In health-based video games, god mode, infinite health or infinite life, is a game mechanic or cheat that prevents a playing character from being harmed, sustaining damage, and ultimately, dying.[1] By contrast, invincibility or invulnerability is a usually temporary[2] instance of this effect, obtainable in games with it as a power-up.[3][4]
Depending on how the effect is activated, god mode can function as a tool for game testing, a legitimate gameplay element (one of the most famous being Starman from the Mario series),[5] an unlockable feature (seen for example, in GoldenEye 007)[6] or in more illicit cases, a hack.