If you’re familiar with the combination
Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-B-A-Select-Start, chances are good that you grew up in the 80s. This is because this combination of buttons is the infamous Konami Code, a cheat code that video games (and others, including some websites and software) have continued to reference since it first appeared in 1986.
Let’s examine the Konami Code’s origins, as well as the various ways it has been used since.
Where Did the Konami Code Come From?
Back in 1986, the video game company Konami released a home version of the arcade game Gradius playable on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). However, in order to test the game out throughout its development for the NES, the entire game needed to be played through, each time. The developer responsible for the game, Kazuhisa Hashimoto, found this far more frustrating than it should have been. To fix this, Hashimoto created a cheat code to simplify his process that—by unlocking every power-up that would otherwise be granted throughout the game—made it much easier to move along to the point that needed to be tested.
The thing is, the code was never removed as it should have been before its release, as its inclusion wasn’t caught until it was too far into production to remove it without creating additional glitches to deal with. Fortunately, the Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-B-A-Select-Start combination wasn’t one that a user would be apt to put in unless they intended to.
However, the code was quickly discovered, and since then has been purposefully included in numerous games. More to our point, it has also appeared elsewhere, firmly cementing itself into pop culture.
Other Places the Konami Code Has Since Emerged
In addition to Gradius, the Konami Code has appeared in dozens of other games. One particularly famous example is the use of the Konami Code in the game Contra, where the player would receive 30 extra lives. This is just one example of the many, many games that have incorporated the Konami Code into their gameplay in one way or another.
In addition to these appearances, the Konami Code has been referenced in many pieces of popular culture outside of the video game world. Somewhat recently, it served as a major plot point in the movie Wreck-It Ralph, was encoded in the background of an episode of the animated spy series Archer, and has been recited in an episode of Family Guy.
Of course, it has also been heavily utilized by various websites and services as an Easter egg of sorts. Reciting it to the Google Assistant or Amazon’s Alexa will trigger one of a few responses from the assistants, and entering it into an Error 404 page on Discord will start a game of snake.
So, if you ever come across the combination
Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-B-A-Select-Start, now you know what it is and where it came from. Have you ever stumbled across the Konami Code before? Share it with us in the comments, and make sure you subscribe to our blog.
FAQs
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).
Does the Konami code still work? ›
The Konami Code is still used today, but it's used differently. Games today tend not to focus on lives-based gameplay, so adding extra lives or power-ups would often be pointless. Instead, the modern Konami code usually unlocks bonus content or hard difficulty modes.
What is the Konami life code? ›
The Konami Code (also known as the Contra Code or the 30 Lives Code) is a cheat code in many Konami and non-Konami games. To enter the code, simply press ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A (sometimes followed by START and/or SELECT ).
What is the most popular cheat code? ›
There really is no other cheat in gaming that can match the Konami Code in popularity. Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start has been embedded in our brains through countless uses across a variety of games.
What happens if you tell Siri the Konami code? ›
'Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A' – better known as the Konami Code was created by developer Kazuhisa Hashimoto and is known as the most common cheat code in the world. Tell this to Siri and her response is… 'NERD,' 'cheater,' or 'I'm getting dizzy.
What is the famous cheat code up down? ›
The Konami Code
Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A – no list of cheat codes can be complete without this one. It's iconic to anyone who remembers cheat codes, and while it's known as The Konami Code, that doesn't mean it was exclusively used in the famed Japanese publisher's titles.
Why do you need a Konami ID? ›
A KONAMI ID is your own unique ID which allows you to use online services provided by the Konami Group. Registering a KONAMI ID is free of charge.
Is the Konami code in Mario? ›
These can and probably will take the challenge out of the game, but can really help if You happen to be stuck. Below are the cheats with instructions. Enjoy. Music Test: On the title screen, enter the Konami code (Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Select) and “Grassy Hills” should appear.
How many lives are in the Konami code? ›
The Konami Code (コナミコマンド) is a special combination of buttons that appears in several Konami games. It was widely popularised due to its inclusion in the original Contra video game, where it allowed the player to obtain 30 free lives.
Does the Konami Code work on Google? ›
The Konami Code strikes again. Go to a Google search bar and using voice, search for “Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right.” And just like that, you'll have unlimited free Google searches. Of course this is tongue-in-cheek.
The code was first used in the 1986 release of Gradius for the Nintendo Entertainment System but was popularized among North American players in the NES version of Contra, for which it was also dubbed both the "Contra Code" and "30 Lives Code", because of its nearly necessary use in the game.
What is the oldest cheat code? ›
One of the earliest known examples of this type of cheat is the Konami Code, created in 1986 by Konami developer Kazuhisa Hashimoto as he worked on porting the 1985 arcade game Gradius for use on the Nintendo Entertainment System.
How many games does the Konami code work on? ›
List of Konami code games. Back in the day, the Konami code popped up in all the big franchises the studio released games for. So Gradius, Contra, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Metal Gear, Castlevania and many others took advantage of it. Not to mention Dance Dance Revolution!
Do cheat codes exist anymore? ›
Cheat codes have largely gone away in the modern gaming landscape.
How many games did the Konami code work on? ›
The code is burned into the memories of many kids that grew up playing video games in the 1980s and '90s. It's used in more than 100 games, such as Castlevania and Mortal Kombat III. The code famously gave players 30 lives in the game Contra, which was released in 1988.
What does the Konami code do in Metal Gear? ›
Enter the classic game code to unlock both Very Hard and Revengeance difficulties from the main menu, before completing the game on Hard mode.
What websites does the Konami code work on? ›
The 10 best Konami Code Easter eggs on the Web
- 1) Reddit. Speaking of Conde Nast, we begin with everyone's favorite social news site and troll playground! ...
- 3) Wired.com (U.K.) ...
- 4) Vogue (U.K.) ...
- 5) GQ (U.K.) ...
- 6) Easy Living (U.K.) ...
- 7) BuzzFeed. ...
- 8) Usetrackthis.com. ...
- 9) VirtualNES.com.
