Most think of the AAA industry as big-budget games that are action-adventure, story-driven experiences or similar. You play to be scared, to fight monsters and unwind, or go on an epic, somber journey. A couple of these games, however, take the time to be humorous in their lore… or maybe their entire brand is based on their satire.
What does it mean to get humor right? What’s hilarious for you might be unfunny to me and vice versa. These are mainly based on games that have made me laugh the most, and there is a consensus among gamers that these are funny games.
These are ten big-budget games that take the time to make you, the player, laugh throughout your playthrough. It can’t rain all the time.
10
NieR: Automata
Joke Endings
NieR: Automata is a commentary about war and life. Why are we still here? What is the meaning of existence? It features some of the most depressing storylines, which will still have you thinking days later, all set to wonderful music. By the time you get to Ending E, you’re just left feeling like, “Wow. Why did I delete my save file?”
And then there are the joke endings, some of which you might accidentally uncover during the storyline. Huh, what do you mean the game is over because I accidentally made 9S walk off a crane never to be seen again? The game literally has 26 endings, each labeled with a letter of the alphabet, with A-E being the only serious ones.
Despite a serious storyline, Yoko Taro isn’t afraid to troll you, the player, with some really sudden endings. There are also tons of weird, meta jokes throughout, like the fact that you can buy the game’s Platinum trophy with in-game currency.
9
Tekken Tag Tournament 2
Tekken At Its Silliest
As a long-time Tekken fan, I can’t help but mention this entry in the franchise. Tekken itself in the canon doesn’t take itself too seriously, what with the Mishima family feud. A character can die just to be resurrected in the next game. However, the Tag Tournament games are the best when it comes down to full-blown humor, because they’re non-canon. Tag Tournament 2 does this well.
The customizations in Tekken are one of the highlights of the series. You’re making your fighter cosplay a character from another IP, or just making them look as silly as possible. The chaos of customizations is now doubled in matches. Then, there are the matches themselves, where characters will have brief interactions with each other in a roster that has bears, an ogre, an angel, a boxing dinosaur, and a kangaroo.
Finally, it’s the endings in this game that stand out the most. Since it’s non-canon, nearly every character has a joke ending that you expect compared to canon titles. One of the funniest endings of all time in the series is in this game, through Wang Jinrei’s fourth-wall-breaking conclusion.
8
Baldur’s Gate 3
Dark Comedy
The highlight of Larian’s RPG masterpiece is that what you put into it, you get out of it. So, if you make your character look as silly as possible and choose certain romances, it just seems funny, especially if you go the route of naming them something foul. The freedom of choice leads you to a wonderfully crafted story with some hilarious moments in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Your party members and the people you encounter are the highlight of this journey, with some NPCs treating you differently because of who you have with you, or your party members’ reactions to specific scenarios. Astarion is probably the best party member to have for these reactions.
Malta the Cat stands out as one of the quirky moments that you can get if you have the “speak to animals” ability.
I Need Scissors, 61!!
At one point in MGS2, your codec calls get very strange, even though there’s a legit plot reason for that. Nonetheless, they’re hilarious, while your character must avoid guards while naked. Even before that point in the game, there are just various other quirky moments sprinkled through this second installment that the series and Hideo Kojima are known for. MGS2 is where it gets the most inane.
Some other memorable moments include the pictures you can send to Otacon that have him laughing. Conversations about cardboard boxes. Getting yelled at by Rosemary for doing something inappropriate. That epic handshake with Otacon and Snake.
Then, of course, the line: “NO! That is NOT Solid Snake!” has to be mentioned… for that’s how fans felt once they got to the Plant chapter. Up to the game’s release, fans expected to play as Snake, but instead, we play as Raiden, serving as a lesson in media control —a theme that runs throughout the game. Hideo Kojima is a genius.
6
Cyberpunk 2077
Keanu Reeves
There’s nothing like randomly walking into Hideo Kojima in a bar during a story mission. But he isn’t the star of this game; it’s Keanu Reeves, who plays Johnny. Without spoiling the plot, basically, his companionship with you makes for some memorable and hilarious moments, especially when he comes out of nowhere.
Besides Johnny, there’s also quite an ensemble of events that happen in this game. You might be beating someone to death with a very questionable pleasure device. Skippy will sometimes chime in with some funny tidbits. There are a couple of side quests and gigs that leave you laughing.
It’s definitely an edgier game compared to the rest that CD Projekt Red has made. While The Witcher 3 had its moments, this is just something else. The first-person view in Cyberpunk 2077 effectively sells many of its moments.
I Don’t Know You, And I Don’t Care To Know You
Oblivion has some of the funniest NPCs in gaming history. The adoring fan who wishes to worship the ground from which you walk. The townsfolk who let it be known that they don’t know you, and that they don’t care to know you. Oblivion is a fun open-world adventure that’s enriched by its NPCs.
Even in the remaster, there’s such a charm to the NPCs and animation that it’s just a game that doesn’t take itself seriously, even though there’s a serious world-ending threat going on through the Oblivion gates. On your first playthrough, you might have no idea why the guards are always coming after you, and if you refuse to pay your bounty, “Then pay with your blood!” is quite nostalgic.
It’s no surprise that a whole series of meme videos of real-life events has been created, set to this song from the game playing in the background.
4
Tales From The Borderlands
The Finger-Gun Fight Scene
Generally, the Borderlands series has a lot of humor going on for it. It’s a series that knows not to take itself too seriously, with dozens of laughs throughout. This AAA series itself gets humor right.
If there’s the most memorable funny moment, it’s got to be the finger-gun fight scene from Tales in the Borderlands in Episode 4. Not only is it one of the best QTEs out there, but it’s also incredibly memorable in its execution. Especially if you first watched it randomly without any context before eventually playing the game yourself.
Since it’s a Telltale game, it’s also one of the easier games in the series to get into.
3
Grand Theft Auto V
Continuing A Satirical Legacy
The GTA series is generally known for its dark comedy and satire. Some of the radio stations, in particular Vice City’s VCPR, may give you lots of chuckles during your chaotic drive of death and destruction in the city. But of every game in the series, GTA V does it very well… mainly because of Trevor. That man steals the show any time he’s on camera.
There is nothing like switching to Trevor. He’s either in his tighty whities on a bridge, in the middle of a police chase, or yelling at a random NPC. Even some of the substories, particularly those where a quick puff of a blunt has Michael and Trevor hallucinating battle sequences with aliens, made for some entertaining experiences; meanwhile, Franklin is all, “Meh”. Speaking of Franklin, that roast by Lamar spawned hundreds of parodies.
The satire still holds up well in GTA V, a decade later. The website parodies are entertaining, as are the television segments. There’s always something absurd happening in GTA V that’s made it such a long-standing game.
2
Yakuza 0
Mr. Libido & Miracle Johnson
All games in the Like a Dragon/Yakuza series have humor in their substories, but Yakuza 0 is the standout prequel that kicks off the whole thing. Not to mention, at one point in the actual storyline, while investigating a rival cabaret club, you encounter Mr. Libido thrusting in the corner like he’s some Filthy Frank character.
The substories in 0 are some of the funniest in the series. The ’80s parody songs at the disco, featuring encounters with “Miracle Johnson” and a “Thriller” scenario, create comedic memories. The real estate side story has you recruiting a chicken.
If you haven’t played any of the Yakuza games, 0 is the best starting point. It’s a very compelling mystery series, containing a serious plot that occasionally gives way to absurd and heartwarming moments. It’s a world you like to be in as you laugh all the while.
1
South Park: The Stick Of Truth
“Moo moo,” – Alien
Since 1997, South Park has dominated the animated adult comedy scene. Whether or not you’re a fan of South Park, Stick of Truth has its moments. Both this and The Fractured But Whole are fun RPGs. However, Stick of Truth has more absurd moments that will have you bursting out in laughter, precisely what you expect from a South Park game.
The aliens that go “Moo, moo”. That scene where you’re fighting a boss battle in your parents’ bedroom. The fart mechanics. Heading to Canada, and the game suddenly changes to a 16-bit Nintendo RPG game. Naming your character Cartman’s nickname for you earns you a trophy. The game is a love letter to the series itself.
Even if you’re a casual fan, you might find yourself surprised that Ubisoft let Matt Stone and Trey Parker get away with so much in this game.
