Screenshots1 / 3
Bad Dudes
Bad Dudes is a side-scrolling beat 'em up action game developed by Data East and released in 1990 for the NES. Players control one of two martial artists tasked with rescuing the President from kidnappers. The game features straightforward hand-to-hand combat, with players using punches, kicks, and special power moves against waves of enemies. Combat is controlled with directional inputs and attack buttons, with combo possibilities rewarding quick reflexes. The game spans multiple stages set in various locations, each culminating in a boss encounter. Two players can fight through the campaign simultaneously in cooperative mode, sharing the screen as they progress through increasingly difficult enemy formations. The arcade-style gameplay emphasizes direct action and brawling mechanics typical of the beat 'em up genre.
- Developer
- Data East
- Released
- 1990
- Platform
- NES
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.5 / 5 (2.4K)
- Last updated
Bad Dudes Controls — NES Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Bad Dudes on our in-browser NES emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | D-Pad Up | Move up |
| ↓ | D-Pad Down | Move down |
| ← | D-Pad Left | Move left |
| → | D-Pad Right | Move right |
| X | A | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | B | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| Enter | Start | Start / Pause |
| Shift | Select | Select / Mode |
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
Bad Dudes Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Bad Dudes on NES before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"Bad Dudes" NES longplay 1990
Bad Dudes Cheat Codes
23 community-curated cheats for Bad Dudes. Tick any to activate them automatically when you click "Play with cheats" — or copy a code into your own emulator.
-
Infinite Lives
SZNKASVKSGNKASVK -
Infinite Continues
GXOKASVK -
Start With 1 Life And 1 Continue
PENXYZLA -
Start With Double Lives And Continues
TENXYZLA -
Start With Triple Lives And Continues
PENXYZLE -
Gain Double Usual Energy From Drinks
PESAIYIE -
Become Completely Invincible
APEETPEY -
Infinite Energy/Health (P1)
SZOEAOSE -
Infinite Health
02AB:0F -
All Bosses 1-Hit Kill
032F:00+0344:00 -
Weapon Mod
02A2:00 -
Infinite Time
0204:63SGVYOUVK
Show 11 more cheats Show fewer
-
Infinite Energy/Health [P1]
SZOEAOSE -
Become completely invincible!
APEETPEY -
One Hit Kills
AOLSNG -
Hit Anywhere
AAUPIOGI -
Invincibility
AVSOYOSZ+ELEAPOZE+AIEAZPAP -
One Hit Kills Enemies
AOUSNGEY -
Level Modifier
02C0:00 -
Infinite Lives P1
02BE:09 -
Infinite Health P1
02AB:12 -
Become Completely Invincible (Both Players)
APPETA -
Stage Music disabled
SUPSYZ
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Bad Dudes released?
Bad Dudes was released in 1990 for the NES.
Who developed Bad Dudes?
Bad Dudes was developed by Data East, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Bad Dudes support?
Bad Dudes supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the NES.
What type of game is Bad Dudes?
Bad Dudes is a Action game for the NES, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Bad Dudes for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Bad Dudes runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Bad Dudes in the browser?
No. Bad Dudes streams from a public archive into a browser-side NES emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Bad Dudes?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original NES cartridge supported.
Does Bad Dudes work on mobile devices?
Yes — the NES emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play Bad Dudes this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Bad Dudes. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
