Appendix available: List of 50 games with official “unlimited money” toggles and their player retention rates (N=1,200 survey).

The concept of “unlimited money” in video games manifests in two distinct forms: the sanctioned sandbox mode (e.g., creative mode in Minecraft ) and the unsanctioned exploit/trainer (e.g., cheat engines in GTA ). This paper examines how unlimited financial resources reshape player behavior, game narrative, and economic design. It argues that while unlimited money temporarily increases player agency and reduces frustration, it systematically undermines long-term engagement, destroys challenge-reward cycles, and reveals the fragile architecture of modern game economies. The paper concludes with design recommendations for balancing abundance with meaningful choice.

If you are playing a single-player game and want to enjoy a "rich" playthrough, there are several sanctioned ways to do this without risking your account or device: