Summary
Open-world gamesare among the most successful and highly praised titles in gaming history. Although a linear adventure or an RPG can easily achieve incredible success, something about the unbridled exploration of an open-world game lends itself to brilliance. It’s no small task to create a detailed and fun world for players to explore, which is perhaps why those who commit to doing so almost always hit the mark. Open-world games often intersect with other genres like sandboxes, action, adventures, and RPGs, usually resulting in atruly immersive experience.
Thanks to their massively imaginative nature, open-world games havea lot of comedic potential. Where else is better to demonstrate satire and humor than a world as vast and complex as our own? The entire ability to freely explore a world opens up dozens, if not hundreds, of chances for unique and hilarious encounters. The sheer interactivity of the genre makes it incredibly intricate to create, but massively successful when executed well. In fact, many fan-favorite games are the ones that perfectly combine a great gaming experience with a fun, satirical world - and luckily, there are a lot of open-world games that are comedic.
Open World Game: The Open World Gameis exactly what it says: It is the quintessential open-world game. As stated by the game itself, it’s time open-world games had all that distracting environment and depth stripped away. Finally, players can focus on the mechanics and progression aspects - like all good gamers want to.
This self-proclaimed satire game aims to level with players and disclose exactly what it takes to make an open-world game. A lot of Steam reviews will show how well it achieves this goal, and many others. Those who invest inOpen World Game: The Open World Gamemay find themselvesleaving with more existentialismthan they bargained for. The game is free to play on Steam, and has very positive reviews.
Goat Simulator 3is an open-world action video game where players assume the role of a menacing goat. The goal of the game is somewhat subjective, and generally, players must explore and engage in various activities to unlock achievements. Players can interact with the environment and various objects to cause havoc around the map.
It’s safe to say that this verystrange open-world gameis absolutely dripping with ridiculousness and hilarity. The game also features a multiplayer mode, allowing gangs of goats to unleash chaos on unsuspecting bystanders. Any gamers wondering whereGoat Simulator 2is - well, the developers completely skipped it as an inside joke between players and the creators.
Sunset Overdriveis an action-adventure game set in the future. It pairs fast-paced, parkour-style gameplay with a dystopian capitalistic open world packed full of color and tech. The plot centers around a soft drink corporation, FizzCo, releasing a toxic drink that makes those who drink it morph into a violent Overcharge Drinker (known as an OD).
Most gamers can tell from the plot thatSunset Overdriveisn’t afraid of getting ridiculous and leaning into the insane drama of the story to make fun of American consumerism. There’s some well-placed satire as well as some silly futuristic fun, makingSunset Overdrivea fabulous homage to eras of vibrant color and punk youth.
DespiteSaints Rowhaving a somewhat serious tone, comparisons toGrand Theft AutoleftSaints Row 2looking to carve out its own place in the gaming world by taking on a more comedic tone. The developers took the game in an outlandish and wonderfully wild direction. The game cleverly uses funny moments to contrast with the dark narratives taking place, and was overall a huge success.
The solid mix of hilarity and heart makesSaints Row 2a great addition to the open-world genre. Many players relished the more ridiculous aspects of the game, and its irreverent tone quickly made it popular with the open-world audience. It’s currently thehighest ratedSaints Rowgameon Metacritic, and for good reason.
Rockstar Games are no strangers to comedy, and their 2006 gameBullyis - thankfully - riddled with hilarity. Often cited as a fan-favorite,Bullyfollows class clown Jimmy Hopkins as he tries to climb to the top of the school ladder by becoming allies with the various cliques at Bullworth Academy. Jimmy engages in numerous scandals, pranks, and chaotic activities in order to rule the school and undermine authority.
The clever dialogue and ridiculous missions are classic Rockstar designs, and many players will be able to draw comparisons betweenBullyand laterGTAgames. This sillyjaunt into high school lifeis easily one of the most fun and comedic open-world games available, and will absolutely leave players with fond memories.
Gearbox Software’sBorderlands 2is comedic, insomuch as it leans into the lunacy of technology, and utterly commits to its own world-building. Compared to the first game,Borderlands 2places a lot more emphasis on its script and the dialogue absolutely succeeds in making the narrative engaging and the characters extremely vivid. Combined with the game’s love of explosions and increasingly insane weaponry,Borderlands 2easily becomes a triumph of comedy, heart, and some good old fashioned satire.
Any game with an antagonist who’s the head of a massive corporation is bound to use satire to draw comparisons between its world and modern American consumerism.Borderlands 2does so with style - and once again uses its comedic atmosphere to really make the dark moments hit hard.
Grand Theft Autois often looked at as the ultimate example of open-world gaming and, as technology improves, Rockstar has repeatedly evidenced why their franchise deserves such acclaim.Grand Theft Auto 5brilliantly executes a bustling, distinct, and satirical world that is hilariously rewarding to explore and absolutely ridiculous in essence. The Los Santos map is an unforgiving parody of LA, taking shots at its superficial nature and consumerism-heavy lifestyle. No place, person, or object is safe fromGTA 5’scriticism, with politicians, business people, and citizens themselves also being subjects of ridicule.
