Konami Code

In the original code, the player has to press the following sequence of buttons on the game controller to enable a cheat or other effects:

{{key press|Up}}{{key press|Up}}{{key press|Down}}{{key press|Down}}{{key press|Left}}{{key press|Right}}{{key press|Left}}{{key press|Right}}{{key press|B}}{{key press|A}}; sometimes {{key press|Start}} and/or {{key press|Select}} is added to the sequence.

The Konami Code was first used in the release of Gradius (1986), a scrolling shooter for the NES{{cite web |last=Garmon |first=Jay |date=6 March 2007 |title=Geek Trivia: The cheat goes on |url=http://www.techrepublic.com/article/geek-trivia-the-cheat-goes-on/ |access-date=2008-04-16 |website=TechRepublic}} and was popularized among North American players in the NES version of Contra. The code is also known as the "Contra Code" and "30 Lives Code", since the code provided the player 30 lives in Contra. The code has been used to help novice players progress through the game.{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Benj |date=2021-08-24 |title=What Is the Konami Code, and How Do You Use it? |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/659611/what-is-the-konami-code-and-how-do-you-use-it/ |access-date=2022-01-14 |website=How-To Geek |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Silverberg|first=David|date=2020-09-27|title=Cheat Codes Helped Turn the Most Devilishly Difficult Video Games Into Something Actually Beatable|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/gaming/a33650224/cheat-code-history/|access-date=2022-01-14|website=Popular Mechanics|language=en-US}}

The Konami Code was created by Kazuhisa Hashimoto, who was developing the home port of the 1985 arcade game Gradius for the NES. Finding the game too difficult to play through during testing, he created the cheat code, which gives the player a full set of power-ups (normally attained gradually throughout the game). After entering the sequence using the controller when the game was paused, the player received all available power-ups. The code was meant to be removed prior to publishing, but this was overlooked and only discovered as the game was being prepared for mass production. The developers decided to leave it there, as removing it could result in new bugs and glitches. The sequence was easy enough to remember for testers and simultaneously sufficiently hard to enter accidentally during the gameplay for unsuspecting users.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}}

The Konami Code was thus included in the series' other sequels and spin-offs, with some key differences. The code has been subsequently re-used in a large number of other games and other computer programs.

;Tetris (Tengen version for Nintendo Entertainment System): Entering this code minus {{key press|Up}}{{key press|Up}} while paused will change the current Tetromino into the I piece, also called a longbar. This can be done only once per new game.{{Cite web |title=Tetris (Tengen) Cheats For NES |url=https://www.gamespot.com/games/tetris-tengen/cheats/ |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=gamespot.com}}

;Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness (Nintendo 64): A Konami code variant was discovered in the game in 2024. The code unlocks all four characters, their outfits, and a hard difficulty mode.{{cite web |last1=Stanton |first1=Rich |title=A Konami code variant in Castlevania has been discovered after a quarter of a century |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/a-konami-code-variant-in-castlevania-has-been-discovered-after-a-quarter-of-a-century/ |website=PC Gamer |publisher=Future plc |access-date=24 April 2024 |date=22 April 2024}}

;Yu-Gi-Oh! The Falsebound Kingdom (GameCube): The Konami code can be used during any map to gain gold. This will also trigger hidden dialog of a man shouting Yu-Gi-Oh.{{Cite web|title=Falsebound Kingdom Cheats|url=https://www.yugioh-world.com/the-video-games/falsebound-kingdom-information/falsebound-kingdom-cheats|access-date=2020-09-08|website=YuGiOh! World|date=11 October 2015|language=en-US}}

;The Incredibles (THQ and Heavy Iron Studios, Windows, Mac, Xbox, PlayStation 2): Inputting the code into the cheats keyboard "UUDDLRLRBAS" gives the player 25% health, and can be used an unlimited number of times.{{cite web |last=Scalzo |first=John |date=2006-06-22 |title=The Incredibles Cheat Codes (GameCube) |url=http://www.gamingtarget.com/article.php?artid=5651 |access-date=2018-03-22 |website=GamingTarget}}

;Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (PlayStation 2): Entering the code in the pause menu will replace the Omniwrench with a doubled ended lightsaber. In the PlayStation 3 version, whether by accident or design, two debug codes were left in the game by the developers.{{cite web |date=2012-12-04 |title=Debug mode in UYA |url=http://www.insomniacgames.com/community/showthread.php?50471-Debug-mode-in-UYA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313044807/http://www.insomniacgames.com/community/showthread.php?50471-Debug-mode-in-UYA |archive-date=2016-03-13 |access-date=2016-03-12 |website=InsomniacGames}}

;LittleBigPlanet 2 (Media Molecule, PlayStation 3): When entered in the unused arcade machine at the level "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Negativatron" (PlayStation 3 variation of the code), the machine explodes and unveils a square with the numbers "3733 5683", which on a mobile keypad, spells the phrase "free love".{{cite web |date=2017-03-07 |title=PS3 Cheats - LittleBigPlanet 2 Wiki Guides |url=http://www.ign.com/wikis/littlebigplanet-2/PS3_Cheats |access-date=2018-08-11 |website=IGN}}

;Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?!! (Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS): Inputting the code on the title screen results in an animated looping clip of an 8-bit recreation of Adventure Time's creator, Pendleton Ward dancing. To the left of Ward is an 8-bit version of Jake, and to the right, an 8-bit version of Finn.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/LoHmL2KCqV0 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201102211541/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoHmL2KCqV0 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoHmL2KCqV0| title = Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage? - Secret Screen | website=YouTube| date = April 12, 2016 }}{{cbignore}}{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=March 2023}}

;BioShock Infinite (Irrational Games, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch): A variation of the Konami Code at the game's menus unlocks the game's more difficult "1999 Mode" from the start.{{cite magazine | url = https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/03/25/how-to-unlock-1999-mode-in-bioshock-infinite.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130328034608/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/03/25/how-to-unlock-1999-mode-in-bioshock-infinite.aspx | url-status = live | archive-date = March 28, 2013 | title = How To Unlock 1999 Mode In BioShock Infinite | first = Joe | last = Juba | date = 2013-03-24 | access-date = 2013-03-24 | magazine = Game Informer }}

;Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance: Code entry unlocks Revengeance and Very Hard difficulties without passing the game on Hard difficulty.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/metal-gear-rising-revengeance/Xbox_360_Cheats |title=Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Guide Xbox — 360 Cheats |date=March 7, 2017 |publisher=IGN |access-date=2023-10-03}}

;Sportsfriends (PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4): The code allows to play FLOP, a wiggly variant of Pong. A similar code accesses the hidden game Get on Top.{{cite web |last=McElroy |first=Griffin |date=2014-05-07 |title=How to find Sportsfriends' two secret games |url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/5/7/5691752/sportsfriends-get-on-top-pong-secret-code-unlocks |access-date=2014-05-07 |website=Polygon}}

;Dead by Daylight (Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch): When the code is entered while having one of the Silent Hill characters equipped on the main menu, the game plays a jingle from Gradius and grants the player a charm that can be equipped by characters.{{Cite web |last=Woodrick |first=Sam |date=2020-06-16 |title=Dead by Daylight: How to Enter the Konami Code and Unlock the Vic Viper Charm |url=https://gamerant.com/dead-by-daylight-vic-viper-konami-code-get-how/ |access-date=2024-04-24 |website=Game Rant |language=en}}

;Fortnite Battle Royale (Windows, MacOS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Mobile): The Konami code was used to access the Fortnite Durr Burger minigame at the black hole screen after the end of the Chapter 1 Season X event.{{Cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/theres-a-konami-code-in-fortnites-black-hole-1839013491 | title = There's A Konami Code In Fortnite's Black Hole | first = Riley | last = MacLoed | date = October 13, 2019 | access-date = October 13, 2019 | work = Kotaku}} It was only available for a period of 38 hours starting from 7:00pm UTC on October 13, 2019 and was no longer accessible on the start of Fortnite: Chapter 2.

;Tetris Effect: Entering the code at the launch screen enables a second screen accepting a code. Inputting the number "06061984" (representing June 6, 1984, the "birth date" of Tetris) will then unlock the "1984" level.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-06 |title=Tetris Effect says it's time to party like it's 1989 (or 1984)! |url=https://tetris.com/article/257/tetris-effect-says-its-time-to-party-like-its-1989-or-1984 |access-date=2021-06-08 |website=Tetris.com}}

;Anno 1800 (Ubisoft Blue Byte, Windows): Entering the code within the gameworld spawns hundreds of random animals flying through the air and chaotically bouncing off the terrain.{{cite magazine |last=Uslenghi |first=Fabiano |date=2020-02-26 |title=Konami Code: Der Erfinder des berühmtesten Cheatcodes aller Zeiten ist tot |trans-title=Konami Code: The inventor of the most famous cheat code of all time is dead |url=https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/konami-code-der-erfinder-beruehmtesten-cheatcodes-tot,3354784.html |magazine=GameStar |access-date=2022-07-17}}

;Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night: This spiritual sequel to Castlevania developed by Koji Igarashi lets players enter a "1986 Mode", which makes the game's controls more similar to the more-difficult Castlevania series, by entering the Konami Code at a menu screen.{{cite web | url = https://www.ign.com/articles/bloodstained-ritual-of-the-night-1986-mode-secret-hidden-how-to-unlock-classic | title = Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Has Been Hiding a Secret, Extra-Difficult 1986 Mode | first = Joe | last = Skrebels | date = February 9, 2021 | access-date = February 9, 2021 | work = IGN }}

;Ultrakill (Windows): Unlocks a cheat menu, with cheats bound to keyboard commands.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mixtX_3iefs|title=ULTRAKILL Cheats Menu - How to use it and what it can do - YouTube|website=YouTube |date=September 14, 2020 }}

;Insaniquarium Deluxe (Windows, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, mobile phone, Palm OS, Windows Mobile, PDA ): Entering the code in the main menu unlocks the secret "Sandbox Mode".{{Cite web |title=Insaniquarium Cheats |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/pc-cheats/Insaniquarium_Deluxe!_Cheats

|website=ign.com|date=March 14, 2017

}}

• Entering a version of the Konami code in the Opera Browser in versions between 19 and 54 activated hidden advanced settings.{{cite web |date=28 June 2014 |title=Use Konami Code to Enable Power User Settings in Opera - Techdows |url=http://techdows.com/2014/06/use-konami-code-to-enable-power-user-settings-in-opera.html |access-date=30 December 2016 |website=Techdows.com}}{{Cite web |date=2018-12-29 |title=Opera Secret Power User Settings Mode and Konami Code – AskVG |url=https://www.askvg.com/opera-secret-power-user-settings-mode-and-konami-code/ |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=www.askvg.com |language=en-US}}
• A variation of the Konami code is used to reset the Netflix program on some devices.{{cite web |last=Rhee |first=Ed |date=2013-08-02 |title=How to access hidden Netflix streaming settings |url=http://www.cnet.com/au/how-to/how-to-access-hidden-netflix-streaming-settings/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604093116/http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-access-hidden-netflix-streaming-settings/ |archive-date=2014-06-04 |access-date=2018-03-22 |website=CNET}}{{cite magazine |last=Ameripug |first=Captain |date=2012-08-26 |title=The Xbox 360 Netflix App Uses A Form Of The Konami Code To Change Settings - News |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/08/26/the-xbox-360-netflix-app-uses-a-form-of-the-konami-code-to-change-settings.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828045403/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/08/26/the-xbox-360-netflix-app-uses-a-form-of-the-konami-code-to-change-settings.aspx |url-status=live |archive-date=August 28, 2012 |access-date=2018-03-22 |magazine=Game Informer}}
• Entering the code on any Discord Error 404 website will unlock a secret game of Snake.{{Cite web|url=https://discord.com/404/|title=Discord 404|website=Discord|language=en-US|access-date=2021-06-12}}
• Entering the code on the 2016 Marks and Spencer Christmas food ordering site resulted in some festive creatures popping up.{{Cite web|url=https://christmasfood.marksandspencer.com/|title=M&S Christmas Food|date=2016-12-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214174841/https://christmasfood.marksandspencer.com/|archive-date=2016-12-14|url-status=bot: unknown|access-date=2018-03-22}}
• Entering the code on the Megaport website enables a Snake-like game which the user can play.{{Cite web|title=Megaport|url=https://www.megaport.com/snake/|access-date=2020-06-12|website=www.megaport.com}}
• Entering the Konami Code on the Bank of Canada's website for the commemorative $10 bill plays a chiptune version of the Canadian national anthem and drops commemorative $10 notes.{{Cite web |title=Explore the New $10 Note |url=https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/bank-note-series/commemorative-notes/banknote150/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710132429/https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/bank-note-series/commemorative-notes/banknote150/ |archive-date=2019-07-10 |access-date=2019-05-19 |website=Bank of Canada |language=en-US}}
• Entering the code on a Google Hangouts conversation and pressing enter used to change the background of the conversation typed in.{{cite news |last=Obias |first=Rudie |date=18 March 2016 |title=10 Google Hangouts Easter Eggs |work=Mental Floss |url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/65804/10-google-hangouts-easter-eggs |access-date=25 September 2017}}
• Reciting the code to Google Assistant will cause it to say either "Cheat mode enabled.", or "You destroyed the Vile Red Falcon and saved the universe. Consider yourself a hero" with a trophy emoji or a similar response.{{cite web |last=Burns |first=Matt |date=19 March 2014 |title=Google's Konami Code Easter Egg Unlocks 'Cheat Mode' |url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/03/19/googles-konami-code-easter-egg-unlocks-cheat-mode/ |access-date=10 January 2018 |website=TechCrunch}}
• Reciting the code to Apple's virtual assistant Siri will cause her to give one of three responses: "Cheater!", "Nerd." or "I'm getting dizzy...". The user will need to say "enter" instead of "start," as this will confuse Siri in thinking a timer is being set.{{Cite news |last=Hein |first=Buster |date=2013-05-31 |title=Siri Knows You're A Dirty Cheater At Video Games [Easter Egg] |language=en-US |work=Cult of Mac |url=https://www.cultofmac.com/229465/siri-knows-youre-a-dirty-cheater-at-video-games-easter-egg/ |access-date=2018-10-08}}
• Reciting the code to Amazon's Alexa will cause her to say: "Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding! Great job, you've secured all the power-ups!", "Sorry, so close, no power-ups for you." or "Super Alexa mode, activated. Starting reactors, online. Enabling advanced systems, online. Raising dongers. Error. Dongers missing. Aborting."{{Cite web |author=Earl Wells III |first=Robert |date=2021-04-29 |title=What is Super Alexa Mode? The Secrets of the Elusive Alexa Easter Egg |url=https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-super-alexa-mode-4684563 |access-date=2020-07-17 |website=Lifewire |language=en}}
• Entering the code on the WWF-UK website will cause the panda logo to spin.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwf.org.uk/|title=Homepage|website=WWF|language=en|access-date=2018-03-22}}
• Entering the code on the Twitch Creator's Dashboard used to bring up several advanced options for the program.{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamesn.com/twitch/konami-code | title = Twitch has hidden features you can access with the Konami code | first = Ian | last = Bourdeau | date = December 7, 2019 | access-date = December 7, 2019 | work = PCGamesN }}
• At one point, the Facebook website contained an Easter Egg where after entering the Konami code, a lens flare would be generated whenever the user would scroll or click anywhere on the page.{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Harisson |date=2009-05-08 |title=Konami Code triggers Easter egg on Facebook too |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/konami-code-triggers-easter-egg-on-facebook-too/ |access-date=2020-10-23 |website=CNET}}
• The Chromebook Pixel has an Easter egg where inputting the Konami Code would cause the lights on an LED strip on the lid of the computer to blink rapidly.{{Cite magazine |last=Oliverez-Giles |first=Nathan |date=February 22, 2013 |title=Google's Pixel Chromebook Has a Konami Code Easter Egg |url=https://www.wired.com/2013/02/google-pixel-konami-code-easter-egg/ |magazine=Wired}}
• The code was part of the secret URL for the Linus Tech Tips "Verified Gamer" program to counter the Great GPU Shortage.{{Citation|title=I Was RIGHT!!!! (and I hate it)| date=March 23, 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A4yk-P5ukY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/3A4yk-P5ukY| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-03-23}}{{cbignore}}
• Within the Unreal Engine 5 demonstration program Valley of the Ancient, entering the Konami Code will cause the giant robot within it to dab.{{cite web | url = https://www.gamespot.com/articles/unreal-engine-5s-demo-has-a-small-konami-code-easter-egg-and-dabbing-is-involved/1100-6492129/ | title = Unreal Engine 5's Demo Has A Small Konami Code Easter Egg, And Dabbing Is Involved | first = Darryn | last = Bonthuys | date = May 28, 2021 | accessdate = May 28, 2021 | work = GameSpot }}
• Typing upupdowndownleftrightleftrightbastart on some Palm/HP webOS devices enables developer mode.{{cite journal |last1=Casey |first1=Eoghan |last2=Cheval |first2=Adrien |last3=Lee |first3=Jong Yeon |last4=Oxley |first4=David |last5=Song |first5=Yong Jun |title=Forensic acquisition and analysis of palm webOS on mobile devices |journal=Digital Investigation |date=1 July 2011 |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=37–47 |doi=10.1016/j.diin.2011.04.003 }}
• Three Fisher-Price toys, one modeled after a game controller, one modeled after a Game Boy, and one modeled after a Nintendo Switch (which show various lights and sounds when the buttons are pressed) present a special sequence of lights and sounds if the Konami code is entered.{{cite web |last=Oxford |first=Nadia |date=December 17, 2018 |title=The Famed Konami Code from Contra Works on a New Fisher Price Toy |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-famed-konami-code-from-contra-works-on-a-new-fisher-price-toy |access-date=December 17, 2018 |work=USGamer}}
• King Candy in the film Wreck-It Ralph uses the Konami code to access a locked portion of the code of Sugar Rush.
• Social media platform Twitter changed its logo from the then usual blue bird, to the Doge meme for a supposed late April Fools Day prank in 2023. Until the site's rebranding to X, if the Konami code was entered on the home page, the logo present in the top left corner would spin.{{cite web |last=Gairola |first=Ananya |date=April 4, 2023 |title=Twitter's New Doge Logo Hides A Secret 'Spin' Code: Here's How You Can Unlock It |url=https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31654674/twitters-new-doge-logo-hides-a-secret-spin-code-heres-how-you-can-unlock-it |access-date=July 26, 2023 |work=Benzinga}}
• The 2001 song "Anyone Else but You," by the Moldy Peaches, includes the lyrics "Up up down down left right left right B A start / Just because we use cheats doesn't mean we're not smart."

{{reflist}}

• [http://g4tv.com/videos/9381/Cheat---The-Konami-Code/ Video about the Konami Code] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418115947/http://g4tv.com/videos/9381/Cheat---The-Konami-Code |date=2017-04-18 }} from the G4 TV show Cheat!

{{Konami Holdings Corporation}}

Category:Konami

Category:Easter egg (media)

Category:Cheating in video games

Category:1986 introductions

Category:1986 in video gaming