Cheat code
Cheat codes are built-in cheating mechanisms in video games that usually give the player considerable advantages, such as the ability to skip to any level regardless of progress, invincibility, or power-ups to the player character. Cheats are typically activated with unprompted button sequences in the game's menus or by accomplishing an obscure or illogical series of events within the game. Despite their name, cheat-codes do not always give the player an advantage, as something entered like a cheat-code may instead result in graphical changes or unlock extra content that does not directly benefit the player.
Several games in the Mario franchise have featured cheat codes. Note that the following list only features built-in cheats and does not list codes activated from a third-party cheating device such as the Game Genie.
Mario franchise
Super Mario series
Super Mario Bros.
Holding the 
button and then pressing 
on the title screen after a Game Over will allow the player to continue from the first level of the world the player died on, rather than being sent back to the beginning of the game.
New Super Mario Bros.
After finishing the game, pressing 
, 
, , , 
, , 
, on the world map start menu screen will have access to the game's Challenge Mode, a harder mode which does not allow the player to scroll the screen backwards in most courses.
Holding down ++
when selecting a file will allow a player to play as Luigi until the game is quit, at which point the process will need repeating. This can be done regardless of whether or not the game is beaten; however, this trick is stated by the game itself in the background of the "Congratulations!" message after the game is beaten once.
New Super Mario Bros. 2
Similarly to New Super Mario Bros., pressing 
+
+
when selecting a file will allow the player to play as Luigi.
New Super Luigi U
In single-player mode, pressing 
+
on the GamePad or 
+
on a Wii Remote when selecting a level allows the player to play as Nabbit for the duration of the level. If done on Flying Squirrel Ovation, the player will play as their set user Mii instead.
Super Mario Maker
Pressing 
++
while the course loads will cause the screen to look like a CRT television screen, similar to Big Mario.
Mario Golf series
Mario Golf (Nintendo 64)
On the title screen, players can press the following buttons to unlock everything in the game except Mario's Star Holes: 
, , 
, , , 
, , , 
, , 
, , , 
, , .
In the main menu, holding 
and 
and then selecting Clubhouse with 
will enable a "code entry" option. The following codes can be entered:
- KPXWN9N3 will start a tournament on Toad Highlands, at the end of which a promotional code for Nintendo Power will appear.
Mario Kart series
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
In Japan only, there was a contest for submitting Time Trial times.[citation needed] However, accessing the 16-character code is still possible in all localizations of the game. The player can see a 16-character code by pressing 
, 
, , , 
, 
, , , 
, after the results screen where they can make a menu selection.
There is a way to decode the 16-character code.[1], which will reveal the track raced, the kart used, the pair of drivers selected, the track time, and best lap time.
Mario Sports Mix
On the profile screen, the player can activate a cheat code to unlock everything on their save files. To do this, the player must first connect a Nunchuck to their Wii Remotes. Then, they should highlight their save file, hold 
and press 
three times, then release. Then they can hold 
and press four times, then release. Finally, they should hold both and and press five times, then release. If done correctly, the game will play a sound indicating success, and everything will be unlocked. The records, however, are not affected.
This cheat code only works when the save file in question has completed at least one tournament.
Donkey Kong franchise
Donkey Kong Country
Super Nintendo version
The player can enter the following button combinations after selecting "Erase Game" on the File Select screen:
,
,,,
,,,
("Bad Buddy") - in a 2-Player Game, lets the inactive player become active without the active player's input- ,,
,,,,, ("Darby Day") - starts the Music Test - ,,,,,
("Barrel") - gives 50 lives
Also, entering ,,,, ("Diddy") while Cranky Kong is winding his phonograph lets the player play the Animal Token Bonus Areas at their leisure.
Game Boy Advance version
These codes can be entered by holding 
while highlighting "Erase" on the File Select screen. Entering them correctly will have a voice say "Not Bad!".
,,,,
("Bubba") - gives infinite access to the Animal Token Bonus Areas- ,,
,,, ("Ballad") - starts the Sound Test - ,,
,,, ("Barrel") - gives 50 lives
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Super Nintendo version
In Pirate Panic, the player can perform an obscure series of events to reveal a single Kremkoin that will give them all 75 Kremcoins at once.
- The player should go into the cabin where Kaptain K. Rool's note is found, then leave without collecting the Extra Life Balloon or reading the note.
- The player should then collect the first Banana Bunch without collecting any other bananas.
- Then, they should go back into the cabin, without collecting any bananas, and grab the 1-Up Balloon.
- The player should leave the cabin, and repeat step 2.
- The player should go back into the cabin, without collecting any bananas. A Kremkoin will be inside, and once it is collected, the player's Kremkoin count will jump to the maximum of 75.
After this cheat is performed, the player can still collect regular Kremkoins from boss battles and Bonus Areas. Collecting the coins in this manner will not count toward the player's completion percentage.
While creating new file, pressing five times while highlighting Two-Player Contest Mode gives access to the game's Music Test. Doing so
again opens the Cheat Code option, allowing the following codes and effects to be added:
- ,,
,,,,, - gives 50 lives - ,,,,,,,
- removes all DK and Star Barrels
Game Boy Advance version
On the Cheats section of the Options Menu, players can input the following codes:
- WELLARD - removes all DK Barrels
- ROCKARD - removes all DK and Star Barrels
- FREEDOM - opens all levels
- ONETIME - starts Sound Test
- KREDITS - shows credits
- RICHMAN - gives ten Banana Coins
- WELLRICH - gives 50 Banana Coins
- HELPME - gives 15 lives
- WEAKLING - gives 55 lives
Donkey Kong Land 2
The English version of the game has three cheat codes the player can implement. The codes do not work on the Japanese version. While on the title screen, the player has to hold left or right, and input one of the below combinations. If done correctly, an extra life sound effect will play.
- 50 lives:
, , 
, - 40 Banana Coins: , , ,
- 47 Kremkoins: , , , (in order to get 100% completion, the standard Kremkoins must still be collected)
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
Players can enter codes in both the Super Nintendo and Game Boy Advance version of the game, resulting in gameplay changes.
Super Nintendo version
Players can initiate the code-entering screen by pressing the following sequence at the file selection screen: . Some codes are permanently attached to a file if entered before starting a new game.
- LIVES – Players are given 50 lives. Entering it before starting a new profile will result in players being ranked "Cheatin' Chump" after beating the final boss.
- ASAVE – The game automatically saves after each level. Entering it before starting a new profile will result in players being ranked "Cheatin' Chump" after beating the final boss.
- MERRY – All bonus levels will have a Christmas theme, turning Stars into ornaments and Green Bananas into presents. Additionally, different bonus level music will play. If entered before starting a new file, the effects will be permanent to that file; if entered before starting an existing file, the effect only lasts until the game is reset.
- COLOR – Dixie and Kiddy Kong's clothing will turn purple and green, respectively. This also affects the End of Level Flag. Dixie's gum (seen during her idle animation) will turn from pink to purple. Some enemy artwork seen after entering a Bonus Barrel is changed, and the Mirror is now green. Dixie Kong's Photo Album and the credits remain unaltered. If entered before starting a new file, the effects will be permanent to that file; if entered before starting an existing file, the effect only lasts until the game is reset.
- MUSIC – Enters Dixie Kong's Music Test, where players can choose any in-game music to listen to.
- WATER – Allows the player to enter the waterfall left of Bazaar's General Store, where there is a Banana Bird Cave. If the player wins the game, all 85 Bonus Coins will be earned. If entered before starting a new file, the player will always be allowed to enter the waterfall; if entered before starting an existing file, the player can only enter the waterfall until the game is reset.
- ERASE – The record time for Riverside Race will be deleted on all files.
- HARDR – 29 of the 139 DK Barrels will be removed. This code must be entered before starting a new file to work. If the game is beaten with this code activated from the start, the player will have a score of 104% instead of the standard 103%.
- TUFST – All Star Barrels are removed. If entered before starting a new file, almost all DK Barrels will additionally be removed; the effects will be permanent to that file. If entered before starting an existing file, the effect only lasts until the game is reset. If the game is beaten with this code activated from the start, the player will have a score of 105% instead of the standard 103%.
Game Boy Advance version
Players can enter codes by pressing "Enter Cheat" in the "Options" menu.
- EXTRAS – Players can play all of the minigames included in the game from the main menu.
- AQUA – Players get all 98 Bonus Coins for any new game file.
- MUSIC – The game opens the music test, where players can choose any in-game music to listen to.
- MONKEY – Players get 50 additional lives when used.
- HARDER – Star Barrels are removed.
- TUFFER – DK Barrels and Star Barrels are removed if the player starts a new game.
- KREDITS – The credits play.
Donkey Kong Land III
Like its prequel, Donkey Kong Land III features cheat codes that the player can activate by entering a certain button combination from the title screen. This plays a sound effect, and most cheats go into effect when the player enters a save file.
Unlike Donkey Kong Land 2, this game only uses the D-Pad for its button combination instead of the and buttons. Cheats appear in both the original and Color versions of Donkey Kong Land III, whereas cheats did not appear in the Japanese version of Donkey Kong Land 2.
- Pressing , , , , grants Dixie and Kiddy fifty extra lives.
- Pressing , , , , causes the player to play the mini-game Memory after they exit from the title screen.
- Pressing , , , , , , unlocks every area except the Lost World. The Stop Watches, Bonus Coins, and DK Coins are not unlocked.
- Pressing either , , , or
changes the level of the title screen's gameplay demo, depending on the number of times every button is pressed. The Kongs eventually die in every gameplay demo, except for the default Jetty Jitters demo in the original Game Boy release:
- One time: Rickety Rapids
- Two times: Whiplash Dash
- Three times: Deep Reef Grief
- Four times: the gameplay demo resets to the default Jetty Jitters.
Diddy Kong Racing
Every time the player finishes a game and watches the credits, a code, referred to as a "Magic Code," will appear that changes how the game is played. To enter the code, the player has to go to the Options menu and then the Magic Codes option. If the inputted code is valid, the player can toggle them on or off through the Code List, also in the Options menu. There are a total of 24 codes.
| Magic Code Name | Description |
|---|---|
| ARNOLD | Large players |
| BLABBERMOUTH | Changes horn sounds into character sounds |
| BODYARMOR | All balloons are yellow |
| BOGUSBANANAS | Bananas slow players down |
| BOMBSAWAY | All balloons are red |
| BYEBYEBALLOONS | Balloons are disabled |
| DODGYROMMER | Displays ROM Checksum |
| DOUBLEVISION | Multiple players can be the same character |
| EOLAOBFENRLONE | Free balloon |
| EPC | EPC lockup display |
| FREEFORALL | Fully powered-up balloons |
| FREEFRUIT | Players start with ten bananas |
| JOINTVENTURE | The second player joins Adventure mode |
| JUKEBOX | Adds Music Test to audio menu |
| NOYELLOWSTUFF | No bananas in Tracks mode. |
| OFFROAD | Four-wheel drive |
| OPPOSITESATTRACT | All balloons are rainbows |
| ROCKETFUEL | All balloons are blue |
| TEENYWEENIES | Small players |
| TIMETOLOSE | CPUs are harder |
| TOXICOFFENDER | All balloons are green |
| VITAMINB | Unlimited bananas |
| WHODIDTHIS | Players can view credits |
| ZAPTHEZIPPERS | Disables zippers |
Yoshi franchise
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island / Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3
Holding the button on the map screen and pressing , , , , will make appear a menu giving direct access to the Bandit minigames, as well as exclusive two-player variations of Throwing Balloons and Seed Spit. In the GBA version, the player must hold on the stage select screen and press , , , , ; this version removes the two-player modes of the aforementioned minigames.
