Cheating is a big problem in today’s online games, often leading to players getting banned. But surprisingly, older games – especially those from the 1980s – were famous for having some of the coolest cheats, glitches, and exploits ever. Developers sometimes even built these advantages right into the game’s code! Many of these tricks were fun and gave players an edge. Here are seven of the most memorable cheats that helped define classic gaming, listed in no specific order.
1) The Konami Code
The Konami Code is arguably the most famous cheat code ever created. It’s become a pop culture staple and is frequently hidden as an Easter egg in games and other media. Originally appearing in the 1986 Nintendo game Gradius, it granted players all available power-ups at the beginning, or 30 extra lives when entered in reverse. However, it’s best remembered for its appearance in Contra on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Entering the sequence Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start instantly gave players 30 lives, which significantly boosted the code’s popularity, earning it the nickname “the 30-lives Code.”
2) Mortal Kombat – Blood Code
Released in 1992, Mortal Kombat quickly became a groundbreaking, yet controversial, game thanks to its realistic graphics and violent content. It began as an arcade hit and was soon available on home consoles like the Super Nintendo and Game Boy. However, those versions removed the blood and gore. While the Sega Genesis and Game Gear versions also initially lacked the blood, a secret code allowed players to unlock it. By entering ‘A, B, A, C, A, B, B’ on the ‘Code of Honor’ screen, players could restore the game’s original intensity. Another code – ‘Down, Up, Left, Left, A, Right, Down’ (DULLARD) – unlocked a complete cheat menu with even more options.
3) Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out! – Fight Mike First
Nintendo’s Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out! for the NES, released in 1987, is a classic game beloved by many. Players control Little Mac, an underdog boxer who has to defeat a series of opponents to challenge the champion, Mike Tyson. The game is known for its challenging fights that require memorizing enemy patterns. Getting knocked out by Tyson feels especially frustrating because it means starting all over again. Luckily, a cheat code lets players skip directly to the Tyson fight! Entering the code 007-373-5963 on the continue screen instantly puts you in the ring with the champ.
4) Super Mario Bros. – Turtle Tipping
As a gamer, I can tell you that Super Mario Bros. totally changed the game when it came out with the NES back in ’85. It’s packed with secrets that players have been discovering and using for years, and there are so many ways to approach it. There are a few classic cheats, and one of the most famous is called “Turtle Tipping.” It’s not really a cheat, though – it takes some skill and patience to pull off. But once you get the timing down, you can basically get unlimited lives! On World 3-1, and in a few other spots, there’s a staircase with a turtle walking on it. If you jump on its shell, it retracts, and you can keep bouncing on that shell, earning points and racking up 1UPs as fast as you want.
5) The Legend of Zelda – The Second Quest
The original Legend of Zelda is a hugely influential role-playing game. It’s known for its large world, clever puzzles, and thrilling dungeons. Once players finished the game, they could unlock a “Second Quest”—a harder replay where the locations of dungeons and shops were changed. Interestingly, players could also access this Second Quest right away by simply entering the name “ZELDA” on the title screen, skipping the need to complete the first game.
6) NBA Jam – Big Head Mode
Released in 1993, NBA Jam completely changed basketball video games and became a classic. It was a huge improvement over previous games and set the standard for those that came after. The game was incredibly popular and known for its fun cheats and glitches. Players could even add real-life players, but the most beloved cheat was “Big Head Mode.” As the name suggests, this made all the players’ heads enormous. To activate it, players simply needed to press Up, Turbo, and Steal on the “Tonight’s Matchup” screen before a game began.
7) Sonic the Hedgehog – Level Select
Similar to the groundbreaking Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog completely redefined platforming games. It launched one of the most beloved video game series of all time, which amazingly continued even after Sega stopped making consoles. Sonic has a huge and dedicated fanbase, and the original game had a hidden feature. By entering a specific code on the title screen – Up, Down, Left, Right, then holding A and pressing Start after a chime – players could unlock a level select and debug mode. This popular code, or variations of it, has appeared in many Sonic games ever since.
What’s your go-to cheat code for classic video games? Share it in the comments below and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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2025-12-30 20:43