Easter eggs are synonymous with video games. Go off the beaten path, take a right at the dead tree, and in 2 miles you will find an NPC named after the protagonist of one of the best sci-fi shows of 2025, “Severance.” Sometimes, video games reference other video games, and several of these references are so downright immortal that they escape their medium and become Easter eggs in places you might not expect, like smart home devices.
If you own a Google Home or Amazon Alexa speaker, you can find plenty of fun Easter eggs — all of which can be accessed with voice commands. For example, just say “Alexa” or “Hey, Google,” and then enter the Konami code verbally: “up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, b, a, start.” The results vary depending on the device.
When you use the Easter egg with Google Home, the device will say that you’ve unlocked “cheat mode,” accompanied by a drumroll and celebratory noises. Meanwhile, entering the “code” on an Alexa device activates “Super Alexa,” which will either result in “power-ups” or make Alexa start up some reactors and dongers before ultimately aborting the process. Unlike genuinely useful Alexa features that help you solve common problems, this Easter egg doesn’t actually unlock anything or provide actual advantages — it’s just one big joke that rewards people who happen to know their video game history.
The legacy of the Konami code
For those who have never heard of the Konami code, the input originated from the NES classic game “Contra” — hence its alternative name, the “Contra code.” The game was so punishingly difficult that even testers had trouble beating every level. So the code was added to help them complete the title, but it wasn’t removed from the master copy that was used for retail versions.
Since many people couldn’t beat “Contra” without using the Konami code, and because the code itself spread by word of mouth, it became arguably the most famous cheat code of all time. Referencing the Konami code might as well be a rite of passage within game development circles, especially for Konami turtles — game designers would frequently hide secrets and additional modes players could only access by inputting the code. If we listed all of the games that use the Konami code in one form or another, we’d be here for quite a while — but even then, the Konami code isn’t restricted to digital formats.
As Google Home and Alexa smart speakers have demonstrated, even seemingly random electronic devices accept the Konami code. While the Steam Controller isn’t one of those gadgets (although it does contain a funny Easter egg of its own), the code works with the Fisher Price Laugh and Learn controllers — we are totally not kidding. Input the Konami code into any one of these toys for tots (minus the “Start” input since the controllers don’t have “Start” buttons) and enjoy the unique sound clips. Keep testing your devices — you never know which ones might be hiding a Konami code Easter egg.
