Top 15 Famous Cheats In Video Games

Cheat codes have been part of gaming culture for decades, from secret button strings you had to memorize to hidden words you typed into a console mid-match. Some were added by developers to help with testing, others were marketing winks that gave players a way to bend the rules and see what a game could really do. A few of these codes became so well known that they’re practically shorthand for an entire era of gaming.

Below are fifteen of the most famous cheats ever used in video games. For each one, you’ll find exactly what it does, how to activate it, and notable details—like which versions support it and what side effects to expect—so you can place each code in its proper context.

The Konami Code (Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start)

Originally created by Kazuhisa Hashimoto while porting Gradius to the NES, the Konami Code grants power-ups or extra lives in a long list of Konami titles and beyond. In Contra on NES, entering the string at the title screen awards 30 lives; Gradius powers up the ship’s loadout; and later games across multiple publishers hid Easter eggs behind the same sequence. In some SNES titles the tail flips to “A, B,” and adding “Select” before “Start” enables it for two players in Contra.

The code’s reach spread far outside a single game: it appears in Gradius, Contra, Castlevania releases, rhythm games, and even non-game software as a novelty Easter egg. Because it’s a pure input sequence recognized at menus or pause screens, it works on original hardware and most emulations without needing a debug console.

IDDQD (DOOM)

Typing “IDDQD” in DOOM enables god mode, making the player invulnerable to damage while leaving environmental hazards like floors and crushing ceilings as exceptions in some ports. The game flashes a “Degreelessness Mode” message when it engages, reflecting the developers’ internal testing terminology.

The code functions in the original DOOM and DOOM II DOS releases and in many source ports that preserve cheat behavior. In some modern ports it toggles rather than strictly enabling, and it only affects the current session or save, making it useful for testing WADs or navigating particularly punishing user maps.

IDKFA (DOOM)

“IDKFA” grants all weapons, all keys, and full ammo in DOOM and DOOM II. The mnemonic is commonly remembered as “ID Keys, Full ammo, All weapons,” matching its effects. It immediately equips the player with the BFG9000 and fills keycards/skull keys needed for progression.

Like other DOOM cheats, it’s entered directly during gameplay and takes effect instantly without opening a menu. Source ports and many console re-releases maintain compatibility with this code, though some remasters implement separate toggles for classic cheat behavior.

ABACABB (Mortal Kombat on Sega Genesis/Mega Drive)

Entering “A, B, A, C, A, B, B” at the title screen of the Genesis/Mega Drive release of Mortal Kombat enables blood and the original finishing moves that were otherwise disabled by default on that platform at launch. An audio chime confirms correct entry, and a small indicator appears to show that content is enabled.

The code became well known because different platforms handled content differently at release; this input string allowed the Genesis version to match arcade effects more closely. It must be entered before starting a match and remains active for the session unless the game is reset.

HESOYAM (Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas)

Typing “HESOYAM” on the PC version of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas instantly restores health and armor, repairs the current vehicle, and adds $250,000 to the player’s cash. The effect triggers immediately upon completing the input, even while driving or in combat.

Cheat activation in this game works as real-time keyboard entry—no console required—and multiple cheats can be stacked. Using cheats in a save permanently flags that file, which can affect certain in-game statistics and may cause unpredictable behavior if many are active simultaneously.

motherlode (The Sims series)

Entering “motherlode” in the in-game cheat console adds §50,000 to the active household’s funds in many The Sims installments. To open the console, press Ctrl+Shift+C (PC) or the platform-specific equivalent, then type the code and press Enter; it can be used repeatedly.

Earlier entries used “rosebud” for smaller amounts, and later versions continued supporting “motherlode” alongside other money-management cheats. In challenge modes or when achievements are active, using cheats may disable progress tracking for that session depending on the installment.

FUND (SimCity 2000)

Typing “FUND” in SimCity 2000 takes out an immediate $10,000 municipal bond deposited into the city treasury. The bond carries a high interest rate and adds recurring costs to the budget, which appear in the city’s finance panel from the next fiscal cycle onward.

This approach allowed players to rapidly build infrastructure at the expense of long-term solvency. Multiple FUND entries stack into separate bonds, compounding annual expenses until repaid, which is reflected line by line in the budget screen.

Justin Bailey (Metroid)

Entering the password “JUSTIN BAILEY —— ——” (with six dashes, space, six dashes) in the NES Metroid password screen starts the game with Samus out of the Power Suit and provides a different equipment and map state compared to a standard new game. The loadout typically includes key upgrades and missiles that alter early-game routing.

The password system encodes inventory, map completion, and suit appearance, and this particular string became famous for reliably producing a distinctive start. Additional known passwords manipulate starting areas and gear, making the system a quasi-cheat mechanism as well as a save feature.

19, 65, 09, 17 Level Select (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)

In Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on Genesis/Mega Drive, entering specific sound test values unlocks level select. From the Options menu’s Sound Test, play tracks 19, 65, 09, and 17 in that order; a chime confirms success. Returning to the title screen and holding A while pressing Start opens the level select menu.

This method lets players load any zone, access the Sound Test again from the secret menu, and combine with additional inputs to enable debug mode or special forms in certain revisions. Different regional builds may have minor variations, but the core sequence remains consistent.

Secret Characters & Big Head Mode (NBA Jam)

The original NBA Jam arcade and home versions hide playable secret characters—such as developers and public figures—unlocked by entering specific initials and birthdates during name entry. When the code is valid, the selected duo appears on the roster, complete with custom player stats appropriate to the hidden character.

“Big Head Mode” can be toggled in many releases via button combinations at the “Tonight’s Match-Up” screen or by entering certain codes in the name entry system. Arcade board revisions and home ports vary in exact inputs and eligible characters, so the correct combinations depend on the specific version in use.

how do you turn this on (Age of Empires II)

Typing “how do you turn this on” in Age of Empires II spawns a Cobra car—a modern vehicle armed with rapid-fire weapons—under the player’s control. The phrase is entered in the in-game chat (Return/Enter to open), and the unit appears at the player’s Town Center or close to the selected location.

The game recognizes multiple cheat phrases, including resource boosts and map-reveal commands. In later HD and Definitive Editions, activating any cheat in a session disables achievements and can affect score submission, ensuring that leaderboards reflect non-cheat play.

power overwhelming (StarCraft)

Entering “power overwhelming” during a single-player match in StarCraft grants invulnerability to the player’s units and buildings. The effect applies immediately and persists for the match unless the game is reloaded or the effect is toggled off with the same phrase in versions that support toggling.

This cheat is commonly combined with map-reveal (“black sheep wall”) or resource codes during scenario testing. Cheats are restricted to single-player, and the Remastered release flags sessions that use them so achievement and statistics tracking reflect non-cheat play.

show me the money (StarCraft)

Typing “show me the money” in StarCraft adds 10,000 minerals and 10,000 vespene gas to the player’s stockpile. The entry method is identical to other StarCraft cheats and can be repeated as needed to sustain unit and structure production without harvesting.

Because resource management is central to the game’s balance, this code is primarily used for practice, map testing, or experimenting with unit compositions. As with other StarCraft cheats, it functions only in single-player and marks the session accordingly in supported versions.

whosyourdaddy (Warcraft III)

In Warcraft III, entering “whosyourdaddy” during a single-player game enables a developer test mode where the player’s units deal extremely high damage and become invulnerable. The game acknowledges the input with an on-screen confirmation, and the effect remains active for the session unless toggled.

Campaign maps, custom games, and the World Editor’s test runs all accept the code. Additional phrases exist for instant building, gold and lumber boosts, and map reveal; sessions with cheats enabled are separated from normal achievement or statistics tracking in supported releases.

tgm (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on PC)

On PC, opening the developer console with the tilde/backquote key and entering “tgm” toggles god mode in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, preventing damage, stopping stamina and magicka drain, and ignoring carry-weight limits while leaving quest scripting and world logic intact. The console also supports commands to spawn items, noclip (“tcl”), and adjust character skills.

Console commands are available only on platforms that expose the debug console (Windows and, with appropriate input methods, some other computer builds). Because they alter runtime state, they’re commonly used for mod testing, screenshot setups, and debugging quest progression.

Share your favorite (or most notorious) game cheat in the comments and tell everyone how you first discovered it!