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nickybmon edited this page Apr 30, 2026 · 3 revisions

Cheat Codes

OpenEmu has a built-in cheat code manager. You can enter codes while a game is running — no cartridge swapping, no external hardware needed.

Supported Code Types

Different systems support different code formats:

System Supported Formats
Game Boy / GBC Game Genie, GameShark
Game Boy Advance GameShark, Action Replay, Code Breaker
NES Game Genie
SNES Game Genie, Pro Action Replay
Genesis / Mega Drive Game Genie, Action Replay
Nintendo 64 GameShark
PlayStation GameShark
Game Gear Game Genie, Action Replay
Master System Game Genie, Action Replay

If a code type isn't listed for your system, it isn't supported by the current core. Raw memory addresses (used by some cheat databases) are not supported.

How to Enter a Cheat Code

  1. Launch a game in OpenEmu.
  2. Move the mouse over the game window to reveal the HUD bar.
  3. Click the Controls menu (the gamepad icon) and choose Edit Cheats…
  4. Click + to add a new entry.
  5. Enter:
    • Name — a label so you can identify it later (e.g. "Infinite Lives")
    • Code — the cheat code exactly as written, including any dashes or spaces the format requires
    • Type — select the format from the dropdown (Game Genie, GameShark, etc.)
  6. Check the Enabled checkbox next to the code.
  7. Click Done. The code takes effect immediately — no need to reset.

Enabling and Disabling Codes

Codes you've entered persist between sessions. To toggle one:

  1. Open Edit Cheats… from the HUD.
  2. Check or uncheck the Enabled box next to the code.
  3. Click Done.

Disabled codes stay in the list so you can re-enable them later without re-entering them.

Where to Find Cheat Codes

Good sources for verified codes:

Make sure you're using codes for the correct region (USA, EUR, JPN) and the correct format for your system.

Notes

  • Some codes only take effect at a specific moment — for example, a code that sets your starting lives only works when you start a new game, not mid-session.
  • Codes are stored per-game and per-system. Switching cores for a game does not delete your saved codes, but a code written for one core may not work on another if the memory addresses differ.
  • If a code causes a crash or freeze, disable it and reload from a save state or the game's own save system.
  • Save states created with cheats active may behave unexpectedly when loaded with cheats disabled.

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