By far the most famous cheat code in all video games is the Konami code. Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start is not only famous in gaming, but even in pop culture in general as it has been mentioned in many other media. This includes the movie Wreck-It Ralph and various websites like Facebook and Discord.
Many of the code’s occurrences are in Konami titles, but other games have the code as well. Putting it up can lead to amazing profits or some really cool Easter eggs. As well known as the code is, some of these uses are very well hidden, and some take years to finally figure out.
10 dead by daylight
Dead by Daylight is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, multiplayer horror games right now. At this point, it has a lot of content from other movie franchises and video games. One of these licensed properties is Silent Hill, a Konami IP. With Heather, Pyramid Head, and Elementary School map added. It was a nice treat considering Silent Hill saw no sign of returning in 2020.
A sweet Easter egg was also included. With the Silent Hill DLC installed, enter the Konami code in the main menu. This will unlock the Vic Viper charm. For those who don’t know, the Vic Viper is the flagship ship in the Gradius series, and the first installment was the debut game to use the iconic code, a cool bonus for people who enter the code on a whim.
9 Child Dracula (NES)
Konami games in the past were quite diverse. You not only got a lot of mainline installments, but also wacky spin-offs, and that’s Kid Dracula. A parody of the Castlevania series, it’s a decent title, although the Game Boy version is superior. Almost every Konami game in this era had Konami’s code doing some sort of effect, and Kid Dracula is no different.
However, it may not be what you would expect. If you enter the code at the title screen when starting the game, you’ll see a message saying, “Sorry! Nothing this time!” This is a fun Easter egg, considering that a lot of people would post the code with the number of games it’s already been used in. Also, it’s appropriate for a parody game.
8 Super Monkey Ball Jr.
Monkey Ball, Jr.’s first handheld title is an awesome and fun GBA game. The use of the Konami code is similar to Kid Dracula’s, except it’s a huge cheat. Putting the exact code on the title screen results in a nice try message being displayed.
You’d think the code doesn’t do anything at that point, but you just have to redo things a bit. If you swap the Up and Down inputs, it triggers the Enable All cheat, unlocking everything to play in the title. It’s one thing to make fun of yourself a little, and another to completely fool yourself. That goes beyond what most uses of the code do.
7 silent hill 3
This one is great. Silent Hill 3 has the best and wackiest unlockables in the series, including a Sailor Moon-esque outfit for Heather. Conversely, Douglas also has a bonus costume, but it’s a little less flattering. Putting the code in the main menu and starting a new bonus game unlocks her bonus outfit.
He still has the trench coat and tie, but the shirt and pants are missing. This makes the opening scene, where Heather interrogates this strange stranger, that much more fun. It’s a quality unlockable that makes the game more entertaining in repeat playthroughs.
6 Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped
Getting a sweet perk or an Easter egg from the Konami code is great, but better than that is a full demo to play. In Crash Bandicoot 3 for PS1, enter the code at the title screen with a slight change: press Square after the instructions.
This unlocks a demo of the first Spyro the Dragon game. Back then, having demos as a bonus unlock was always awesome and something you don’t really see anymore. The secret actually came back in N Sane Trilogy, but you only get a trailer for Spyro, which isn’t fun.
5 mario party 1
Even with all the Mario Party games available now, the first title holds up as a fun party game. The boards, especially, remain some of the best in the series. Like many of Nintendo’s N64 games, you can access a debugging menu with valuable information inside.
In the case of Mario Party, you can see stats, which is pretty vital considering the bonus stars you get at the end. To do this, on player one’s turn, pause the game with controller two. Then on controller one, enter the Konami code to access the debug menu. If you know this, you can essentially cheat in multiplayer.
4 Evolution of trials
Trials Evolution already boasts one of the best Easter eggs of all time with a full scavenger hunt. However, there was another Easter egg present that remained unsolved for almost five years after the game’s release. In the second DLC pack, you can enter the Konami code to access a secret area in the Moneyball skill game.
It’s slightly different with the A, X, A, and X entries after the directionals. To solve this secret grid area, go right, right, up once, right, up twice, right, up four times, right, up seven times. This will reveal a quote from Niels Bohr. It’s crazy for a motorcycle game to have so many Easter eggs referencing historical events and people, in contrast to the humorous nature of the title.
3 Enders zone: the second corridor
One of Kojima Productions’ best games wasn’t even directed by Kojima, as Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner is still top tier in terms of mech combat games. Gradius’ Vic Viper plays a surprisingly important role in the title, even if it’s a boss fight. In the extra missions, go to the boss battle mode and choose the Vic Viper encounter.
When you are in battle, pause the game and enter the Konami code. After the directional inputs, press L1/LB, then R1/RB. After winning the fight, the Zoradius mission will be unlocked, a 3D callback to classic Konami shooters. It’s a lot of fun, and even entering the code here maxes out your power-ups, just like those classic titles.
2 Against (NES)
The Konami code is also often called the Contra code, and for good reason. Probably the most used inclusion of the code, you have to enter it on the title screen to get an extra 30 lives. Contra is one of the best titles on the NES, but also one of the most difficult.
This cheat makes the game much more playable and is how most got the better of it back then and even now. Sure, you can play without it, but unless you really want to test your skills, there’s no reason to. Everyone uses the Konami code in this game, but another Contra uses it better.
1 against 4
As famous as Konami’s code is, Contra 4’s 30 life code remained hidden for years after the game’s release. People actually complained that the 30 life code was missing because Contra 4 might be the hardest Contra yet. To enter it, you need to use the DS’s unique touch screen.
Upon entering the first level, enter the Konami code by tapping the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the screen where applicable. After that press B, A, then tap the center of the screen. This will give you an extra 30 lives, and it’s easy to see why it was hidden for so long. Entering the code via a touch screen is definitely a cool way to use it, and just like Contra 1, it’s immensely useful.
