Gothic 1 Remake Marvin Mode is now an official feature, giving PC players a way to open the game’s built-in cheat tools without installing a third-party console mod. Alkimia Interactive added it on 29 October 2026 as part of the free Feature Update #1, alongside Photo Mode and new character customisation.
It’s the return of a classic Gothic trick, but this time it’s built into the remake. There are two short sequences worth remembering: one to activate the tools and another to leave them. You can get started in seconds once the new update is installed.
How to enable Gothic 1 Remake Marvin Mode on PC
- Launch the game with Feature Update #1 installed and load your save.
- Press Esc to open the pause menu.
- Type MARVIN on your keyboard while the menu is open.
- Press Esc again to return to the game.
- Follow the instructions displayed by the game for the cheat tools.
There’s no command box to find in Settings. Just type the letters while the pause menu is open, then close the menu. The cheat tools are part of the game after the update, with no extra software to install.
How to disable Marvin Mode
Press Esc to bring up the pause menu and type 42. You can then return to your game with the cheat tools switched off.
Once you’ve switched it off, you can carry on playing as normal. The original game’s old cheat guides aren’t needed for this new built-in feature.
What can you do with the cheat tools?
With Marvin Mode active, you can teleport around the Colony, open locks, spawn items and bring characters or creatures into the world. It’s a developer tool as well as a cheat mode, so it can change a playthrough far more dramatically than a normal settings toggle.
It can be tempting to spawn your way past an awkward encounter or open a chest you couldn’t pick normally. That’s part of the fun, but it also changes the state of your world. Use a separate save if you want to experiment with quests, creatures or NPCs.
After entering MARVIN, follow the commands shown by the current game. The 2026 remake’s built-in tools are the ones to use here; command lists written for the 2001 game or an older community console mod aren’t a substitute for the on-screen instructions.
Do you need a mod to use Marvin Mode?
No. The October update adds Marvin Mode to the PC game itself. Open the pause menu and follow the activation steps above. There’s no need to download a console mod or edit your launch settings.
If you’ve previously used a community console tool, don’t mix its command list with the new in-game controls. Start with the developer’s built-in interface and see what it offers before trying anything from an old modding guide.
Can you use Marvin Mode on PS5 or Xbox?
The free update arrived on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, but the published Marvin Mode activation sequence uses a PC keyboard. THQ Nordic hasn’t provided a PS5 or Xbox controller shortcut. That makes the steps above a PC guide, not a button combination to try on a console.
On PS5 and Xbox, Photo Mode is available from the pause menu as part of the same update. The PC activation instructions above aren’t console button instructions.
Marvin Mode not opening? Check these things
Make sure Feature Update #1 has installed. Marvin Mode was added on 29 October 2026, so a copy that hasn’t downloaded the patch won’t respond to the new sequence.
- On PC, load into the game and press Esc once to open the pause menu.
- Type MARVIN while the pause menu is open. You don’t need to search Settings for a text box.
- Press Esc again and follow the developer-mode instructions that appear.
- When you’re finished, return to the pause menu, type 42 and resume playing.
If you make major changes with the cheat tools, keep a separate save from your normal playthrough. Spawning NPCs or adding quest items is great for experimenting, but it’s worth having an untouched save to come back to.
When you’re ready to play normally again, deactivate the mode with 42 and load your regular save. The new Photo Mode and appearance options work separately from the cheats.
Official source: THQ Nordic’s Feature Update #1 announcement.
