By far, the most famous cheat code in all of video games is the Konami code. Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start isn't only famous in gaming but even in general pop culture, as it's been referenced in numerous other media. This includes the movie Wreck-It Ralph and several websites like Facebook and Discord.
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A lot of the code's appearances are in Konami titles, but other games have the code as well. Putting it in can lead to awesome buffs or some really cool Easter eggs. Despite how well-known the code is, some of these uses are very well hidden, with a few taking years to finally solve.
10 Dead By Daylight
Dead by Daylight is one of the biggest, if not the biggest multiplayer horror game out at the moment. At this point, it has so much content from other film franchises and video games. One of these licensed properties is Silent Hill, a Konami IP. With Heather, Pyramid Head, and the Elementary School map added. It was a nice treat considering Silent Hill saw no signs of coming back in 2020.
A sweet Easter egg was also included. With the Silent Hill DLC installed, put in the Konami code while on the main menu. This will unlock the Vic Viper charm. For those unaware, Vic Viper is the main ship in the Gradius series, with the first installment being the debut game to use the iconic code—a cool bonus for people putting in the code on a whim.
9 Kid Dracula (NES)
Konami's games back in the day were quite diverse. Not only did you get plenty of main installments, but wacky spin-offs too, and that's what Kid Dracula is. A parody of the Castlevania series, it's a decent title, although the Game Boy version is superior. Almost every Konami game around this time had the Konami code do some sort of effect, and Kid Dracula is no different.
However, it might not be what you'd expect. If you put in the code on the title screen upon starting the game, you'll see a message saying, "Sorry! Nothing this time!" This is a funny Easter egg, considering a lot of people would put in the code with how many games it was already used in. Plus, it's appropriate for a parody game.
8 Super Monkey Ball Jr.
The first portable Monkey Ball title, Jr. is an impressive and enjoyable GBA game. The use of the Konami code is similar to Kid Dracula, except it's a massive trap. Putting in the exact code on the title screen results in a nice try message being displayed.
You'd think the code does nothing at that point, but you just have to rework things a little. If you swap the Up and Down inputs, you activate the Enable All cheat, unlocking everything to play in the title. It's one thing to slightly mock you but another to completely trick you. That's going beyond what most uses of the code do.
7 Silent Hill 3
This one's great. Silent Hill 3 has the best and most wacky unlockables in the series, including a Sailor Moon-style outfit for Heather. Conversely, Douglas has an extra costume, too, but it's a little less flattering. Putting the code on the main menu and starting an Extra New Game unlocks his bonus outfit.
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He still has his trench coat and tie but lacks his shirt and pants. This makes the opening cutscene, where Heather is questioning this unknown stranger, much funnier. It's a quality unlockable that makes the game more entertaining on repeat playthroughs.
6 Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped
Getting a sweet buff or Easter egg from the Konami code is great, but something better than that is a whole demo to play. In Crash Bandicoot 3 for the PS1, input the code on the title screen with one slight change: press Square after the directions.
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 returned in the N Sane Trilogy, but you just get a Spyro trailer, which is no fun.
5 Mario Party 1
Even with all the Mario Party games out now, the first title holds up as a fun party game. The boards, especially, are still some of the series' best. Like many of Nintendo's N64 games, you can access a debug menu with valuable information inside.
In Mario Party's case, you can see statistics 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, input the Konami code to access the debug menu. If you know about this, you can essentially cheat in multiplayer.
4 Trials Evolution
Trials Evolution already boasts one of the best Easter eggs of all time with a full-on treasure hunt. However, another Easter egg was present that stayed unsolved for nearly five years after the game released. 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 A, X, A, and X inputs after the directional ones. To solve this secret grid area go right, right, up once, right, up twice, right, up four times, right, and up seven times. This will reveal a quote from Niels Bohr. It's wild that a motorcycle game has so many Easter eggs referencing historical events and people, in contrast to the humorous nature of the title.
3 Zone Of The Enders: The 2nd Runner
One of Kojima Productions' greatest games wasn't even helmed by Kojima, as Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner is still top-tier in terms of mech combat games. Vic Viper from Gradius plays a surprisingly large role in the title, even being a boss fight. In the Extra Missions, go to boss battle mode and pick the Vic Viper encounter.
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When in battle, pause the game and enter the Konami code. After the directional inputs, press L1/LB, then R1/RB. After beating the fight, this will unlock the Zoradius mission, a 3D callback to those classic Konami shoot-'em-ups. It's a lot of fun, and even inputting the code here maxes out your power-ups, just like those classic titles.
2 Contra (NES)
The Konami code is also often called the Contra code, and that's for a good reason. Probably the most used inclusion of the code, you must input it at the title screen to get 30 extra lives. Contra is one of the best titles on the NES but also one of its hardest.
This cheat makes the game a lot more doable and is how most beat 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 one other Contra uses it better.
1 Contra 4
Despite how famous the Konami code is, the 30 life code for Contra 4 remained hidden for years after the game released. People actually complained the 30 life code was absent because Contra 4 might be the hardest Contra yet. To input it, you must use the unique DS touchscreen.
Upon entering the first level, input the Konami code by tapping the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the screen when appropriate. After that, press B, A, then tap the center of the screen. This will give you 30 extra lives, and it's easy to see why this was hidden for so long. Inputting the code via a touch screen is definitely a cool way to utilize it, and like Contra 1, it is immensely useful.
NEXT: Best Contra Games Of All Time, Ranked
