, sometimes in spades:
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' has many, many secret levels and two entire secret worlds.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' has various secret levels hidden in the hub area.
** ''Super Mario World 2'' (''VideoGame/YoshisIsland'') had one secret level per world (accessed by 100% completion of the normal levels), generally based around a gimmick, much harder than other levels, or both. The Game Boy Advance remake has another secret level per world once the game has been beaten.
** ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' has secret exits that have red flags instead of the standard black flags. Some [[SequenceBreaking let you skip sizable chunks of the game]].
*** Worlds 4 and 7 are also secret worlds.

** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosTheLostLevels'' has World 9, which the player could access only by playing the first eight worlds without warping.
*** And Worlds A through D, which in the original FDS version the player accessed by playing through the main game [[NewGamePlus eight times]]. In the ''All Stars'' version, you go straight to them after World 8 or 9.
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioLand2SixGoldenCoins'' has two secret levels in the Pumpkin Zone, and one each in the Tree Zone, Macro Zone, Space Zone and Turtle Zone.
** ''VideoGame/WarioLand''; almost every game in the series has many secret levels, including whole secret worlds.

** [[VideoGame/CrashBandicoot1996 The first game]] contained to two levels that you needed you to get keys from the Cortex Bonus stages.
** ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot2CortexStrikesBack'' has levels hidden within levels. Some of these are considered parts of the main level [[GuideDangIt where you really need to know what you're doing]] to find them...
*** ... For instance, there's the hidden area within the Unbearable level, where you need to [[LeapOfFaith jump into a seemingly bottomless pit]] in order to gain access to a hidden area within the level, which swaps the level theme from a towards the screen chase sequence to a side scrolling section.
*** ...On another level, the player has to jump on what looks like a conspicuously static stack of Nitro crates to teleport to a secret section and get the purple gem.
*** ... Then there are the levels which you need to unlock by finding secret bonuses in other levels, such as standing on a hard to get to platform, or jumping over a long [[BottomlessPit hole]] to get back to the polar bear, in order to unlock hidden levels, and alternate paths in other levels.
** ''Videogame/CrashBandicoot3Warped'' does the same once again in accessing hidden levels with alternate routes, but makes you beat time trials to get to them. However, there are still two hidden levels not at all required for 100% completion, but required for 105% completion. While all of the secret levels in ''Crash 2'' can be found without a guide with enough persistence, ''Crash 3'''s secret levels are really obscure. One of them has you driving into a sign on the side of the road in a motorcycle level.
* ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic and Knuckles]]'' had both secret areas that were only accessible by one of the characters, and a different final stage for HundredPercentCompletion.

* ''VideoGame/{{Skyblazer}}'' had a series of secret stages hidden on the overworld map- by going to one of the completed stages and pressing up on the D-pad you'd go to one of the Mode 7 flying bonus stages, which would lead to a secret hut where you could get the game's hidden life upgrade. To get back to the main game and continue with your adventure you had to complete a short 1-screen stage called 'Ship to Nowhere', where you ride a small wooden boat across the lake and have to avoid being washed overboard by huge waves while fighting off the enemies the waves deposit on the deck. Survive all the waves and the stage simply ends, depositing you behind the Lair of Kharyon.

* ''VideoGame/StarCraft: Brood Wars'' featured a secret mission which hinted at a major plot point in the sequel. It had no lasting impact on the game otherwise. [[VideoGame/StarcraftII Said sequel]] also features a hidden mission in the Terran campaign.
* Similarly, ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII: The Frozen Throne'' had a hidden tower defense mini-game. If you defeated all the waves, you would receive a bonus hero in the following level.

* ''{{VideoGame/Undertale}}'' had Hard Mode, a version of the first area with more difficult-to-spare monsters, activated by giving the fallen human [[spoiler:the same name as the player character]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Gradius}}'', as a series, is flat-out obsessed with hidden levels. Most games in the series have a secret alternate path, usually be doing something during the level to change the boss you fight. This gets lampshaded in ''[=ReBirth=]'', where you can fight a different boss but end up in the same level 2 stage regardless - the actual Secret Levels (there are three) are much better hidden. Not every game uses hidden stages, but rather Multiple Paths.
** The self parody series ''VideoGame/{{Parodius}}'' makes fun of this along with everything else - the secret levels in some of those games are even more insane than the standard ones.

* ''[[VideoGame/AdvanceWars Advance Wars: Black Hole Rising]]'' and ''Dual Strike'' had secret levels accessed only by finding a map in the preceding level, which would be found when you captured a specific property. Sometimes you'd get a hint in the form of the enemy's banter prior (Such as them telling a {{Mook}} to make sure it's hidden), while other times there'd be no hint at all and you'd just have to go looking. Finding the map and beating the following mission unlocks Black Hole exclusive units like Piperunners, Neo Tanks, Black Bombs, and Black Boats for you to deploy in later levels.[[/folder]]

* ''VideoGame/MegaMan'':

Many games provide secret levels that [[UnlockableContent aren't necessary to finish the game.]] Sometimes they are based around [[GimmickLevel gimmicks]] or themes that aren't in the "actual" game. Sometimes they are [[BrutalBonusLevel much more difficult than the main game's and are essentially a secret challenge]], or they feel like they could fit right in the game but the devs couldn't find an exact place to put them in the normal progression (and making them secret was better than leaving them out or [[DummiedOut dummying them]]). Will also be necessary for OneHundredPercentCompletion.

* In ''VideoGame/MegaManX3'', there's a secret level that can only be accessed through specific teleportation capsules, that take you to an abandoned factory where you can fight Vile, TheDragon of the first game. Finding and beating him will result in another boss appearing in his stead later on, where he would normally find and attack you.
** Then, in ''VideoGame/MegaManX6'', there's a secret "Nightmare Stage" for every normal level, where you can find secret upgrades and bosses.

* World 8, [[BubblyClouds Sky Roost]] in ''Videogame/HarmoKnight'', which is unlocked after collecting 5 Tori Birds, is an entire Secret Level merged into one big world. It tries to mimick the earlier worlds, but (as the princess says) puts a twist on them. These eight levels look like normal levels, but then you enter one of the levels, and see thousands of Mooks, SpikesOfDoom, and BottomlessPits. You get the sudden realization that the princess told you these levels are NintendoHard. Final Trial is just simply [[DeathCourse a gigantic death trap]].

* ''VideoGame/DoDonPachi Maximum'' has a hidden level that can be accessed by unlocking Stage 5-E, then setting the difficulty to Easy and tapping on where Stage 5-E would be. [[spoiler:It's a roughly [[MarathonLevel 8-minute]] gauntlet that pits you against stages and bosses from ''VideoGame/{{Ketsui}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Espgaluda}} II'', culminating in a showdown against Evaccaneer DOOM, the TrueFinalBoss of ''Ketsui''.]]

* ''Videogame/Lands of Lore 2'' has two hidden areas: the Draracle's Museum and the Dark Halls. The first of these contains a bunch of equipment and other goodies.

* ''VideoGame/{{Cytus}}'' has a number of hidden songs, which are unlocked by interacting with the splash screens of non-hidden songs. Many of these will [[GuideDangIt require a guide]] or some trial-and-error to discover. They will count towards your chapter and game score and songs cleared totals (in fact, playing every non-hidden song and seeing that the "songs cleared" counter isn't maxed out for that chapter is a [[InterfaceSpoiler giveaway]] that hidden songs exist), as well as your TP average, but you won't be able to see your records for these songs. The chapter select itself also has hidden songs, [[spoiler:triggered by tapping on the Easy and Hard song clear counters.]]

See MinusWorld for such levels that only exist due to glitches. Also see BonusDungeon, which is a mostly equivalent trope (the usual main differences being what genre they're found in, [[GuideDangIt how much the game hints towards their existence]], and whether you find them mainly by searching every nook and cranny or setting off enough {{Event Flag}}s).

* The Aztec and Egyptian levels in ''VideoGame/GoldenEye1997''. The former deals with the Drax Corporation from ''Film/{{Moonraker}}'', and the latter has [[Film/LiveAndLetDie Baron Samedi]], who somehow procured the [[Film/TheManWithTheGoldenGun Golden Gun]] and is taunting MI6 with it (that level doesn't make a whole lot of sense story-wise, come to think about it). The levels carry their own unique challenges: the Drax soldiers have an over-reliance on grenades which sharp-shooting players can turn against them, and the Egyptian tomb has a GuideDangIt method of getting the Golden Gun.

* In both ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2'', Hungry Lumas take Mario and Luigi to secret galaxies after they're fed with enough Star Bits.

* ''VideoGame/WarioLand''; almost every game in the series has many secret levels, including whole secret worlds.
* ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' also has many, many secret levels and two entire secret worlds.

** ''VideoGame/Wolfenstein3D'' itself had a secret level in a gigantic maze where you collect bonus orbs for high score where you're beset upon by four ghosts. Four giant colourful ghosts. With googly eyes. Yes. It's a level of PacMan.

* ''Franchise/CrashBandicoot'' has several of these:
** [[Videogame/CrashBandicoot1996 The first game]] contained to two levels that you needed you to get keys from the Cortex Bonus stages.
** ''Videogame/CrashBandicoot2CortexStrikesBack'' has levels hidden within levels. Some of these are considered parts of the main level [[GuideDangIt where you really need to know what you're doing]] to find them...

* In ''VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink'', you can go to Darunia and climb on top of houses. If you go to a roof nearest the top of the screen, you can jump off-screen with the JUMP spell, then (while still off-screen) use the FAIRY spell and fly up. You'll get the animation for falling down a hole and end up in a DIFFERENT town. The villagers all provide game info not found anywhere else in the normal towns. If you exit under the overpass to the right, you'll end up in the middle of the ocean, not being able to move in any direction. If you exit to the left, you'll just end up outside Darunia.

* ''VideoGame/PrinnyCanIReallyBeTheHero'' and it's sequel has this. Considering that this is that [[PlatformHell kind]] of [[NintendoHard game]], they also count as a [[BrutalBonusLevel Brutal Bonus Level]]. In the sequel, you have to collect a set amount of dolls and it's a lot easier said than done. Thankfully enough, these levels set your lives at infinite, unfortunately, [[ButtonMashing your device]] and sanity weren't considered.

The reward for finishing a Secret Level can range from a [[VideoGameRewards helpful item]], a [[WarpZone shortcut]], some information regarding the story, a full-blown revelation that [[TheEndingChangesEverything changes how the plot is interpreted]], or a pat on the back.

See MinusWorld for such levels that only exist due to glitches.