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.

Super Mario series

Super Mario Bros.

In 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 latest world the player currently is in 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.

Diddy Kong Racing

Every time the player finishes a game and watches the credits, a 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 22 codes: the code is on the right and the effect is on the left.

High Speed Racers -
Big Characters - ARNOLD
Small Characters - TEENYWEENIES
Music Menu - JUKEBOX
Start With 10 Bananas - FREEFRUIT
Horn Cheat - BLABBERMOUTH
Display Credits - WHODIDTHIS
Disable Weapons - BYEBYEBALLOONS
Disable Bananas - NOYELLOWSTUFF
Bananas Reduce Speed - BOGUSBANANAS
No Limit To Bananas - VITAMINB
All Balloons Are Red - BOMBSAWAY
All Balloons Are Green - TOXICOFFENDER
All Balloons Are Blue - ROCKETFUEL
All Balloons Are Yellow - BODYARMOR
All Balloons Are Rainbow - OPPOSITEATTRACT
Maximum Power-Up - FREEFORALL
Turn Off Zippers - ZAPTHEZIPPERS
Select Same Player - DOUBLEVISION
Four-Wheel Drive - OFFROAD
Two-Player Adventure - JOINTVENTURE
Ultimate AI - TIMETOLOSE

Donkey Kong franchise

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

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. This is exclusive to the SNES version.

The players should into the cabin where Kaptain K. Rool's note is found, then leave without collecting the Extra Life Balloon or reading the note.
The players 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 players 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.

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.
46COINS – Players unlock all 46 DK Coins.
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.

Yoshi franchise

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

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.