Top 10 Comedic Video Games

Much like (xref) “Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy,” the “Ratchet and Clank” games encompass all the charm, fun, and playful goofiness of a great Saturday morning cartoon. In addition to being the funniest title in the franchise, “Up Your Arsenal” is also a marvelous ensemble piece. The plot brings together all of your favorite characters, like Captain Qwark, and introduces a few new colorful personalities, like a robot clearly modeled after Britney Spears. The villainous Dr. Nefarious notably steals the whole show along with his longsuffering butler, Lawrence. Ratchet and Clank themselves are as endearing as ever, solidifying their place as gaming’s ultimate comedy duo.

Where the old-school “Bard’s Tale” titles were fairly traditional fantasy role-playing games, this 2004 reboot took a more satirical approach to the genre. For example, the Bard isn’t exactly a noble hero. He actually has little interest in saving the world unless there’s some coin and cleavage in it for him. Cary Elwes of “The Princess Bride” is perfectly suited to voice our sarcastic anti-hero. We also get some splendid work from the invaluable Tony Jay as a narrator forced to tell the bard’s not-so-epic tale. Whether you chose to be snarky or nice, this is a hysterical adventure full of laughs and music.

Similar to “The Bard’s Tale,” “The Stanley Parable” also derives a ton of inspired humor from its unseen narrator. The narrator here, however, is more of a puppet master. As the titular Stanley, the player must decide whether to choose their own path or follow the narrator’s suggestions. What ensues is an ingenious satire of video games in general, additionally providing a clever commentary on the concept of freewill. Basically, it’s the video game equivalent to “Stranger than Fiction.” Although the main story goes by quite quickly, you’ll want to play “The Stanley Parable” multiple times to catch every joke, Easter egg, and potential ending.

This stellar sequel features some of the smartest and most inventive puzzles ever designed, but the appeal of “Portal 2” truly lies in its brilliant characters. The game sees the return of GLaDOS, who once again manages to be menacing and sardonic simultaneously. We’re also introduced to a personality core named Wheatley, who practically flies off the screen thanks to voice actor Stephen Merchant’s pitch perfect timing. The developers get some terrific comedic material out of our protagonist too, despite her inability to speak. Even when the story takes some dramatic turns, “Portal 2” always maintains its delightfully dark sense of humor.

“Borderlands 2” comes equipped with a massive arsenal of guns and unforgettable one-liners. Like its predecessor, this game refreshingly never takes itself too seriously. The entire campaign is pretty much just one big excuse to shoot stuff up and have some laughs. In the process, “Borderlands 2” delivers several witty as hell characters, like the villainous Handsome Jack. Of course the game’s most quotable character has got to be chatterbox Claptrap, who we’d gladly follow anywhere. Action-packed and consistently hilarious, a Vault Hunter’s life never has a dull moment.

Although we’d love to (xref) hit the road with a certain dog and rabbit, “The Secret of Monkey Island” was an undeniable game changer from LucasArts. This is one of the earliest titles that proved video games could be genuinely funny, complete with a wonderful script by Ron Gilbert, Dave Grossman, and Tim Schafer. The developers put just as much thought into the dialog as they put into the gameplay. The result is a comedy classic that’s as smart as it is silly. There’s just one question that remains: what’s the biggest monkey head Guybrush Threepwood has ever seen?

Another game Tim Schafer played a major role in fashioning, “Psychonauts” could have only come from an endlessly creative brain. Much of the game’s humor stems from the interactions between its outlandish characters. Although everyone at the Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp is quirky and precocious, they also manage to be unusually relatable. Given the game’s offbeat tone, it isn’t surprising that “Psychonauts” was under-appreciated upon initial release. Over the years, however, more and more gamers have come to recognize it as a masterwork of platforming and comedy. This is a bizarre treasure guaranteed to resonate with the weird little kid in us all.

Based on its main character’s cuddly appearance, “Conker’s Bad Fur Day” may seem like wholesome fun. Anybody who’s played this M-rated masterpiece, though, knows that its one of the rudest, crudest, and most wickedly funny games ever. The utterly random campaign feels like something Alex would be shown in “A Clockwork Orange.” As a matter fact, the game’s opening cinematic is a parody of Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 classic. On top of that,“Conker’s Bad Fur Day” satirizes everything from “Saving Private Ryan” to “The Matrix.” Throw in some singing poo and you have one twisted comedic adventure you’ll never forget.

Beaming with culture, style, and of course humor, “Grim Fandango” is one of the most unique games you’ll ever play. Tim Schafer makes his third appearance on this list with what many consider his magnum opus. Much like calacafigures, all of the characters in this point-and-click adventure are equally grim and full oflife. You wouldn’t think Day of the Dead and film noir would ever go hand in hand. Yet, these two elements flawlessly blend together in a game that brings a whole new meaning to the phrase, “Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.”

Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

“Saints Row IV” (2013)

“Bulletstorm” (2011)

“Lego Star Wars: The Video Game” (2005)

“Octodad: Dadliest Catch” (2014)

“Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door” (2004)

Since Matt Stone and Trey Parker are diehard gamers, it’s surprising that it took them so long to write a “South Park” game. The two finally delivered with “The Stick of Truth,” an RPG that’s just as hilarious as the show it’s based on. Aside from poking fun at countless video game tropes, “The Stick of Truth” offers an epic interactive “South Park” experience. Exploring the mountain town as Sir Douchebag, you’ll encounter Eric Cartman, Princess Kenny, and even Al Gore. Everybody is given a moment to shine in a game that provides one huge laugh after another. Just watch out for the balls!

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite comedic video game? For more entertaining Top 10s published everyday, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.