Video game easter eggs, like their colorful real life counterparts, ensure that even the most abhorrent piece of shovelware can have its bright spot. They're also a completionist's worst nightmare. Some are simple to seek out, some are harder to find than a teen that isn't into Twilight. But no matter the path you have to take to find them, you can be sure you'll be rewarded with something unique and awesome. And these stories always make great conversation starters. After careful consideration and examination of the avalanche of new releases unleashed upon us this year, we've rounded up five of the best easter eggs from 2011 so far. We promise none of them have Grandma's pocket change jingling around within.

Portal 2 Turrets

"I don't hate you." Good, because we'll never be able to hate you, you adorable little hunks of metal. The Portal 2 turrets, gut-wrenchingly cute as they are, have probably held your attention throughout Portal and its sequel long enough (what will they say next?), but Valve takes their appeal to the next level in Portal 2. In Chapter 3, there's an intriguing secret available to those clever enough to uncover it. While unfortunately you've got to waste some of the inquisitive little turrets to get to the secret area in question, it's well worth it. After all is said and done (seen in the video) you'll be able to crawl up onto a grate in the ceiling and look down upon four "singing" turrets getting their choir on. And they sound pretty great. It's definitely worth the pitiful cries of "Ow, it burns!", so make sure to check this out.

Rage: Wolfenstein 3D

So you're busting bad guys left and right in id's explosive FPS Rage, when all of a sudden you happen upon a hidden door. You open it and are immediately greeted to...a heavily pixelated light-blue door with a golden handle? This cheeky little nod pays homage to one of the most iconic shooters ever: Wolfenstein 3D. The secret door opens up into a room ripped straight from 1993. No Nazis to be found here, unfortunately, but the juxtaposition between old and new is jarring in itself. It's an interesting testament to how far things have come over the years, and one of my personal favorite surprises of 2011.

Batman: Arkham City Big Head Mode

Still craving more Arkham City even at the bitter end? Get the best of the Riddler? Zsasz is probably on speed dial by now so you can stop him as soon as he gets started. And you've probably already found Harley's little secret. We've got something a little cooler for you: Big Head Mode. If you needed another excuse to play through the game again, this hidden mode gives all characters hilariously oversized heads. Think Johnny Gat masks from the beginning of Saints Row: The Third. You're not confined to Batman's default suit, either. This works with all of your additional costumes, so feel free to outfit Terry McGinnis' Beyond suit with a huge noggin as well. Too cute for words.

Gears of War 3 “Mad World” Multiplayer Unlock

If you’re a Donnie Darko fan or just follow video game advertisement fanfare, you’re probably familiar with Gary Jules’ masterful cover of “Mad World,” the Tears for Fears song. Oh, and if you actually completed the game you’ve probably heard it as well. If you’re one of those people who ripped into multiplayer before even giving the campaign a chance, don’t worry. You’ve still got an opportunity to witness the gorgeous instrumental of the song with minimal effort – you just need a bot match on Gridlock and a few minutes to set up a few conditions to unlock the song in the next round of Execution or Warzone. We’d say it’s an appropriate reward for not killing any of the ash statues throughout the map.

Crysis 2 Inappropriate Elevator Dance Party

Crysis 2 is serious business for serious gamers, all the time. Not. This hilarious easter egg, triggered in “Dead Man Walking,” finds two soldiers partying it up to generic techno blasting from an elevator. Complete with booty-shaking, rainbow lights, smoke, and funk. There isn’t much to this discovery, but you gotta admit it’s a nice break from all the brooding and angst.

Skyrim and the Notched Pickaxe

It’s good to see that after their legal falling out, Bethesda and Mojang have buried the hatchet. Or pickaxe. Whatever. Though you’ll have to have played Skyrim for a considerable amount of time to find this interesting little surprise (you’ve been doing that already though, right?) it’s absolutely worth it. At the very top of the Throat of the World, you’ll find plenty of ore…and a Notched Pickaxe. Get it? Notch? Pickaxe? If we have to explain it to you, you probably won’t even want to bother with this one. Not only is it a cool nod to a similarly addictive game, it’s also a pretty sweet weapon. Or you could just sell it. Either way, good stuff.

What surprises have found littered throughout your favorite releases this year? Still salivating over the Final Fantasy 27 "confirmation" of Deus Ex: Human Revolution? What about the QR codes of Homefront? Let us know and of course, tip us off to whatever you've found in some of the most recent releases...Skyrim, perhaps?

Brittany Vincent is a freelance writer who routinely eviscerates virtual opponents and tempts fate by approaching wayward Zoloms. A connoisseur of all things bloody and bizarre, she's available to chat via Twitter @MolotovCupcake, and is always ready to take on new projects. You can peruse her archived work at PfhortheWin.com