Modern Games You Can Still Use Cheats To Get Ahead In

Highlights

• Cheat codes are becoming less common in modern games due to the rise of multiplayer and achievements.
• Some games still allow cheat codes as a way to unlock content or make gameplay easier.
• The ethics of using cheat codes are debatable, but as long as they don’t affect others’ enjoyment, they can add fun and variety to the game.

Cheat codes have largely gone away in the modern gaming landscape. With the advent of online multiplayer, achievements, and trophies, getting an advantage by putting in a code seems unfair. However, a select few games still carry on this tradition, either as a way to unlock everything without doing the work or by giving the characters buffs to make the game easier.

Some modern titles all have cheat codes in some capacity, which give the player an upper hand. The ethics of using them are debatable, but as long as they don’t interfere with someone else’s enjoyment of the game, then it shouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to use them.

Updated on December 29, 2023 by Ritwik Mitra: There was a time when most modern games allowed players to mess around with cheats in their video games for the sole purpose of having fun. Now, with games becoming more rigid and controlling than ever before, most developers don’t let players mess around with their engines if they can help it. It’s a shame since messing around with cheat codes in most games was a great way to goof around or get a leg up against the opposition. Thankfully, there are still some modern games that let players mess around with cheats.

21 Red Dead Redemption

Types Of Cheats: Infinite Ammo, Infinite Dead Eye

Red Dead Redemption is one of the greatest open-world games ever made, and fans were glad that this game was finally ported to modern consoles after a long time, even if the cold shoulder hurt PC fans quite a bit. John Marston’s tale of trying to redeem himself is a melancholic one that hits even harder with the existence of Red Dead Redemption 2.

The open world is still impressive for its time, and some people will love the less rigid approach to gameplay as compared to the sequel. Cheats disable achievements in the game, but most players won’t mind as long as they have the opportunity to mess around in this title and experience something different with the game.

How to Cheat

There’s a Cheats tab in the Options menu where players can input the cheat code of their choice. All Red Dead Redemption codes can be found here.

20 Sonic Mania Plus

Types Of Cheats: Unlock All Moves, Infinite Lives

After a string of mediocre releases, Sonic fans were glad to experience a great modern Sonic game that harkened back to the classic age. Sonic Mania was made by a team of fans who were hired by Sega to feature the blue hedgehog in a game that fans could be proud of, and many people argue that the title succeeded in that sense.

On top of its excellent platforming gameplay and level design, Sonic Mania Plus also features cheats that players can use for a bevy of effects. It’s just one of the many ways in which this title harkens back to the good old era of video gaming when Sonic was at the very heights of its powers.

How to Cheat

Players need to unlock the Level Select menu, go to Sound Test, and play sounds in a specific order to do everything from unlocking all Sonic moves, and Chaos Emeralds, to getting infinite lives.

19 Doom Eternal

Types Of Cheats: Infinite Ammo, All Runes At Once

Doom Eternal is one of the best modern FPS games of all time. Ripping and tearing is more high-octane and engaging than ever before, with players using a wealth of tools in their arsenal to show demons why they should fear the Doom Slayer.

Given the modern trappings of most games, it’s easy to see why Doom Eternal’s massive, sprawling levels are littered with secrets, collectibles, and something else that is sure to blow the minds of most players

How to Cheat

Doom Eternal integrates cheats in a pretty unique way. Instead of featuring codes that players can enter, players need to explore levels and find these cheat codes hidden away in the game’s many levels. A prudent player will be able to enjoy everything from infinite ammo to having all runes at once.

18 Rage 2

Types Of Cheats: Overdrive Boost, Comedic Narrator

Another modern game that uniquely integrates cheats is Rage 2. The game wasn’t a huge success when it was launched, which is mainly because of how boring and generic the game feels in a lot of aspects.

However, the core gameplay of Rage 2 is still fun and something that fans will enjoy. However, with the rest of the experience bogging things down, it’s easy to see why gamers weren’t interested in this title from the get-go.

How to Cheat

Rage 2‘s use of cheats is pretty novel and should be checked out by other modern developers too. Players can use their hard-earned money to buy cheats from Mangoo the Unborn, a wizard in the wasteland of Rage 2. With enough money, players can boost the power of Overdrive, get the announcer of NBA Jam to narrate their actions, and other such changes that are quite fun to mess around with.

17 Risk Of Rain 2

Types Of Cheats: Unlock Characters, Get Items

Risk of Rain 2 is the definition of a great sequel that expands on everything built by its predecessor. The game was a bold risk, with the first game being a roguelike side-scrolling platformer of all things.

No one expected the second game to shift to the third-person shooter genre instead, but Risk of Rain 2‘s impressive implementation of its gameplay elements is what made the game a resounding success. Players love the idea of teaming up with their friends to take on enemies across different procedurally-generated levels, getting some valuable loot in the process.

How to Cheat

It also features cheats that players can mess around with in the game, although activating them can prove to be a real pain. Players have to edit the game files to even unlock cheats in the first place. Doing so unlocks a wealth of console commands that allow players to tweak the game in many significant ways.

16 Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag

Types Of Cheats: Unlimited Health, Infinite Ammunition

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag is one of the best Assassin’s Creed games ever made, featuring a great vibe as players engage in piracy — the naval kind — and explore the story of Edward Kenway. Many fans argue that Assassin’s Creed is still chasing the highs of this title with its later releases.

The combination of melee and naval combat was a hit, with the open-world exploration feeling pretty fresh and engaging. There’s something oddly enticing about the many ways that the game keeps players busy, with everything from shanties to hunts being a blast in their way.

How to Cheat

To unlock cheats in the game, players need to complete a set number of Abstergo Challenges. Enough challenges allow players to give Edward and the Jackdaw unlimited health and ammunition while also integrating several other changes to freshen up the gameplay of this title.

15 Fallout: New Vegas

Types Of Cheats: God Mode, No Clip

There’s a reason why many people consider Fallout: New Vegas to be one of the greatest video games of all time. The game combines the best of old and new Fallout to make for a tantalizing journey that fans will have a great time with, and then some.

Of course, barring a few special occasions, it’s recommended that players should try and go through the game on their merit instead of relying on cheats. After all, Fallout: New Vegas is far from a difficult game, with the title becoming easier to manage after the player gains a few levels.

How to Cheat

While Fallout: New Vegas doesn’t feature cheat codes per se, there’s no denying the fact that the game’s console lets players do whatever they want. From spawning items to enabling god mode — the sheer number of cheats players can enable in Fallout: New Vegas is immense, but they need to be on PC and press the Tilda key (~) to activate.

14 Age Of Empires 4

Types Of Cheats: Spawn Units, Gain Resources

Fans were glad to see Age of Empires 4 release after fans felt like the games would end with the trilogy alone. While the hugely popular Age of Empires 2 was still getting fairly regular updates, fans still love the idea of diving into a new Age of Empires game nevertheless.

The Age of Empires series is renowned for some of its imaginative cheats, and Age of Empires 4 is no exception to this rule. The game is full to the brim with amazing cheats that make the regular gameplay loop downright hilarious.

How to Cheat

While there aren’t cheats for any special units like the previous games, these codes are still pretty useful in their own right. Players can do everything from spawning new troops to gaining a bunch of resources. They’ll have to enable cheats in the Game Mode tab first, and typing a wealth of commands in the game’s chat allows them to employ these cheats to great effect.

13 The Sims 4

Types Of Cheats: Get Simoleons, Take Care Of A Sim’s Needs

The Sims is one of the most popular life simulation games of all time. The latest title might’ve had a particularly rocky start, but there’s no denying that this title has picked up the pace with its fair share of updates and content packs.

With the news that the newest Sims game will be free-to-play, fans can only hope that this move doesn’t doom the series. Until then, they can check out The Sims 4 and enjoy the wealth of content it has to offer.

How to Cheat

The Sims 4 has its fair share of classic cheats that increase a household’s funds and fill all their needs instantly. It might reduce the overall challenge of this game, but there’s no denying that these cheats circumvent a lot of the frustration that can arise otherwise in the game. Players need to open the cheat console in-game by pressing Ctrl+Shift+C or loading into the game on consoles while holding all four triggers on the controller at the same time.

12 Shovel Knight

Types Of Cheats: God Mode, Everything Unlocked

The retro trappings of Shovel Knight coupled with its fun gameplay make it a great game for players to check out. Players can enjoy this title with a friend too, making for some great shenanigans as a duo tries their hardest to overcome the challenges in this platformer.

Shovel Knight is an ode to retro games that players adore. With that in mind, it’s only a given that this game would also feature its fair share of cheats.

How to Cheat

By changing the name of the character to certain specific titles, players can unlock unique powers for their run. The list of names is pretty great and makes repeat playthroughs a blast.

Types Of Cheats: God Mode, No Clip

Skyrim is considered by many to be one of the greatest open-world RPGs of all time, and for good reason. The game’s amazing landscape and gameplay loop keep players hooked for hours on end.

With the release of Starfield, fans hope that Bethesda’s newest IP will finally live up to the hype of their best game. To this day, Skyrim is still a wildly playable game, mainly due to how engaging its open-world exploration is.

How to Cheat

As is the case with other Bethesda games, using a PC to access the console commands (~) of Skyrim lets players experiment around with various cheats. It’s a great way to tweak the overall experience for fans who want to goof around.

10 Grand Theft Auto 5

Types Of Cheats: Spawn Vehicles, Lower Wanted Level

With Los Santos being such a playground of destruction, it wouldn’t feel right if cheat codes were left by the wayside in Grand Theft Auto 5. The PS2 era entries had their lives extended significantly through wacky codes letting players do all kinds of things, and the HD games continue this tradition.

Granted, GTA Online grants nigh endless replay value to the experience, but sometimes people just want to go haphazardly by themselves in the city.

How to Cheat

The GTA 5 cheat codes, accessible either through button prompts or dialing a phone number, deactivate trophies and achievements, so think about that ahead of time. For example, open up the cell phone and input 1-999-3844-8483 to lower the wanted level by one star. It should make surviving rampages a little easier.

9 Mega Man Legacy Collection 2

Types Of Cheats: Unlock All Items

This follow-up to the first Mega Man Legacy Collection includes Mega Man 7 through Mega Man 10. The series is notorious for its brutal difficulty, meaning unlocking everything is a tough challenge.

Fortunately, a short button combination will help access the DLC for the ninth and tenth entries.

How to Cheat

At the title screen for either game, simply press up, down, left, right, left, right, down, up, up, down, and the content that normally requires the game to be beaten will be readily available. It even comes with a sound effect to notify the player of its activation.

8 Spyro: Reignited Trilogy

Types Of Cheats: Color Swap, 99 Lives

This trilogy completely remakes three classics from the PS1 era from the ground up. Back when these games first came out, cheat codes were commonplace. Fortunately, the developer opted to leave these inputs in and let players fool around with them.

They don’t even disable trophies, though none of them help with those challenges.

How to Cheat

A myriad of modifiers exist within these cheats. On The PS4 version, input R2, L2, R2, L2, Up, Up, Up, Up, Circle for an instant ninety-nine lives. Players can look here for a full list of Spyro cheats for the Xbox One and PS4 versions of Spyro.

7 Red Dead Redemption 2

Types Of Cheats: Spawn Horses, Get Money

While Rockstar Games’ open-world opus goes for a more grounded approach, it is not completely void of the developer’s signature mayhem and sandbox game design philosophy.

Actions have more severe consequences, but one can run amuck if they are not concerned with a high bounty.

How to Cheat

On the pause menu, a button prompt brings up the cheat menu. While they are all locked at first, each can be accessed by inputting the right code. Some of them are subtle, like adding money to the wallet, but the player can also spawn horses and get the best weapons right off the bat. Like with GTA 5, this will also disable trophies and achievements. Unlike other games, these can be found in the world either scrawled somewhere or from buying newspapers. For example, type “Greed is now a virtue” for an instant $500.

6 Call Of Duty: Black Ops

Types Of Cheats: All Levels Unlocked, All Intel Files Obtained

Call of Duty: Black Ops’ title menu has more interaction than an average one. If players get out of the chair and search the room, they will find a computer.

The terminal also holds many secrets, like the entire game of Zork, but those are more easter eggs than anything helpful to the player.

How to Cheat

Spamming L2 + R2 will have Alex Mason break out of the main menu screen. Behind the chair they were in was a computer terminal, which they could use to type in special codes to unlock campaign maps, zombie modes, and intel files.

5 StarCraft 2

Types Of Cheats: Free Units, Add Credits

In RTS games, inputting cheat codes is fast and simple. Just bring up the keyboard, type in the code, hit enter, and whatever code is put in will activate. Each of the games in the StarCraft 2 trilogy comes with its own set of cheat codes, letting players do things like activate god mode or instantly add resources.

Some missions are long and arduous, so it is understandable if a player would rather use a cheat than restart. Maybe they botched a save file, and the only way out of the sticky situation is to input a code.

How to Cheat

There are many codes that players can input in the game to unlock a bevy of effects. For example, “WhySoSerious” instantly adds five million credits to a player’s resources.

4 Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

Types Of Cheats: Unlock Characters

The Lego series of video games has been going strong since Lego Star Wars first came out on the PS2. Each entry features a plethora of unlocks players slowly accumulate while going through the levels, unearthing secrets, and buying up items using collected studs.

Those without the patience or time for this can always put in cheat codes to unlock individual characters or get studs at a faster rate. The effort put into getting these collectibles and characters is often half the joy of it, but some just want instant gratification.

How to Cheat

Most of the codes used in the Lego games can be used to simply unlock characters. A great example of this is going to the extras menu in LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga and inputting OKV7TLR to unlock Dengar, a fan-favorite bounty hunter.

3 Saints Row 4

Types Of Cheats: Unlock All Moves, Infinite Lives

Getting far enough in Saints Row 4’s character progression already feels like playing with cheat codes, but a few extra modifiers can give the player an even bigger advantage.

In a game where players fly through a computer simulation of their recently destroyed turf, cheat codes don’t seem out of place in the story.

How to Cheat

A dedicated menu for codes grants access to things like invincible cars, infinite money, or unlocking abilities before getting them in the story. In the cellphone, which doubles as a pause menu, players can go to the cheat tab and enter “letsrock” to unlock every weapon instantly. This is just one of the many codes that players can employ to great effect.

2 The Orange Box

Types Of Cheats: Infinite Health, Unlock All Chapters

The miracle of a new Half-Life game brought back fond memories of The Orange Box. It’s one of the best video game collections of all time, with the legendary Portal being introduced to many fans through this collection.

Surprisingly, this five-game collection includes cheat codes for every part except for Team Fortress 2.

How to Cheat

Refilling ammo, getting infinite health, and even unlocking all chapters can be done at any time by simply pressing some buttons. The PC version has a different set of cheats done by typing in passwords, though they first have to add the console option by adding “console” in the target field before starting up the game. Sadly, no game has a cheat granting old scientists invulnerability against impalement through the head.