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Gumshoe
Gumshoe is a detective-themed action game developed by Nintendo and released in 1986 for the NES. Players control Detective John Gumdrop as he investigates various locations to gather evidence and solve mysteries. The game combines side-scrolling action with light detective work, requiring players to find clues while avoiding or defeating enemies that patrol each area. Movement is controlled with the directional pad, with action buttons for jumping and investigating objects. The game features multiple cases across different environments—from warehouses to gardens—each with their own layout and challenges. Gameplay involves exploring stages, collecting necessary evidence items, and confronting the criminal at each level's conclusion. The combination of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving creates a unique gameplay loop for the platform.
- Developer
- Nintendo
- Platform
- NES
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 1P
- Rating
- 4.8 / 5 (1.6K)
- Last updated
Gumshoe Controls — NES Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Gumshoe 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.
Gumshoe Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Gumshoe 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
"Gumshoe" NES longplay
Gumshoe Cheat Codes
30 community-curated cheats for Gumshoe. Tick any to activate them automatically when you click "Play with cheats" — or copy a code into your own emulator.
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Start With 1 Life
PAUENALA -
Start With 6 Lives
TAUENALA -
Start With 9 Lives
PAUENALE -
Start With 25 Bullets
IZSEEAAI -
Start With 150 Bullets
PASEKAAA -
Start With 250 Bullets
ZASEKAAA -
Gain 1 Bullet On Pick-Up
PASAUALA -
Gain 6 Bullets On Pick-Up
TASAUALA -
Timer Set To 04:00
LAKEGYTA -
Timer Set To 10:00
PAKEGYTE -
Different Attack Waves
SAKAVEKE -
Start With Lots Of Lives
YAUENALE
Show 18 more cheats Show fewer
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Infinite Time
00E0:52 -
Infinite Bullets
00E3:40 -
Have Hat On
008F:01 -
Stop Your Character
008B:01 -
Infinite Lives
0038:09 -
Infinite Time (Seconds)
00E0:59 -
Infinite Time (Minutes)
00E1:09 -
Infinite Bullets (Ten's & One Digit)
00E3:99 -
Infinite Bullets (Hundred's Digit)
00E4:09 -
Invincibility - Stages 1 and 2
SXNOILSA+SXNSKXSE -
Infinite Bullets - Stages 1 and 2
AEVSTZPA -
Infinite Lives - Stages 1 and 2
SZSEILVG -
Infinite Time - Stages 1 and 2
SXOSAZSA -
Start on Stage 2
PASEKAAA+NTSEVAKT+SZVAUAVA -
Start on Stage 3
ZASEKAAA+NTSEVAKT+SZVAUAVA -
Start on Stage 4
LASEKAAA+NTSEVAKT+SZVAUAVA -
Start on Fight with Zulie (Final Boss)
GASEKAAA+NTSEVAKT+SZVAUAVA -
Invincibility - Stage 4 and Fight with Zulie (Final Boss)
SXKOPYSA+SZUIUSSE
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed Gumshoe?
Gumshoe was developed by Nintendo, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Gumshoe support?
Gumshoe is a single-player Action game for the NES.
What type of game is Gumshoe?
Gumshoe is a Action game for the NES, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Gumshoe for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Gumshoe runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Gumshoe in the browser?
No. Gumshoe streams from a public archive into a browser-side NES emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Gumshoe?
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 Gumshoe 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 Gumshoe this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Gumshoe. 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.
