Cheats should feel like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. Instead, half the time it’s more like: you paste a code you found online, hit “Enable,” and your game either (1) does absolutely nothing, (2) crashes like it took offense, or (3) pretends it has never met you in its life.
I’ve been there. I once spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to make an “infinite money” code work, only to realize I was using the wrong format for the emulator… which is basically the retro gaming version of putting diesel in a regular car and then acting shocked when it doesn’t purr.
So let’s fix that.
The #1 reason cheats “don’t work”: your code is speaking the wrong language
Emulators recreate console hardware. Cheat devices (GameShark, Action Replay, CodeBreaker, etc.) were extra gadgets that messed with memory values. So when you slap a random code into a random emulator box and hope for the best… you’re basically yelling “DO A THING” into the void.
Most cheat failures come down to one of these:
- Wrong code format (Action Replay vs GameShark vs CodeBreaker vs Gecko… they’re not interchangeable)
- Wrong game region (USA vs Europe vs Japan is not a cute cosmetic detail—codes can be picky)
- Wrong ROM revision (yep, even the “same” game can have multiple versions)
- Too many cheats at once (codes can fight like toddlers in a ball pit)
Quick format vibe check (not perfect, but useful)
- Action Replay / GameShark: super common on older consoles + handhelds (often short-ish hex lines)
- CodeBreaker: shows up a lot on PS2, different encryption/syntax than AR
- Gecko: GameCube/Wii land, often longer and multi-line
If you remember nothing else, tattoo this on your brain with a Sharpie:
Wrong format + wrong region = zero fun.
Pick an emulator that actually plays nice with cheats
Some emulators are amazing… and still act like cheats are a personal insult. Here are the ones I’d actually reach for when you want cheat support without turning it into a science project.
My “grab this first” cheat friendly emulator picks
- Multi system: RetroArch (tons of cores + big cheat database, learning curve is real, but survivable)
- Nintendo DS: DeSmuME (easy Action Replay entry), or DraStic on Android (if you’re mobile gaming)
- GBA: mGBA (reliable, updated, doesn’t hate you)
- GameCube/Wii: Dolphin (Gecko codes, and it’s basically the gold standard)
- PS1: DuckStation (simple cheat UI, generally painless)
- PS2: PCSX2 (raw codes and .pnach files more on that in a sec)
- PSP: PPSSPP (solid cheat support, especially with cheat files)
- N64: Project64 (supports GameShark, but N64 codes can be… dramatic divas)
- Switch: Ryujinx (mod/cheat file workflow). Yuzu is still floating around in archived form, but the usual disclaimer applies: it’s not actively maintained like it used to be.
Mobile note (because phones love to complicate things)
- Android: you have options for days (RetroArch, DraStic, MyBoy, etc.). Stick to legit sources and trusted projects.
- iOS: Delta can do cheats, but you’ll likely be importing files and dealing with sideloading (AltStore, etc.). Yes, it’s annoying. No, you’re not “bad at tech.”
How to enter cheats (the universal “don’t overthink it” method)
Most emulators follow the same basic routine. They’re like cats: not hard to deal with, just weirdly particular.
- Find the cheat menu (usually under Tools / Emulation / a right click menu)
- Add a new cheat (name it something you’ll recognize later, like “Infinite Health,” not “asdfgh”)
- Paste the code (every line, exactly—no freestyle)
- Select the right format if the emulator asks
- Enable it
- Restart the game if needed (a lot of cheats don’t kick in mid session)
That’s it. That’s the ritual. Light a candle if you want, but it’s optional.
Two common emulator setups (because these trip people up constantly)
RetroArch cheats (aka: “save your settings or you’ll cry”)
While the game is running:
- Open Quick Menu (often F1 on desktop)
- Go to Cheats
- Load from the cheat database or add/import manually
- Apply changes
- Then save your cheat settings/config
If you skip the saving part, RetroArch will happily forget everything next launch and you’ll be sitting there like, “Why does RetroArch hate me?” It doesn’t. It’s just… RetroArch.
Dolphin cheats (clean and organized, bless it)
- Right click your game → Properties
- Go to Gecko Codes (or AR Codes)
- Paste/enable what you want
- Start the game (changes usually apply on launch)
Also: Dolphin codes are often tied to the Game ID. If you grabbed codes for the wrong region/version, Dolphin will stare at you politely and do nothing.
Troubleshooting: when the cheat does nothing (or everything breaks)
Let’s keep this simple and save you the “three hours of forums” spiral with ROM hack code troubleshooting.
Step one: test ONE cheat at a time
I know. You want infinite health, infinite money, max stats, unlock everything, and a pet dragon. But start with one code first. If you enable ten at once and your game implodes, you’ll be playing “Which one did this?” and that is not a fun minigame.
Always do this before experimenting
- Make a save state before enabling new cheats
(Save states are your "undo" button. Use them.)
- If your emulator supports it, consider backing up your memory card/save file too.
Quick fixes for the most common problems
- Cheat does nothing: your code is likely for the wrong region/revision or wrong format
- Game crashes on boot: disable all cheats, then re-enable one by one until you find the troublemaker
- Performance tanks: some cheats constantly write values to memory, only keep on what you’re actually using
Where to find codes that aren’t garbage
You don’t need a "sketchy .zip from 2009" situation.
- GameHacking.org is a solid starting point
- Emulator forums + GitHub repos can be great (especially for modern cheat databases)
- The Cutting Room Floor is fun for oddities and cut content (not always cheats, but still a rabbit hole)
And please, for the love of nostalgia, match the code to your exact game version with a FireRed cheat collection.
If you want to get fancy: making your own cheats (optional chaos)
If no existing code works, tools like Cheat Engine can scan the emulator’s memory while the game runs. You search for a value you can see (gold, HP, ammo), change it in game, search again, narrow it down, then freeze/edit the final address.
It’s powerful. It’s also a “late night tinkering gremlin” activity. Fun if you’re into it totally optional if you’re not.
FAQ (the stuff everyone asks)
Do cheats work on all emulators?
Nope. Some emulators prioritize accuracy and don’t bother with cheat systems (or only support specific types). Always check first, before you fall in love and then realize your emulator won’t let you be sneaky.
Are emulators legal?
In the U.S., emulators themselves are generally legal. Downloading ROMs you don’t own is where things get legally messy. The safest route is dumping your own carts/discs.
Can I use multiple cheats at once?
Usually, yes. But they can conflict—especially if two codes mess with the same value. Pick one “infinite health” code, not three, unless you enjoy living dangerously.
Will cheats mess up my saves?
They can. Save states help a lot. Also, in game saves don’t always preserve cheat modified stats the way you expect. If things revert when you reload without cheats enabled… that’s normal.
If you take one thing from this whole post: cheats aren’t random magic—there’s a matching game happening behind the scenes. Match the emulator + code format + region, test one at a time, and use save states like your sanity depends on it (because it does).
Now go open that cheat menu and make it behave.
