god mode

noun

A game mode where the player character is invulnerable to damage, typically activated by entering a cheat code.

“She went god mode and effortlessly defeated her opponents, leaving them in awe of her superhuman skills.”

Meanings

noungod mode (countable and uncountable, plural god modes)

plural god modes · alternative godmode

  1. countableuncountablevideo gamesA game mode where the player character is invulnerable to damage, typically activated by entering a cheat code.

    And playing a mobile shooter with a mouse is like playing in god mode.

    2018 March 27, Matthew Gault, “PC Master Race Invades 'PUBG Mobile' With Dishonorable Keyboards and Mice”, in Motherboard, archived from the original on 14 Jun 2018
    2 more examples

    Turns what Id calls "GOD mode" on and off. Basically it just means that you're invincible.

    1992 May 24, Ben Rudiak-Gould, “All about Wolfenstein 3-D debugging mode ***SPOILERS***”, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games (Usenet), message-ID <1992May24.084922.27622@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>

    IDDQD: God Mode. The eyes of your character will turn ablaze and no damage will befall you.

    1995 February, “Cheat Codes: Doom II”, in Computer Player, number 1.9, page 84
  2. countableuncountablevideo gamesA mode of play in (mostly) roguelike games, allowing the player to create objects on demand, to be resurrected in the case of death, etc.

    […] [T]he Animus Control Panel is essentially a built-in god mode-style official modding tool […] which allows players to control and customize various aspects of the game.

    2018 April 21, Joe Allen, “Animus Control Panel Out Now For Assassin's Creed Origins On PC”, in TechRaptor
    2 more examples

    The difference is that wizard mode is a SUBSET of god mode. For example, both wizard and god mode let you "teleport", but only GOD mode allows you to "allocate treasures" or "create object".

    1989 September 22, Kent C. Brodie, “wizard/god help (was Re: wizard password, um, what IS it?)”, in rec.games.moria (Usenet), message-ID <2755@moocow.uucp>

    So as a developer you've got to have a way to create characters of any particular skillset & level, insert them into any dungeon level, set up chosen maps, conjure particular equipment and/or monsters, etc. So as a developer, you almost *have* to develop a "god mode" or "wizard mode" that allows you to do such things.

    2007 February 20, Ray Dillinger, “Re: A question about the nature of roguelikes.”, in rec.games.roguelike.development (Usenet), message-ID <45db2e3e$0$27185$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net>

    Synonyms: wizard mode, wizard mode, wizmode

  3. broadlycountableslanguncountableA temporary state of extreme skill (in a sport, video game, etc.).

    She went god mode and effortlessly defeated her opponents, leaving them in awe of her superhuman skills.

    5 more examples

    Porzingis can't play in God mode every night… can he? He's going to have bad shooting nights, he's going to get into occasional foul trouble, he'll face tough defenders and he'll have to learn how to work out of future double-teams.

    2017 November 6, Jeremy Cohen, “Forget Tanking: Knicks Fans Should Embrace Early Wins”, in Gotham Sports Network, archived from the original on 07 Dec 2022

    This was the night Fletcher Magee immortalized himself in Wofford history. […] Magee, who had already been in "God Mode" heading into the game, was red-hot.

    2018 April 5, Tristan Jung, “College basketball season in review: The 10 best mid-major games from 2017-18”, in Mid-Major Madness

    (title)

    2018 June 4, Dan Devine, “Three takeaways from Warriors-Cavs Game 2: If LeBron's not in God mode, the Cavs can't get over the hump”, in Yahoo! Sports

    Casemiro looked something like the player he was two years ago, tackling anything that moved; and Raphael Varane went godmode.

    2019 September 22, Muhammad Butt, “"He is an incredible leader" – Winners and Losers from Real Madrid’s big win vs. Sevilla”, in Squawka

    (title)

    2019 December 11, Aaron Mickunas, “Scoped goes god-mode to save Tfue and wipe a squad”, in Dot Esports, archived from the original on 07 Dec 2022

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA mode of play in (mostly) roguelike games, allowing the player to create objects on demand, to be resurrected in the case of death, etc.

Also see

Origin

In the sense "a game mode where the player character is invulnerable to damage", attested at least since 1990, as a cheat code activation message in the game Commander Keen: Marooned on Mars ("God mode enabled").

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

god mode. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/god%20mode

MLA

“god mode.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/god%20mode. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “god mode,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/god%20mode.

Source: god mode on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.