We often lament the lack of humor in games, especially in recent years. Many games are focused on providing a serious, realistic experience. That’s all well and good, but some of us would like to sneak in a laugh every now and then. If you’re into that too, you should check out one of these eight hilarious games.
Think we missed one? Tell us what it is in the comments!
The Monkey Island Series
It’s not unusual for a Tim Schafer game to be funny, and the Monkey Island series is a shining example. I mean, the main character is named Guybrush Threepwood, and there are islands named Melee, Booty, and Plunder. These are places it sounds like you would like to visit. The entire premise of the series is that is that a goofy guy becomes a pirate to save his kidnapped girlfriend. There are zombies, voodoo, and all sorts of fun things to do.
Borderlands 2
Gearbox rolled out a humorous masterpiece in Borderlands 2. It featured a ton of great comedic moments thanks to a motley crew of characters that included the robotic mascot, Claptrap. But the real star of the game was the antagonist, Handsome Jack. He had numerous great lines, including the golden moment when he purchases a diamond-encrusted horse and names it Butt Stallion. Any of the games in the series could have made this list, but Borderlands 2 was probably the funniest.
Brutal Legend
Another Tim Schafer game, Brutal Legend told the story of a roadie for a heavy metal band that got transported to the Heavy Metal World, where he becomes a hero. Not only does it feature rock icons like Ozzy Osbourne and Lemmy Kilmeister, but main character Eddie Riggs is voiced by the inimitable Jack Black. It’s filled with hilarious quips and moments, and Jack Black’s performance is one of his best. Enjoy the highlight above.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3
I know you’re wondering how a real-time strategy game could end up on this list, so let me make it clear in two words: Tim Curry. As you probably know, the Command & Conquer series uses actors in full-motion video cutscenes to tell its story. Red Alert 3 is no exception, and the cutscenes are so hilariously cheesy that I couldn’t help but include them on this list. Curry is joined by a great cast that includes J.K. Simmons, Jonathan Pryce, Peter Stormare, and George Takei. Trust me, it’s worth your time.
The Sam & Max Series
Before Telltale Games was knocking out mega-hit after mega-hit, they worked on the episodic series, Sam & Max. The series was based on a comic from Steve Purcell, so its got humor at its roots. The games perfectly capture that feeling, from the jabs at pop culture to the interplay between a straight-laced dog detective and his smart-mouthed, hyperactive rabbit sidekick. Pretty much any game in the series will do, but for my money, Sam & Max Save the World is the funniest one.
Conker’s Bad Fur Day
How can a list of funny games exclude the one game that stars a foul-mouthed squirrel who does battle with Nazi-like teddy bears and giant pile of feces that sings? Simple: it can’t. Conker’s Bad Fur Day is what you get when Rare decides it’s time to make a departure from their cutesy mascot platformers, and I think we can all agree that it was a great decision. Be prepared for strong language, sexual themes, dark humor, and one hell of a good time.
Saints Row The Third
In many cases, games that try to just go crazy can often feel like they’re trying too hard to be wacky. Somehow, Saints Row The Third avoids that trap by just being plain awesome instead. Whether you’re driving around the city of Steelport with a live tiger as your passenger, taking on a pro wrestler, dealing with the whims of a pimp whose voice is always autotuned, you’ll keep thinking you’ve seen the craziest thing in the game until the next even crazier thing shows up. Oh, and don’t forgot that the Mayor of Steelport is Burt Reynolds, because why the hell not?
South Park: The Stick of Truth
One of the strengths of South Park has always been their ability to mock any medium, and Trey Parker and Matt Stone manage that ably in South Park: The Stick of Truth. Not only does the game poke fun at the conventions of video games, it also packs in a ton of references to the show and plenty of familiar characters. It’s literally like playing an episode of South Park, which should be all the information you need to give it a shot.
