The 10 Goofiest Video Games

Leave the jokes up to these games.

April 2, 2012

Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Lead

Hope you got all of the pranks out of your system. April Fools’ Day is for the young at heart with a healthy sense of humor, and if you hate pranks then must've stayed home and switched your phone off for your own safety. Video game developers tend to have a similar sense of humor as they sneak off color jokes and easter eggs into their games. Some bring a smirk to our faces, and others make us chuckle, but most of the time we find ourselves LOL’n at the silliness that programmers add to their games. It’s as if April Fools is everyday. Every game has a dash of humor within it, but these games specifically are outright silly and downright goofy. Here’s our list of The 10 Goofiest Video Games.

Written by Obi Anyanwu (@obianyanwu)

No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle

Console(s): Nintendo Wii (2010)
Developers(s): Grasshopper Manufacture, Ubi Soft, Marvelous Entertainment, Rising Star Games

Complex Says: No More Heroes showed its silliness when Travis made the deal to sleep with Sylvia if he makes it to number one. If that wasn’t convincing enough, then maybe the “save the game by taking a dump” moment did it for you. Travis’ stumbling, bumbling, “goofball trying to look cool” nature is charming in a way, and it’s put over the top in No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle. Though the game is more intense than part one, NMH:DS has more comedic moments than the previous game all the way to the ending.

Tony Hawk 3

Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3

Console(s): Playstation 2, Nintendo Gamecube, Playstation, Game Boy Color (2001)
Developer(s): Neversoft, Activision Shaba Games (Playstation), HotGen (GameBoy Color)

Complex Says: This is one series that never took itself seriously. This series is like Mortal Kombat in that the game is serious, but it doesn’t take itself seriously (if that makes any sense.) Well, of course you have to collect S-K-A-T-E and finish other goals, because you WANT to complete the game, but the young at heart enjoy the game (specifically part 3) for the unlockable characters. Wolverine and Darth Maul? Yes please! Who doesn’t want to see Wolverine bail? This game is good fun, goofy fun, and if you’re wondering how the developers keep dishing out pranks, unlock the Neversoft office skateboard video. Laugh away!

Mortal Kombat II

Console(s): Arcade (1993)
Developer(s): Midway

Complex Says: There has always been a bit of comedy in Mortal Kombat games since part one. Well, the series itself is a parody of the violent B-movie parodies of Bruce Lee flicks. To put it simply, Midway didn’t take themselves seriously (until later.) MKII is still a bloodbath, but what makes it silly is the introduction of Friendships. There’s nothing worse than beating the hell out of your friend as Sub-Zero, and then saying “Buy a Sub-Zero Doll!” Even Shao Khan gets outraged. The irony, the comedy!

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door

Console(s): Nintendo Gamecube (2004)
Developer(s): Intelligent Systems, Nintendo

Complex Says: This game’s humor is subtle. The X-Nauts have their own slapstick, bumbling character, which is typical in just about every comedy known to man. The parody characters like Rawk Hawk and Don Pianta have enough jokes and movie/television character references to make you feel like you’re watching a smart comedy. Bowser’s goofball chapters put this game’s goofiness over the top, and if that doesn’t make you laugh then what's your idea of a good comedy?The Ringer or Kindergarten Cop?

Conker's Bad Fur Day

Console(s): Nintendo 64 (2001)
Developer(s): Rare

Complex Says: He fights singing shit. Nuff said.

Bubsy

Bubsy in Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind

Console(s): Super Nintendo (1992)
Developer(s): Accolade, Eidetic

Complex Says: Bubsy was Accolade’s attempt at a Sonic The Hedgehog or Super Mario type character. It failed, but his jokes never fell flat. This bobcat had a joke for every stage, became a furball after hitting a water slide, would turn into an accordion after falling several feet (which was annoying), melts after hitting an enemy (also annoying), and sometimes cracked into a million pieces. The game was very annoying, but if you’re the type to never get mad then you’ll enjoy this goofball.

Earthworm Jim

Console(s): Sega Genesis (1994)
Developer(s): Playmates, Shiny Entertainment

Complex Says: Any game that has cows in it is a total joke. Earthworm Jim is literally an earthworm in a space suit shooting a ray gun and whipping his head (pause) at enemies around him. The game has always been fun, and it’s pretty goofy from the start. Jim flexes his muscles and his pants drop to show boxers with hearts on them? Okay, okay, they scored the cheap laugh but a laugh nonetheless.

Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix

Super Gem Fighter Mini MIx

Console(s): Arcade (1997)
Developer(s): Capcom

Complex Says: This Capcom crossover game featuring characters from Street Fighter and Darkstalkers is all fun. The characters in the background keep things crazy and the constant costume changes keep you laughing. The game is hectic in a fun and silly way, and the endings compliment it. We're gonna go on record and say, Daigo does not endorse this game.

Sam & Max Season 1 & 2

Sam & Max Save the World (Seasons 1 & 2)

Console(s): PC (2007)
Developer(s): Telltale Games, The Adventure Company

Complex Says: A dog dressed as a detective has a rabbit sidekick? Are they ever NOT joking? Of course not! Sam & Max solve cases amidst their cheap one-liners and other jokes. The sub-characters don’t leave it to just them, oh no. They step in with their jokes and drop pop culture references for the hell of it. Side splitting for sure.

Clay Fighter

Console(s): Super Nintendo (1993)
Developer(s): Interplay, Visual Concepts, Danger Productions

Complex Says: This game is 100% a joke. Seriously a joke. If the intro of the game, where a clay comet crashes into a circus and makes everyone clay, isn’t an indication of how crazy this game is then how about the goofy characters? No? Then maybe the pie throwing and buzz saw hair? Still not sold? The end boss doesn’t convince you?! Really?! Then read any character’s ending, because there’s nothing serious about any of them. Out of all of the parody games in existence and beyond the humor from several games, Clay Fighters stands out as the silliest game ever made.