RETRO CODES & PASSWORDS
Browse 143 code entries across 54 game editions. Check the platform, input timing and source before using a code. On pages with a reviewed gameplay guide, only shortcuts with an explicit source are published; the remaining archive entries are still awaiting that review.
1989Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse introduces branching path progression and three distinct companion partners to the classic whip-cracking Gothic quest.
Name save file HELP MEName save file FU FUName save file AKUMAJYO
1988Contra on Famicom combines directional shooting, Spread Gun pickups and side-view and base stages.
Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, StartHold Up + Left + Select + A, then press StartHold A + B, then press Start
1989DuckTales sends Scrooge McDuck treasure hunting with a cane that doubles as a pogo stick and a tool for moving objects.
Finish the game with exactly $10,000,000 or $0 in total wealthPogo jump across the ceiling in the lunar spaceship
1990Mega Man 3 introduced the slide mechanic and Rush the robotic canine companion across sprawling sci-fi stages.
Hold Right on Controller 2 while pressing A on Controller 1Hold Up on Controller 2 during gameplayHold Right on Controller 2 and jump into any bottomless pit
1987The foundational NES classic that pioneered non-linear stage selection and acquiring boss weapon powers.
Fire Elec Beam, then press Select repeatedlyBomb Man → Guts Man → Cut Man → Elec Man → Ice Man → Fire ManUse Super Arm in Elec Man stage to lift blocks at vertical ladder
1990Super Contra delivers relentless overhead and side-scrolling cooperative shooting against redoubled alien forces.
Hold A + B, then press Start at the title screen
1986The Legend of Zelda’s NES adventure: explore Hyrule, read dungeon maps, start the first quest and learn in-game saving and browser backups.
Register name as ZELDAOpen subscreen with Start; Controller 2: Up + A
1992Contra III: The Alien Wars leverages Mode 7 rotation, dual weapon slots, and devastating screen-clearing bombs against alien invaders.
Down, Down-Left, Left, Down, Down-Left, Left + Select + StartDown, Down-Right, Right, Down, Down-Right, Right + Select + Start
1995Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest elevates Rare’s 16-bit platforming with pirate aesthetics, Dixie Kong’s helicopter spin, and the Lost World quest.
On Single Player, press Down, Down, Down, Down, Down, B, A, Right, Right, A, Left, A, XPirate Panic: Enter K. Rool’s cabin with 0 bananas, backtrack over barrels
1994Donkey Kong Country combines pre-rendered 3D silicon sprites, momentum-driven barrel rolls, and animal buddies across Donkey and Diddy Kong’s quest.
Highlight Erase Data, press B, A, R, R, A, LJump over the opening tree trunk and enter the upper-left barrelJump over the entry barrel and hold Left against the entrance shaft
1994Final Fantasy III (released as FFVI in Japan) is a masterpiece of steampunk fantasy, ensemble storytelling, and magical Esper customization.
Cast Vanish, then immediately cast Doom or X-ZoneEquip Cursed Shield with a Ribbon and win 256 battlesEquip Genji Glove + Master's Scroll + 2x Kazekiri (Tempest)
1990Explore Dinosaur Land with Yoshi, cape flight and secret exits. This original SNES platformer offers solo play or alternating Mario and Luigi turns.
Start, then SelectDonut Ghost House secret exit (Cape Mario)
1994Super Metroid establishes the non-linear exploration standard with atmospheric planet Zebes caverns, high-mobility beam upgrades, and intricate speed-boosting sequence breaks.
Health < 50, lay Power Bomb, hold Down + Aim Down + Aim Up + FireHighlight Spazer, press Left + A to activate alongside Plasma
1991The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past establishes the modern adventure blueprint with dual parallel worlds, tight dungeon puzzles, and multi-directional sword combat.
Pegasus Dash south from Sanctuary entranceToss Boomerang & Shield into WaterfallSprinkle Magic Powder on Anti-Faeries
1998Pokémon Blue Version complements Red with exclusive wild encounters, tactical turn-based battle mechanics, and the search for all 151 monsters across Kanto.
Old Man in Viridian -> Fly to Cinnabar -> Surf right coastlineRoute 7 Gambler / Route 24 Jr Trainer Teleport trickGet Bike Voucher from Vermilion Pokémon Fan Club
1998Pokémon Red Version kicked off a global phenomenon with 151 collectible creatures, elemental type matchups, and turn-based trainer battles across Kanto.
Old Man in Viridian -> Fly to Cinnabar -> Surf right coastlineRoute 7 Gambler / Route 24 Jr Trainer Teleport trickGet Bike Voucher from Vermilion Pokémon Fan Club
1997Castlevania: Symphony of the Night redefines the gothic action genre with non-linear castle exploration, RPG gear progression, and Alucard’s vampiric abilities.
Clear game once, start new game with name: RICHTERUnequip gear in first hallway; get knocked past Death by WargEquip Holy Glasses, strike green orb above Richter
1997Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back refines Naughty Dog’s 3D platforming with the Warp Room hub, slide-jump mechanics, and elusive colored gem secrets.
Jump repeatedly on baby Polar Bear in Warp Room 2Find hidden exit teleporters in Bear Down, Air Crash & Un-BearableTurtle Woods without breaking any crates
1999Crash Team Racing features exhilarating powerslide turbo boosts, inventive weapon battles, and an expansive adventure campaign.
Hold L1 + R1 at Main Menu: Down, Right, Right, Down, DownHold L1 + R1 at Main Menu: Left, Triangle, Right, Left, Circle, Right, Down, DownHold L1 + R1 at Main Menu: Right, Circle, Circle, Down, Up, Down, RightHold L1 + R1 at Main Menu: Left, Triangle, Right, Down, Right, Circle, Left, Left, Down
1998Metal Gear Solid revolutionized tactical espionage action with cinematic direction, vocal performances, and fourth-wall breaking puzzles.
Survive Revolver Ocelot’s torture without submittingSubmit to Revolver Ocelot’s torture (press Select to give up)Plug Controller 1 into Controller Port 2Complete game twice on same save (once Meryl, once Otacon ending)
1998Resident Evil 2 expands survival horror onto the streets of Raccoon City with dual Zapping scenarios for Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield.
In Key Config, highlight Aim, hold R1 and press Square 10 timesReach R.P.D. without picking up any items on Normal difficultyComplete Scenario A and B with an A Ranking
1999Resident Evil 3 pits Jill Valentine against the relentless bio-weapon Nemesis through the burning streets of Raccoon City.
Complete the main game with A or B rank on any difficultyComplete the main game oncePurchase in Mercenaries mode with earned bounty reward cashBeat the campaign 8 times on Hard mode
1999Silent Hill created the psychological horror benchmark with eerie fog, rust-covered alternate dimensions, and terrifying sound design.
Clear game once on Next Fear; refuel gasoline tank at gas stationComplete game with both Good+ and Bad+ endings on same saveUse Channeling Stone at 5 specific supernatural locations
1998Tekken 3 revolutionizes 3D fighting on PlayStation with fluid sidestep dodging, grounded juggle physics, and unforgettable roster additions like Jin Kazama and Eddy Gordo.
Clear Tekken Force Mode 4 TimesDefeat Gon in Tekken Ball ModePress Triangle or Start when selecting character
1997Lara Croft travels from Venice canals to the Tibetan foothills in pursuit of the mythological Dagger of Xian.
Step forward, step back, turn around 3 full times, jump forwardStep forward, step back, turn around 3 full times, jump backwardPerform weapons cheat while holding an active flare
1989Golden Axe pairs fantasy melee combat with magic potions and rideable beasts. Compare its three heroes before starting.
Hold Down-Left + 2, tap 1 on character select screenKick sleeping blue thieves multiple times before they drop items
1996Metal Slug mixes infantry shooting, rescue bonuses and the SV-001 tank across six arcade missions.
Rescue hidden POW tied above the cliff in Mission 4 & 5Press Jump + Attack simultaneously while holding Down
1999Metal Slug X revisits Metal Slug 2 with altered enemy placements, extra weapons and revised encounters.
Consume 16 food items (meat, chicken, fruit) without dyingBoard the golden tank in Mission 3 tunnel
1995The King of Fighters ’95 adds custom team selection to three-on-three fighting and introduces Iori Yagami.
Select Team Edit (Yes), hold Start, enter: Up + B, Right + C, Left + A, Down + D
1996The King of Fighters ’96 changes the series’ movement with emergency rolls and more varied jump heights.
Select Team Edit, hold Start, press: Up + B, Right + C, Left + A, Down + D
1998The King of Fighters ’98 brings back a broad roster for a dream match with Advanced and Extra playing styles.
Hold Start while picking Kyo, Terry, Andy, Joe, Ryo, Robert, Yuri, or MaiHold Start while selecting Rugal Bernstein
2000Metal Slug 3 pushes Neo Geo hardware to its peak with multi-branching missions, diverse vehicle slugs, and memorable zombie transformations.
Enable Dipswitch 1-2 / Soft Dip OptionTake Lower Cave Path in Zombie Valley
1996Street Fighter Alpha 2 introduces the flexible Custom Combo system, Alpha Counters, and expanded rosters to Capcom’s premier 2D fighting engine.
Highlight Akuma, tap Start 5 times, press Punch + KickHighlight Ryu, tap Start twice, confirm with PunchHighlight Chun-Li, hold Start for 5 seconds, press any button
1998Street Fighter Alpha 3 perfects Capcom’s 2D fighting legacy with three distinct ISM fighting styles, air blocking, and an expansive roster of world warriors.
Highlight Karin, wait 3 seconds, move to Random, hold Start and press any buttonHighlight Ryu, wait 1 second, move to Random, hold Start and press any buttonHighlight Akuma, wait 1 second, move to Random, hold Start and press any button
1994Super Street Fighter II adds Cammy, Dee Jay, Fei Long and T. Hawk to the familiar one-on-one fighting roster.
Hold all 3 punch or 3 kick buttons when tapping Start
2002The King of Fighters 2002 delivers lightning-fast competitive 3v3 action, celebrated for its MAX Mode cancel engine and polished dream match balance.
On Kyo: Up, Down, Right, Left, Down, Up, Left, RightHighlight Yashiro, Shermie, or Chris, and hold StartArcade operator dipswitch / Console cursor above Yashiro
1997The King of Fighters ’97 offers Advanced and Extra styles, changing how your team moves and uses its power gauge.
Hold Start, press Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right + A + CHold Start, press Up, Down, Up, Down, Up, Down + B + DHold Start, press Up, Left, Down, Right, Up, Down + B + C
1991Sonic The Hedgehog on Sega Master System is a distinct 8-bit adventure crafted specifically for 8-bit hardware with unique zones, exploration puzzles, and hidden Chaos Emeralds.
Up, Down, Left, Right, Hold 1 + 2, then press StartLeap from upper loop spring to high secret ledge
1996The timeless Cold War strategy clash between Soviets and Allies, featuring Tesla coils, Mammoth tanks, and Chronospheres.
Hold Shift and click the speaker icon in top-right of Main MenuChronoshift an Allied Cruiser directly adjacent to enemy base on landInfiltrate Soviet Submarine Pens with an Allied Spy
1995Doom combines fast first-person combat with coloured keys, secret rooms and carefully managed health and ammunition.
IDDQDIDKFAIDSPISPOPDIDDT
1994Doom II adds the Super Shotgun and new enemy types to classic Doom’s fast combat and maze-like level exploration.
IDDQDIDKFAIDCLIPIDCLEV## (e.g. IDCLEV31 for secret Wolfenstein stage)
1989Prince of Persia turns careful steps, running jumps, ledge grabs and sword duels into a timed escape.
Start game with "prince megahit", press Shift + L, Shift + T, or Shift + K
1996Quake combines fully 3D levels, vertical combat and projectile weapons across a sequence of dark single-player episodes.
Press ~ then type godPress ~ then type give allPress ~ then type noclip
1989SimCity lets you zone land, connect power and transport, and balance a growing city’s budget and services.
Type funds in the budget / disaster menu
1997Bullfrog’s classic humorous hospital simulation curing comical ailments like Bloaty Head, Slack Tongue, and Alien DNA.
Type 7287 on keyboard when incoming fax arrives, press EnterPress Ctrl + C while in cheat modePress Ctrl + M while in cheat modePress Shift + C while in cheat mode
1995Warcraft II combines base building and army control with naval warfare, oil resources and an expanding fog of war.
Press Enter, type glittering prizes, press EnterPress Enter, type it is a good day to die, press EnterPress Enter, type on screen, press EnterPress Enter, type make it so, press Enter
1992Wolfenstein 3D centres on corridor navigation, keys, ammunition and hidden rooms behind movable wall sections.
Hold M + L + I simultaneously during gameplayDuring the 8-bit and 16-bit console eras, cartridges contained limited read-only memory (ROM). Video game testers had no save states or rewind tools to inspect late-game stages. Developers like Kazuhisa Hashimoto (creator of the Konami Code for Gradius on NES in 1985) programmed quick controller bypasses so QA engineers could test final bosses with 30 lives or full armaments without restarting from World 1.
Before battery-backed SRAM became standard in home cartridges, developers designed complex alphanumeric password systems (such as in Metroid, Mega Man, or Castlevania). These password algorithms mathematically encoded stage progression, weapon inventories, and health stats into strings of letters and numbers that players could copy down in notebooks.
Our in-browser players map classic gamepads directly to your computer keyboard or plugged-in USB controller. For example, on NES titles, directional inputs correspond to your Arrow keys, Button B maps to Key X, and Button A maps to Key Z. Click directly inside the game screen before entering sequences to ensure your keyboard focus is captured.