While video games are a highly versatile medium, certain genres often come to mind when one thinks of them. When someone thinks of video games, they will most likely think of action or strategy games, or perhaps horror games.
Not often does video games’ ability to use humor come to mind. However, throughout the years, a large number of comedy games have released on a myriad of different platforms and consoles, and many of these are still held in high regard today.
Portal 2
Portal 2 is a first person puzzle game, released in 2011. The game is highly praised (enough for a Portal movie to be in the works), and for good reason. The game has seen significant positive praise revolving around its atmosphere, and its main puzzle mechanic, which allows players to connect almost any two points with portals. However, while the game follows a test subject attempting to escape an ancient facility, Aperture Laboratories, the writing is what makes Portal 2. From the unhinged artificial intelligent GLaDOS, or the voice recordings of the Aperture flounder, Cav Johnson, each character in Portal 2 is witty and engaging, and enhances an already great game.
Psychonauts
Psychonauts is a 2005 3D platformer (with a sequel called Psychonauts 2 that was one of the highest rated games of last year), which follows the story of psychic acrobat Razputin Aquato, who joins a summer camp for his fellow psychics. Along the way, Raz meets a host of odd characters, and even delves into their minds as he unveils a massive conspiracy. While the game sometimes explores sensitive topics, it is also buoyed by a cartoonish art style, and a large focus on absurdist humor. For example, some level settings include a board game, a twisted suburban town, a black velvet city, and more. While Psychonauts presents mental health with tact, it isn’t afraid to use its setting to present truly wild scenarios and characters.
Grim Fandango
Released in 1998, Grim Fandango is an adventure game, set in the Land Of The Dead, combining aspects of Mesoamerican myth with noir film. While the game has been lauded for its story and characters, it is not without its comedy. Grim Fandango draws a massive amount of humor from its fantastical setting. Combining grounded characters with a Dia de los Muertos aesthetic (with some fantastical creatures thrown in as well) creates a game that is both heartfelt and humorous.
West Of Loathing
West Of Loathing, released in 2017, sets itself apart immediately, even from static screenshots. West Of Loathing is a role playing game, set in a black and white, Wild West-inspired world populated entirely with stick figures. While its sketchy art style certainly sets the game apart, West Of Loathing also employs clever puns and wordplay. For example, a ghost town might be actually infested with ghosts, or needles you need to complete tasks will be hidden in haystacks.
Jazzpunk
Jazzpunk, released in 2014, is first-person exploration game, set in a retro-futuristic version of the mid twentieth century. Jazzpunk is focused more on comedy than any sense of puzzle-solving, and this is apparent as soon as the game’s protagonist, Polyblank, steps out of a human-shaped suitcase in the opening moments of the game.
As Polyblank continues to complete missions for his employers, this sense of absurdism never diminished. Players might be smuggling pigeons one moment, or hunting cowboys the next. While the game's grimy aesththic might bring to mind a a game like Bioshock, its cut-out characters and relentless humor set it in a league of its own.
Overcooked
Overcooked, released in 2016, is a co-op cooking game. While this doesn’t sound like a particularly comedic game, Overcooked does much to set it apart from other games in the same genre. Not only does the game present players with a colorful, toybox-like aesthetic, but the various kitchens players are forced to work in are often impractical, to say the least. And not only do players need to balance tasks with the other players, but they have to contend with everything from moving kitchens, to inclement weather and more.
The Warioware Franchise
While the first game in the Warioware franchise released in 2003, the series has continued to move along strongly since then, with the most recent release coming out last year. The Warioware series takes the form of "microgames" - simple minigames with a set objective that can be completed quickly, often in less than ten seconds. These microgames vary wildly in style, art, and content, ranging from games based on Nintendo properties to random menial tasks. The games also have a strong multiplayer aspect, and are often meant to be played with family and friends, further compounding the chaos and hilarity the franchise is known for.
Octodad
Octodad, released in 2011 and spawning a sequel in 2014, has an inherently comedic premise. The player takes control of Octodad, an octopus trying to convince the world, and his family, that he is a normal human. Not only does the game feature a cast of characters who are utterly oblivious to the fact that a cephalopod is masquerading as a human trying to complete normal tasks but failing, but the player is forced to contend with awkward controls that makes the game’s goals difficult to complete.
Goat Simulator
Released in 2014, Goat Simulator originally started its development as a prototype game jam, but now has had millions of players. Goat Simulator is a chaotic and absurd game, which lends itself incredibly well to comedy. Playing as a goat and causing general mayhem while contending with janky effects and ragdoll physics is a large part of Goat Simulator, but also provides large amounts of humor.
The Sims Franchise
Since the release of the first game in The Sims franchise in 2000, it’s become readily obvious there are a large number of ways to play through this series of life simulation games. On one hand, corralling a group of "sims" through their virtual lives is perfectly valid. On the other hand, The Sims franchise also lends itself incredibly well to high levels of chaos. Seeing the ways various sims interact, or drastically altering their lives (or ending them, if one prefers) in various ways can create great moments of comedy.