god mode

English

Alternative forms

• godmode

Etymology

In the sense "a game mode where the player character is invulnerable to damage", attested at least since 1991, as a cheat code activation message in the game Commander Keen IV ("God mode ON").

Noun

god mode (countable and uncountable, plural god modes)

1. (video games) A game mode where the player character is invulnerable to damage, typically activated by entering a cheat code.
   • 1992 May 24, Ben Rudiak-Gould, “All about Wolfenstein 3-D debugging mode ***SPOILERS***”, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games‎^[1] (Usenet), message-ID <1992May24.084922.27622@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>:

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

   • 1995 February, “Cheat Codes: Doom II”, in Computer Player, number 1.9, page 84:

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

   • 2018 March 27, Matthew Gault, “PC Master Race Invades 'PUBG Mobile' With Dishonorable Keyboards and Mice”, in Motherboard‎^[2]:

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

2. (video games) A mode of play in (mostly) roguelike games, allowing the player to create objects on demand, to be resurrected in the case of death, etc.
   • 1989 September 22, Kent C. Brodie, “wizard/god help (was Re: wizard password, um, what IS it?)”, in rec.games.moria‎^[3] (Usenet), message-ID <2755@moocow.uucp>:

     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".

   • 2007 February 20, Ray Dillinger, “Re: A question about the nature of roguelikes.”, in rec.games.roguelike.development‎^[4] (Usenet), message-ID <45db2e3e$0$27185$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net>:

     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.

   • 2018 April 21, Joe Allen, “Animus Control Panel Out Now For Assassin's Creed Origins On PC”, in TechRaptor‎^[5]:

     […] [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.

3. (by extension, slang) A 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.

   • 2017 November 6, Jeremy Cohen, “Forget Tanking: Knicks Fans Should Embrace Early Wins”, in Gotham Sports Network‎^[6]:

     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.

   • 2018 April 5, Tristan Jung, “College basketball season in review: The 10 best mid-major games from 2017-18”, in Mid-Major Madness‎^[7]:

     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 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^[8]:

     (title)

   • 2019 September 22, Muhammad Butt, “"He is an incredible leader" – Winners and Losers from Real Madrid’s big win vs. Sevilla”, in Squawka‎^[9]:

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

   • 2019 December 11, Aaron Mickunas, “Scoped goes god-mode to save Tfue and wipe a squad”, in Dot Esports‎^[10]:

     (title)

   • 2022 November 8, Siddhant Pamnani, “Bleach Thousand Year Blood War Episode 6 Preview: When, Where and How to Watch!”, in Leisurebyte‎^[11]:

     Few things in the universe are scarier than an anime old guy revealing his true powers and going god mode on the villain, and that's exactly what we will witness in this episode.

   • 2022 November 20, Dan Burnham, “Fans think Ederson's spot in Man City team under threat as 'god mode' keeper has blinder”, in Daily Star‎^[12]:

     Manchester City fans think Ederson's position could be under threat after back-up goalkeeper Stefan Ortega went "god mode" in the Carabao Cup.

   • 2022 November 21, Aditya Bhattacharya, “Through madness and mayhem, Suryakumar Yadav activates GOD-mode to make ridiculous look easy”, in Hindustan Times‎^[13]:

     Every great sportsperson goes through a phase in career where nothing he seems to do goes wrong. It is, as people call, GOD-mode, a period where irrespective of whatever a player does, he is near invincible.

Synonyms

• (mode of play in roguelike games): wizard mode, wizmode

Derived terms

• godmoder
• godmoding

Anagrams

• dogedom