Everyone needs a good laugh now and then, and that can certainly be said for many in the gaming community. While it's definitely fun to blast through hordes of undead, explore other planets in faraway galaxies, and get lost in open-world story-heavy RPGs, a little levity definitely goes a long way.
There is no shortage of famous stars of stage and screen who have lent their talents to video games, but a special mention has to go to the comedic juggernauts who add a healthy dose of humor to a project, regardless of genre. With names like these, gamers can only laugh.
Ricky Gervais (Grand Theft Auto IV)
In a series already full of comedic characters, it doesn't get much more literal than this appearance from Ricky Gervais. While players are walking the mean streets of Grand Theft Auto IV, players have the opportunity to pop into the Split Sides comedy club and catch a performance from the comedian between bouts of various felonies.
The act is decent material from Gervais, and it's definitely nice to step into a comedy club without paying the price of admission. His sets cover a few off-color or even taboo subjects, and the humor definitely matches the tone of the rest of the game. A good casting choice was certainly made.
John Goodman (RAGE)
"Welcome to the future." John Goodman is a very comedic and very versatile performer, but his role as Dan Hagar in RAGE feels like a part the actor easily melted into. If Mad Max was given a more space-themed, sci-fi flavor, Dan Hagar would be on the movie poster.
He's essentially the player's first ally in this unforgiving apocalyptic wasteland, and Goodman's performance is incredibly on point with the material he was given. In a strange hybrid of Walter Sobchak and Big Dan Teague, Dan Hagar is easily one of the actor's most under-recognized roles.
Keith David (Saints Row IV)
He might have begun his career as an action-hero, but there's no denying that Keith David has expanded into more comedic material in some of his more recent performances. One such role has to be the vice-president version of himself seen in Saints Row IV.
Granted, it's a role that allows for loads of riffing. But in a game that takes itself as unseriously as the Saints Row titles do, it's a match made in heaven. It's certainly refreshing to see how much fun a decorated performer like David can have when allowed to get a little goofy.
Seth Green (Mass Effect)
Joker is to the Mass Effect series as Rocket Raccoon is to the Guardians of the Galaxy, and Seth Green provides some much-needed comic relief to Bioware's phenomenal space opera. Every good starship needs a cocky pilot to keep things interesting, and Joker definitely fits the bill.
Green is both a stellar comedian and voice actor, and he brings a palate containing various elements to create a memorable team player on Shepard's crew. He might be better known for his work on Robot Chicken or Austin Powers, but Joker truly shows off his acting skills.
Will Arnett (Eat Lead: The Return Of Matt Hazard)
Will Arnett has to have one of the most recognizable voices in or out of video games, and he's had several impressive roles. But before he was portraying a washed-up alcoholic horse or a Lego version of the Caped Crusader, he was the star of this action-game parody. Eat Lead might be a semi-forgotten shooter, but those who grew up on action titles of the '80s and '90s will effortlessly appreciate the tongue-in-cheek nature of the game.
Matt Hazard is a glorious lampoon of characters like Duke Nukem, complete with an array of deliciously cheesy dialogue. Arnett's performance is what truly sells the character, providing an enjoyable and appropriately over-the-top portrayal of nearly every gaming action hero.
Paul Reubens (Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare)
Paul Reubens has had quite an impressive career outside of his Pee-Wee Herman days, ranging from animation to video games. While Call of Duty: Infinite wasn't the most well-received entry in the series, it did have a very enjoyable Zombies campaign featuring Reubens as an uber-creepy horror director.
Willard Wyler, Master of the Macabre, is a purple-clad combo of Vincent Price and William Castle that absolutely drips with a creepy nature worthy of a Scooby-Doo cartoon. Pair that with the guest appearance by David Hasselhoff and it makes for a great light-hearted alternative to the gruesome and gritty Nazi Zombies mode seen in other titles.
Alan Tudyk (Injustice Series)
Alan Tudyk is a prominent figure in geek culture, having appeared in various projects from Firefly to Star Wars. But while the prolific comedic actor has loads of various credits under his belt, his most heroic role in recent years is that of DC's Green Arrow in the Injustice series.
Tudyk's performance and dry wit perfectly capture Oliver Queen's character, and his list of quips in Injustice 2 is just as sharp and impressive as his arrowheads. Not too over-the-top, but just comedic enough to keep things light and fun when the DC universe gets too gritty.
Jack Black (Brutal Legend)
If there's one thing most players took away from Brutal Legend, it's that it was usually referred to as "that Jack Black game." While the title was easily ahead of its time with its mix of different gameplay elements along with the hack-and-slash action, it's most recognizable by its voice cast.
Jack Black plays Eddie Riggs, the world's best roadie who gets sucked into a mystical realm of heavy metal magic. Needless to say, he's the reason the game works as well as it does. The man is definitely well within his element. Accompanied by rock legends like Ozzy Osborne, Lemmy Kilminster, and Rob Halford, Black leads a cast of metal gods and monsters on the road to glory in this love letter to the genre.
Tim Curry (Various)
They say someone's character can truly be judged based on their favorite Tim Curry role. As well as being a brilliant comedic/character actor, musician, and performer, Curry has had plenty of video game roles in his extensive and eccentric career.
Along with playing the main villain in the previously mentioned Brutal Legend, he has made appearances in titles like Dragon Age, Toonstruck, and most famously, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3. Whether as an over-the-top evil villain or a comedic caricature, there's nothing wrong with an extra helping of Curry.
Robin Williams (Breath Of The Wild)
An honorable mention, but one that deserves a top spot on the list has to be Robin Williams's posthumous cameo in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. As a longtime supporter and fan of the franchise, Williams expressed his fondness for the series quite often, even doing advertisements for the 3DS remake of Ocarina of Time and Skyward Sword. It was only fitting that he was immortalized in the lands of Hyrule.
If a player ventures south of Death Mountain to the Foothill Stable, they will find Dayto, a pointy-eared doppelganger for the late comedian. Williams was so enthralled with the series that there's possibly no better place for him to live on in video game history.