Funny video games for family to enjoy
September 27, 2019 9:03 AM   Subscribe

My teenage nephews like them and when I have them over I'd like for us to play something. Can you recommend games that are charming and have plenty of laugh-out loud moments? I'd like to avoid twitchy games because we want a way to relax and have fun.
posted by storybored to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (15 answers total) 15 users marked this as a favorite
 
Definitely Octodad!
posted by brook horse at 9:08 AM on September 27, 2019


This is my current jam!

Octo Dad. team control of floppy orthopod pretending to be someone's dad.

Humans fall flat. control a floppy human in a physics sim. who fall.

Donut County is a charming if short game. Like reverse Katamari Damacy.

Look at the whole 'party' or puzzle game category. Try to find games you enjoy - that will be contagious.
posted by zenon at 9:15 AM on September 27, 2019 [3 favorites]


... which platform? That might help.
posted by nkknkk at 9:15 AM on September 27, 2019


Response by poster: Any platform at all, nkknkk! I have an old XBox 360 but if a game sounds fun enough I'll upgrade to whatever.
posted by storybored at 9:23 AM on September 27, 2019


The recently released Untitled Goose Game (PC, Mac, Switch) is very similar to Octodad, but is a little more relaxing and a little less zany. Great game for one person to hold the controller while others offer ideas.
posted by SpiffyRob at 9:29 AM on September 27, 2019 [9 favorites]


My kids love Goat Simulator. (We play on ipad. They bought the "Payday" and "Waste of Space" versions in addition to the regular game.)
posted by belladonna at 9:50 AM on September 27, 2019 [1 favorite]


We laugh a lot while playing Ultimate Chicken Horse.
posted by Wink Ricketts at 9:53 AM on September 27, 2019 [1 favorite]


Mount your friends is a pretty hilarious game that would likely appeal to them. The original version is available on 360, there’s a new 3D version too.
posted by SaltySalticid at 9:57 AM on September 27, 2019


Have you played the Jackbox Party Packs with them? Not quite the same as a standard video game but my friends' teenage kids have had a great time playing it with the adults.
posted by Candleman at 10:12 AM on September 27, 2019 [1 favorite]


Please allow me to once again recommend West of Loathing, it's hilarious and great fun. Available on Steam and for the Switch
West of Loathing is a single-player slapstick comedy adventure role-playing game set in the wild west of the Kingdom of Loathing universe. Traverse snake-infested gulches, punch skeletons wearing cowboy hats, grapple with demon cows, and investigate a wide variety of disgusting spittoons.

Talk your way out of trouble as a silver-tongued Snake Oiler, plumb the refried mysteries of the cosmos as a wise and subtle Beanslinger, or let your fists do the talking as a fierce Cow Puncher. Explore a vast open world and encounter a colorful cast of characters, some of whom are good, many of whom are bad, and a few of whom are ugly.

Features:
  • A sprawling open world, chock full of danger, quests, puzzles, and mysteries
  • Lush hand-drawn black and white graphics
  • Thousands of jokes, gags, and goofs
  • Crunchy turn-based combat (but only if you want it)
  • Liberal use of the Oxford comma
  • Over 50 hats
  • Disreputable saloons
  • Several gulches
  • A drunk horse
posted by zinon at 10:14 AM on September 27, 2019 [3 favorites]


Everything. It's hilarious at times, just laughing at the goofiness of movement and things but it's also just a good time and is a nice trip.
posted by GoblinHoney at 11:22 AM on September 27, 2019


Overcooked and the sequel, Overcooked 2! You can boost your speed a bit moving around the kitchen by farting.

At least, that's what it looks like to me!
posted by Grither at 12:37 PM on September 27, 2019 [1 favorite]


Seconding Untitled Goose Game, Overcooked, West of Loathing and Jackbox. The other weapon in my charming/relaxing/funny/easy-to-learn arsenal is the Katamari series! It's equal parts surreal and silly--you play an alien prince who has come to Earth to roll everything up into a big ball. The XBOX 360 installment is called Beautiful Katamari.
posted by zeusianfog at 2:03 PM on September 27, 2019 [1 favorite]


"I Am Bread" is weird and funny: gameplay.
posted by tacodave at 3:45 PM on September 27, 2019


I found Jazzpunk pretty funny. Ryan North, author of Squirrel Girl, has a Shakespeare choose-your-own-adventure game called To Be or Not To Be. Finally, The Stanley Parable is hilarious.
posted by zompist at 9:58 PM on September 27, 2019


« Older One Engagement Ring To Rule Them All?! (Within...   |   Sell Macbook Pro on eBay? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.