Games cheat codes have a substantial effect on the gaming world. Unfortunately, most new games don’t come with cheat codes due to the stringent restrictions and security imposed on modern games. That’s why you won’t find any members of the newer generations having any recollection of secret codes, unlike the millennials, for instance, who can name more than a few codes that were popular back in the early 90s.
However, if you want to acquaint yourself with retro games, you’ll find a wealth of cheat codes, secret or otherwise, that will improve your gaming experience, or certainly make it easier. Here are some suggestions.
Doom
Ever since this game was released in 1993 by id Software, the developer has expanded the franchise to include modern titles that you may be familiar with, like Doom Eternal, which was released in 2020, 2016’s Doom, and a couple of movie adaptations, like Doom: Annihilation. Despite all this, the Doom franchise is popular because the original game utilizes one of the most iconic cheat codes: the “God Mode.” By entering IDDQD, you become literally invincible for the rest of the game and can easily slay as many demons as you please. The “ID” of course stands for the developer’s name, and the DQD stands for “Delta-Q-Delta,” a fraternity created by none other than the developer himself, Dave Taylor.
ArmA
ArmA is a series of tactical first-person shooter games, which were developed by Bohemia Interactive. The first game was released in 2006 and the third one in the series, ArmA 3, was released in 2013, all of which have a collection of interesting secret cheat codes you can use as you see fit throughout your gameplay. Some of these codes can help you skip missions or unlock all campaign missions without having to go through them and waste hours of gameplay. You can use ArmA cheat codes in the multiplayer modes in any game of the series, but if you want to avoid detection, the coders at I Want Cheats explain that it is best to get your hacks and/or cheats from a trusted website to avoid detection and becoming banned on Steam permanently. Take note that some cheats, like FREEZE and CRASH, only work in ArmA 1 and 2.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Old and new generations alike are infatuated with Sonic the Hedgehog, but it’s only the original game that has the good cheats. One of the most common and easy-to-use cheats in Sonic is Level Select, which allows you to jump to any level you want by simply pressing: Up, Down, Left, Right, and A+Start. It’s true that the newer games, such as Super Sonic, changed the bonus levels a bit so it is easier for players to pass them, but nothing beats the original game and the excitement of using a secret cheat code, at least for retro games devotees. Although the matter of which Sonic game is better is still up for debate, the original game is the only one that has an iconic cheat code.
GTA: Vice City
The GTA franchise allows players to wreak havoc by default, but if you need some action, GTA: Vice City is the best game in which you can do this with a variety of cheat codes, like getting a weapon set without spending a dime, acquiring full health or, funnily enough, committing suicide.
In any case, these cheat codes can lead to catastrophic results, like making the whole city run after you, or making pedestrians go berserk, which can effectively ruin your gameplay, so if you want to avoid that but still want to try them out, make sure you save your game every time you enter a cheat code.
Metal Gear Solid 3
If you’ve played MGS 3, then you already know how memorable the boss fights in this game are. Unfortunately, you can’t skip The Pain and The Fear, which are two of the most difficult bosses to beat in MGS 3. When you do finally beat them, you’ll eventually make your way to The End, and you can use a secret cheat against that boss to guarantee a solid win. Many people will tell you that you’ll spend ages fighting this boss before you can beat him, but if you save the game, turn it off, then go to the main menu, you’ll find that The End is dead.
Cheats can add more fun to your gameplay but only when they don’t blow your main characters’ skills out of proportion. If there’s nothing strong enough to fight against, you won’t have any satisfaction out of playing these games, which is why it is strongly advised that you used them while you’re on a single-player mode and after you’ve saved the game.