Every once in a while, a video game comes along that burns itself into your memory—not because of its story or gameplay, but simply because of how funny it is.
For today's list, we’re looking at five games that will keep you laughing from beginning to end. We aren't just talking about one-off jokes, but genuine comedy that lasts throughout the entire experience. Of course not everyone will find all of the below titles funny, but there is sure to be at least one that will resonate wit you.
Muv-Luv Extra
Muv-Luv is a psychological horror series known for its deep characters, graphic content, and disturbing—yet traumatic—experiences that burn themselves into your memory forever. The series famously inspired works like Attack on Titan and is regarded by many as one of the greatest visual novels of all time.
So, why is it on this list?
The answer is that the trilogy begins with a title called Muv-Luv Extra, and it is nothing like the stories that follow. This installment introduces players to the protagonist, Takeru, and showcases the wacky world he originally calls home. It is a story where nearly anything can happen at any time; players are bombarded with one comedic scenario after another until the very end.
From a random girl showing up and claiming to be Takeru's future wife, to her bulldozing his entire neighborhood just to build a mansion connected to his bedroom, to a cast of over-the-top school friends who are just as wild—it is an "experience," to say the least. While there is plot progression and drama within each character route, the humor is what truly stands out.
After enduring one absurd situation after another, it isn't even surprising when Takeru wakes up to a giant robot crushing his neighbor’s house. When he walks to his old school and sees armed guards, it doesn't feel shocking. Even when he gets thrown in jail and told that aliens exist, it seems to fit right in with the madness leading up to it.
But then, the joke ends, and the true nature of the series reveals itself. At least it was a happy-go-lucky time leading up to that... right?
Battlefield Bad Company 2
The Battlefield series has always been known for its massive online multiplayer modes and its portrayal of the serious side of war. While campaign characters might crack a joke here and there, most entries attempt to show combat for what it truly is. The multiplayer features large, open maps with near-total destruction, where the battles themselves end up terraforming the landscape by the time a match concludes.
But then, the developers decided to do something different: they created the Bad Company series.
Battlefield: Bad Company is still, in fact, Battlefield. It features the same iconic multiplayer and utilizes its destruction elements in both online play and the single-player campaign. Fans of the series could jump right in, but there was a twist: the story. Rather than a grounded, serious tale, the game puts players in the shoes of a "company of rejects" and follows their misadventures as they accidentally cross the line and trigger an international incident.
While the original entry was funny enough—with constant banter and off-the-wall comments—it was the sequel, Bad Company 2, that truly held nothing back. Like the original, the sequel features the same cast of characters finding themselves on the battlefield once again. However, while the first game was rated T (Teen), which imposed certain limitations, the sequel received an M (Mature) rating, allowing the writers to say pretty much anything they wanted.
This freedom, combined with the characters mocking other popular shooters of the time, allowed the game to stand out from its competitors. It remains one of the best campaigns in the history of the genre; even when things got serious, you couldn't help but laugh.
Portal 2
There is a reason the Portal series is so beloved, and it extends far beyond the addictive puzzle-solving gameplay. Portal follows Chell as she navigates testing chambers while an AI named GLaDOS comments on her progress. The original title became famous for memes like "The cake is a lie," but it was GLaDOS’s dry, biting wit that truly lived on rent-free in the heads of everyone who played it.
And Portal 2 was all of that, plus more.
Not only did the sequel see the return of GLaDOS and her witty remarks, but it also introduced iconic new characters like Wheatley and the recorded voice of Cave Johnson—a character who completely steals the show in the latter half of the game. While Wheatley and GLaDOS are hilarious in their own right (and who could forget the Space Core?), it is Johnson’s "inspirational" speeches that truly motivate players. These are life lessons you can take with you forever!
Perhaps the best example is none other than the "Lemon Speech," which goes like this:
Johnson: All right, I've been thinking. When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade!
GLaDOS: Yeah.
Johnson: Make life take the lemons back!
GLaDOS: Yeah!!
Johnson: Get Mad!
GLaDOS: Yeah!!!
Johnson: I don't want your d*** lemons! What am I supposed to do with these?
GLaDOS: Yeah! Take the lemons!
Johnson: Demand to see life's manager! Make life rue the day it thought it could give Cave Johnson lemons! Do you know who I am!? I'm the man whose gonna burn your house down! With the lemons!!
It might not be as funny without context, but you get the point. This is exactly what players will be in for with Portal 2.
Yakuza (Pick One!)
This one is a tough call, as the series itself is truly something else. At first glance, the Yakuza series is a serious crime drama focused on the life of Kazuma Kiryu—both in and out of organized crime. While Kiryu’s actions lead him to become a legend, it is his relationship with his adopted daughter, his opening of an orphanage, and other personal milestones that ground him and allow players to connect. The story is ultimately about family, and there are emotional moments that will make even the most hardened player tear up. (That "ugly cry" scene in Gaiden still haunts me.)
That being said, it isn’t all drama. The games are packed with pure insanity, extending from the main plot to the hundreds of side stories across the series.
For the sake of this list, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the title that really pulls out all the stops, though it relies heavily on the series' history. Remember the time Kiryu was invited to a club, only to find grown men dressed as babies being pampered by "mothers"? Yeah, that comes back. The craziness of summoning Nancy the Crawfish? She’s here too! But the game also features a host of its own jokes, with every turn offering a new surprise.
Simply getting on a bus turns into a Pokémon Snap parody where players must take pictures of uniquely dressed (or undressed) characters in bizarre situations—and that isn’t even part of the massive Sujimon mode, which is hilarious in its own right. Visiting Dondoko Island turns the game into a parody of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and there is even a new take on Crazy Taxi via a delivery bike. Not to mention the karaoke songs and the cast of eccentric characters met along the way.
While the main story contains plenty of comedy, it is these substantial side activities that will really have you rolling. This is what you can expect from the entire series; newcomers shouldn't take their initial impressions at face value, because there is so much more beneath the serious facade that most entries start with. (And if you are still not convinced, check out the official Majima Construction Trailer for Yakuza Kiwami 2.)
The Stanley Parable
This is the story of a man named Stanley.
Stanley worked for a company in a big building where he was Employee Number 427.
Employee Number 427's job was simple.
He sat at his desk in Room 427, and he pushed buttons on a keyboard.
Orders came to him through a monitor on his desk telling him what buttons to push, how long to push them, and in what order.
This is what Employee 427 did every day of every month, of every year.
And although others might have considered it soul-rending.
Stanley relished every moment that the orders came in, as though he had been made exactly for this job. And Stanley was happy.
And then one day, something very peculiar happened.
Something that would forever change Stanley.
Something he would never quite forget.
He had been at his desk for nearly an hour, when he realized that not one single order had arrived on the monitor for him to follow.
No one had showed up to give him instructions, call a meeting, or even say hi.
Never in all his years at the company had this happened—this complete isolation.
Something was very clearly wrong.
Shocked, frozen solid, Stanley found himself unable to move for the longest time.
But as he came to his wits and regained his senses, he got up from his desk, and stepped out of his office.
This is the iconic intro to none other than The Stanley Parable, a game that players must experience for themselves to even begin to understand.
The game is narrated by Kevan Brighting, who directs the player, Stanley, on exactly what he should be doing. The Narrator describes the story as it unfolds, assuming Stanley follows every instruction. That is, until you—the player—decide not to.
As soon as you do something outside of the intended script, the Narrator tries to course-correct and work your actions back into the plot. However, things get wild the more you disobey him and attempt to take undiscovered paths. This leads to a surreal adventure filled with biting comedic commentary and completely unexpected sights. While there are multiple endings that loop you back to the beginning, the game remembers your decisions every single time.
Keep messing things up, and the Narrator might put giant arrows on the ground to show you the way. Still "get lost" and wander off somewhere else? Well, that is for you to discover! In the latest version, The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, the game also pokes fun at its own history and the players who were obsessed with it. The community complained there was no jump button? Fine—there's a jump button now. Except it only works within a specific circle marked on the floor, and it breaks after a few uses. But hey, we got the jump button, right?
The sharp writing and the unexpected consequences of your defiance are hilarious on their own, but combined, they create a truly memorable experience.
This is the story of a man named Stanley.
Conclusion:
And that is it for our list! Were there any surprises, or were these pretty predictable? Let us know in the comments below, and feel free to share your favorite titles that didn't make the list.
Post a Comment