8 Video Games That Mock You For Using Cheat Codes

Mega Drive action-platformer Vectorman certainly offers plenty of pushback for all but the most nimble-fingered of players, enough that you couldn't be blamed for entering a code to access the game's hidden cheat menu.

Here you can max out your health and also skip to any of Vectorman's levels you desire, but any use of cheats will also result in a passive-aggressive message from the developers being left for you at the very end of the game.

Beat the game and the expected end credits roll would instead be replaced with the snarky message, "Congratulations. Now play without cheating."

Developer BlueSky Software likely included this message in the game to promote Sega's "Play to Win" competition at the time, where those who beat Vectorman fair and square could register for the chance to win $25,000 cash.

All the same, it does feel like a bit of a self-own that all those folks who worked tirelessly on the game only had their names displayed to those who actually beat Vectorman the hard way.

Beyond the undeniably catty message, it feels like less of a punishment for players than the studio's own employees, no? Imagine pulling this nonsense in 2023.