NES Cheat Codes and Walkthroughs

Most of the original cheat codes for the Nintendo Entertainment System still work on the NES Classic. Glitches like the Minus World in Super Mario, Easter eggs like a special song that plays in Dr. Mario, and all other NES cheats are intact. Not all games on the mini console have cheat codes, but those that do are identical to their original versions, with one exception. We list them all below.

These cheats apply to the NES Classic versions of each game.

Bubble Bobble Cheats

Bubble Bobble was originally released in arcades in 1986 and was later ported to the NES.

Level Select Password

Enter DDFFI as a password, then select Continue. Press B to change your starting level.

You can only select levels in Normal mode. There are separate passwords for Super Bubble Bobble mode.

How to Share Lives in Two-Player Mode

When one player runs out of lives, press Start and Select to revive them if the other player has a life to spare.

Bubble Bobble Crystal and Secret Door

You'll find a crystal and a secret door in room 99. The crystal appears randomly, but the door is always in the middle of the stage where there is a single enemy. Grab the crystal and head for the door to follow the path to the good ending.

How to Unlock Super Bubble Bobble Mode

Get the good ending in Normal mode to get the password for Super Bubble Bobble mode. Beat Super Bubble Bobble mode with two players and get the good ending to unlock the sound test.

Bubble Bobble Ending Guide

There are four possible endings to Bubble Bobble. Here's how to get them:

Ending	How to Unlock
Bad Ending A	Beat the game without getting the crystal.
Bad Ending B	Get the crystal and beat the game with one player.
Good Ending A	Get the crystal and beat the game with two players in Normal mode.
Good Ending B	Get the crystal and beat the game with two players in Super Bubble Bobble mode.

If playing alone, press Start on the second controller right before you defeat the final boss to get the two-player ending.

Super Bubble Bobble Mode Level Passwords

You can start at any level in Super Bubble Bobble mode with these codes:

Level	Password
1	BBAJI
10	BCEIB
20	AFAJJ
30	AGJAJ
40	IGJAI
50	FIBCJ
60	FCEIJ
70	JECBJ
80	CCEIB
90	CBIEB
99	GEJAJ
A0	GJGBG
B0	GACFB
B2	EECFG

Castlevania Cheats

The original Castlevania was released on the NES in 1986.

How to Unlock Hard Mode

Beat the last boss and start a new game to play Hard mode. The levels are the same, but enemies are much stronger.

Boss Weaknesses

Each boss is vulnerable to a specific weapon. Here's a list of their weaknesses.

Boss	Weakness
Vampire Bat	Axe
Medusa	Stopwatch
Mummies	Holy Water
Frankenstein's Creature	Dagger
Grim Reaper	Holy Water
Dracula Form 1	Cross
Dracula Form 2	Holy Water

Castlevania II: Simon's Quest Cheats

The sequel to Castlevania came out one year later, in 1987.

Castlevania II Passwords

Password	Effect
OFIT M5QX 1P5S QBQA	Start with Dracula's rib, chain whip, and blue crystal.
SZMH QXE1 5PXW UESE	Start with all the above plus Dracula's heart.
TIRH DYDZ 4O5V 81B1	Start with all the above plus Dracula's nail, flame whip, and red crystal.
MLIE WUCW VNKU SCBC	Start with all the above plus Dracula's ring and cross.
MLIT WVCW T3KU SFZC	Start with all items and weapons.
C1EN WMAK JXKN VMZK	Start with all items plus eight laurels, eight garlic, six experience, and the clock set at zero days.

Castlevania II Ending Guide

The ending you get depends on how many days (in-game time) it takes you to beat Dracula.

Ending	Requirement
Bad Ending	Defeat Dracula in 15 or more days.
Good Ending	Defeat Dracula in eight to four days.
Best Ending	Defeat Dracula in one to seven days.

Dr. Mario Cheats

Dr. Mario was first released on the NES in 1990.

How to Quick Reset

Press A+B+Select+Start to return to the title screen if you find yourself stuck in a puzzle.

Super Mario Bros. Easter Egg

Take out four or more viruses in one move to hear a special song.

Final Fantasy Cheats

The first Final Fantasy game came out for the NES in 1987.

Legend of Zelda Easter Egg

Read the tombstones in Elfheim to find one belonging to a legendary hero.

How to Fight the Secret Boss Warmech

On the long bridge in the Sky Castle, you can randomly encounter an optional boss named Warmech. He is the most powerful enemy in the entire game, so go in prepared and save before you attempt to fight him.

How to Unlock the Secret Mini-Game

While on the airship, hold A and press B 55 times to unlock a secret puzzle mini-game.

How to View the World Map

Press Select+B to bring up a detailed map of the world.

Ghosts 'n Goblins Cheats

The NES port of Ghosts 'n Goblins came out in 1986.

Level Select Code

At the title screen, enter the following code to start at the stage of your choosing:

Hold Right and press B three times.
Press Up, then press B three times.
Press Left, then press B three times.
Press Down, then press B three times.
Press Start.
Press A and B to scroll through the stages, then press Start to begin.

Second Quest and True Ending

Beat the game twice in a row to see the true ending. On the second screen of the ending scene, press A, B, Up, Down, A, B, Left, Right to view the credits.

Gradius Cheats

The 1986 NES version of Gradius was the first game to include the Konami code.

Gradius Cheat Codes

Effect	Cheat Code
Activate all power-ups (can be used once per level).	Pause the game and press Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start.
Continue (only works once per game).	Press Down, Up, B, A, B, A, B, A, Start at the Game Over screen.

Kid Icarus Cheats

The original cheats for Kid Icarus don't work on the NES Classic, but the NES Classic version features new cheat codes.

Kid Icarus Level Passwords

Select Continue at the main screen to enter these passwords.

All passwords are case sensitive. Every code begins with a capital "I." The letter "L" is not used.

Password	Level	Stats
0000Cu-O0V300-UC001C-00042i	1-2	Endurance = 4, Strength = 1
0000mC-T0U600-GC001C-10082t	1-3	Endurance = 4, Strength = 2
G400u6 Z09200 POG00C 10003s	1-4	Endurance = 4, Strength = 2
G800CS-p0iC00-1OG00G-H0004v	2-1	Endurance = Max, Strength = 2
He00yK-y0j800-HOG01H-I004K!	2-2	Endurance = Max, Strength = 3
Ie00ec-418100-fa004H-J008a9	2-3	Endurance = Max, Strength = 4
IeG6q9-I1t800-VmG03H-J000Lx	2-4	Endurance = Max, Strength = 4
IeG6Gz-f1t000-daG08H-J100sK	3-1	Endurance = Max, Strength = 4, All Weapons
IeW6Ci-h1Z200-faG08H-K104sg	3-2	Endurance = Max, Strength Max, All Weapons
IeX2mN-c3dF00-ueX11G-K50WOZ	Final Boss	Endurance = Max, Strength Max, All Weapons

Kirby's Adventure Cheats

Kirby's Adventure is the follow-up to Kirby's Dreamland for Game Boy. It first released in 1993.

Kirby's Adventure Unlockables

Unlockable	How to Unlock
Play Mini-Games from the Main Menu	Beat each mini-game.
Extra Game (hard mode)	Beat the final boss.
Sound Test	Beat the Extra Game.

Mega Man 2 Cheats

Released in 1988, Mega Man 2 is widely regarded as the Blue Bomber's best outing.

Mega Man 2 Passwords

Effect	Password
Start with all weapons and items.	A5, B2, B4, C1, C3, C5, D4, D5, E2
Start with Air Man, Wood Man, and Flash Man defeated.	A2, C2, C4, C5, D4, E1, E2, E3, E4
Start with Air Man, Wood Man, Flash Man, Crash Man, Metal Man, and Bubble Man defeated.	A4, B1, B3, C4, D2, D3, D4, E1, E3
Start with all but Quick Man defeated.	A1, B2, C1, C4, C5, D1, D3, E3, E5

Boss Weaknesses

Each boss is weak to a specific weapon.

Boss	Weakness
Air Man	Leaf Shield
Crash Man	Air Shooter
Flash Man	Crash Bombs
Quick Man	Timestopper
Metal Man	Quick Boomerang
Bubble Man	Metal Blades
Heat Man	Bubble Lead
Wood Man	Atomic Fire
Mecha Dragon	Quick Boomerangs, Atomic Fire
Guts Tank	Quick Boomerangs, Atomic Fire
Wall Shooters	Crash Bombs
Dr. Wily 1	Atomic Fire
Dr. Wily 2	Crash Bombs
Dr. Wily 3	Bubble Lead

Mega Man 2 Easter Egg

Hold A while selecting a stage to make the stars in the background turn into birds.

Metroid Cheats

The original Metroid was released in 1986.

Metroid Passwords

Password	Effect
000000 000000 0Fy000 00003	Start with 255 missiles.
000000 000000 080000 0000Y8	Start with the Ice Beam.
000000 000000 100000 000004	Start with the Long Beam.
000000 000000 040000 0000X8	Start with the Wave Beam.
000000 00000G 7?2ruA 005WFh	Start as Suitless Samus with all upgrades and no energy tanks.
X-z-uJ lls0W0 fVvweG 000WNr	Start with both bosses defeated, 215 missiles, five energy tanks, and all power-ups.
NARPAS SWORD0 000000 000000	Start with invincibility and infinite missiles.
000000 000020 000000 000020	Start as Suitless Samus with no items.

How to Play as Suitless Samus

Complete the game in less than three hours to get the good ending, then press Start at the end of the credits to start the game again as Suitless Samus. You retain all of your energy tanks, weapons, and power-ups.

Metroid Endings Guide

The ending you see depends on how fast you beat the game.

Ending	Requirement
Bad Ending	Complete the game in five hours or more.
Normal Ending	Complete the game in three to five hours.
Good Ending	Complete the game in less than three hours.
Best Ending	Complete the game in less than an hour as Suitless Samus.

Ninja Gaiden Cheats

Released in 1989, Ninja Gaiden is considered one of the toughest games on the NES.

How to Unlock the Sound Test

At the screen that says TECMO PRESENTS 1989, hold Left+Down+A+B+Select, then press Start.

Infinite Lives

Get the extra life on the third floor of the tower in level 5-3. Go down to the second floor, then go back up to the third floor to find another extra life. Repeat to collect as many lives as possible.

Punch Out! Cheats

The NES Classic features the 1990 version of Punch Out!

Quick Energy Refill

Press Select repeatedly between rounds to regenerate your energy.

You can only do this trick once per fight.

How to Unlock Another World Circuit

To access the Another World Circuit, enter 135-792-4680 as a password, and then press A+B+Select simultaneously.

Nintendo Easter Egg

Enter 800-422-2602 as a password to hear a busy signal. This is the phone number for Nintendo's old customer service line.

How to See the End Credits

Enter 106-113-0120 as a password, and then press A+B+Select simultaneously.

Punch Out! Level Passwords

Level	Password
Major Circuit	005-737-5423
World Circuit	777-807-3454
Super Macho Man	940-861-8538
Piston Honda (second fight)	032-730-8442
Mr. Dream	007-373-5963

StarTropics Cheats

StarTropics was released exclusively in the U.S. and Europe in 1990.

Level 4 Password

The radiofrequency you must enter in the fourth level is 747. This code doesn't appear in the game. It was in the original game manual.

Super C Cheats

Super C is the 1988 sequel to the original Konami action game Contra.

Super C Cheat Codes

Enter these codes at the title screen.

Cheat Code	Effect
Right, Left, Down, Up, A, B, Start	Player 1 starts with 10 lives.
Right, Left, Down, Up, A, B, Select, Start	Player 2 starts with 10 lives.
Hold A + B, then press Start	Access the sound test.
After beating the game, press B, A, Start	Begin a new game with your old score and all your lives.

Super Mario Bros. Cheats

Super Mario Bros. was the launch title for the original NES.

How to Unlock the Minus World

To unlock the secret level with no end:

Get to the end of World 1-2 with fire power.
Jump on top of the pipe after the floating platforms.
Break the second and third blocks from the pipe along the ceiling. The block directly beside the pipe must remain intact.
Face left, duck, and then jump backward toward the pipe while still ducking without breaking the block. If done correctly, Mario slides through the wall into the next room.
Go down the first pipe in the room.

Extra Lives Trick

At the end of 3-1, jump over the first turtle coming down the stairs and land on the second turtle. If you land in the right spot, the shell bounces between the stairs and Mario. You can rack up points and earn extra lives as you repeatedly jump on the shell.

How to Get Fireworks

Touch the flag pole at the end of the level when the last digit on the clock is 1, 3, or 6 to see fireworks.

Warp Pipes

Some levels contain secret pipes that let you skip ahead to other worlds.

Warp Pipes	Level	Location
World 2, 3, or 4	Level 1-2	Behind the wall at the end.
World 5	Level 4-2	Behind the wall at the end.
World 6, 7, or 8	Level 4-2	Up the secret beanstalk near the beginning.

Super Mario Bros. 2 Cheats

The American version of Super Mario Bros. is actually a remake of the Japanese game Doki Doki Panic.

Warp Pots

If you enter certain pots while a potion is active, you warp to another world.

Warp	Level	Location
World 4	Level 1-3	Take the pot farthest to the right in the first area.
World 5	Level 3-1	After passing through the first door, drop off of the cloud to land on a platform with another door. Follow the door to find a potion and the warp pot.
World 6	Level 4-2	Take the first pot after you find the potion in the whale area.
World 7	Level 5-3	Ascend the ladder at the beginning to the ledge above to find a potion and the pot.

Super Mario Bros. 3 Cheats

Mario 3 introduced many long-standing staples of the series such as the Koopa Kids and airships.

End Game Bonus

If you start a new game after beating Bowser, you begin with 28 P-wings to help you freely explore any level.

Warp Whistles

There are three secret whistles that can warp you to other worlds.

Level	Location
Level 1-3	Hold Down while on top of the white platform near the end of the level to fall through the background, then walk to the end.
Level 1 Fortress	Obtain the raccoon suit and fly up above the wall on the far right side. Walk to the right along the ceiling and press Up to go through a hidden door.
World 2 Map	Defeat the Hammer Bros. to receive a hammer. Use it to break the rock in the upper-right of the map and follow the secret path.

You only need two whistles to reach the last world.

Tecmo Bowl Cheats

The NES port of the 1987 classic Temco Bowl lacks many features of the original arcade version, but it has dozens of exclusive cheat codes.

How to Play as the Invisible Team

Enter "397BFFA5" as a password to make your team invisible.

Temco Bowl Cheat Codes

Enter the following codes as passwords to start at the desired competition:

Password	Competition
28359F90	Div. Playoffs 1 (Chicago)
6AF5DF96	Div. Playoffs 2 (Chicago)
AB7DDFAB	League Playoff (Chicago)
A99FDFA9	SuperBowl (Chicago)
8BCE1F93	Div. Playoffs 1 (Cleveland)
4B3E9FAF	Div. Playoffs 2 (Cleveland)
495EBFAD	League Playoff (Cleveland)
4A9EFFAE	SuperBowl (Cleveland)
4E0E6DAD	Div. Playoffs 1 (Denver)
8C1F6DAF	Div. Playoffs 2 (Denver)
4F9FEDAE	League Playoff (Denver)
0D9FEFAA	SuperBowl (Denver)
56E3F698	Div. Playoffs 1 (L.A.)
17E3FE9D	Div. Playoffs 2 (L.A.)
14E3FF9B	League Playoff (L.A.)
977BFFA6	SuperBowl (L.A.)
9DC3D79E	Div. Playoffs 1 (San Francisco)
9E07D7AF	Div. Playoffs 2 (San Francisco)
9F9FD7A0	League Playoff (San Francisco)
1F9FDFA0	SuperBowl (San Francisco)

How to Play Against Your Own Team

Use these codes to play against a mirror image of the team of your choice:

Password	Team
43AFFEAC	Indianapolis
46AFFDAB	Miami
49AFFBA9	Cleveland
CCAFF7AD	Denver
93AFEFAS	Seattle
969FDFA5	Los Angeles
997FBFA5	Washington
9C3F7FAS	San Francisco
63AEFFA5	Dallas
269DFFA1	New York
679BFFA5	Chicago
AC37FFA9	Minnesota

The Legend of Zelda Cheats

The first entry in the Zelda series set the standard for all future adventure games.

Mountain Maze Solution

Keep going north in the mountain maze to eventually reach the entrance to the secret dungeon.

Forest Maze Solution

Go north, west, south, and then west to solve the forest maze and find the graveyard.

Second Quest Cheat Code

You can play through a more difficult second quest after beating the game, or you can start the second quest from the beginning by entering ZELDA as your name.

Zelda II: The Adventures of Link Cheats

The 1987 sequel to The Legend of Zelda introduced RPG elements to the series.

How to Beat the Final Boss

Walk to the far left edge of the screen and duck down facing the boss. He will run at you, but his attacks won't land. Stay down and stab him with your sword. He'll keep running into your blade without harming you.