There are a lot of video games out there and in this era of mobile and home-based gaming, the choices have never been greater. So how do you cut through the noise and find the “Best of” for any chosen topic?
Well, we’re here to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on some of the latest, greatest, and unforgettable games through the years.
For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best video games, our attention this time turns to the best parody games of all time. From bizarre 3D platformers to under-the-radar gems, you have a lot of games to whet your appetite.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll get them added on!
The Room Tribute
The Room Tribute is a comical game that successfully lampoons the film “The Room”. The game skillfully mimics “The Room’s” distinctive elements such as its over-the-top acting and bizarre plot twists. It faithfully recreates iconic scenes from the film, including the famous rooftop football catch.
The attention to detail extends to the game’s graphical style. It captures the low-budget aesthetics found in the film, allowing players to laugh at the original film’s absurdity. Furthermore, The Room Tribute stands out due to its clever use of humor. It introduces comical mini-games and interactions that satirize the film’s infamous quirks.
Even if you’ve never watched “The Room” before, you’re sure to enjoy what the developers dished out with this gem.
Conker’s Bad Fur Day
Conker’s Bad Fur Day is known for being an infamous 3D platformer developed by the folks who brought you the Donkey Kong Country trilogy and Banjo-Kazooie. Bad Fur Day’s clever sense of humor is one of its notable aspects.
The game features a range of humor from slapstick to witty dialogue. In it, you’ll play as a squirrel named Conker who encounters many absurd scenarios. For example, one level parodies the famous opera scene from “The Matrix Reloaded,” but has Conker burping instead of singing. This type of humor not only entices players to laugh but it serves as a clever critique of pop culture.
Additionally, Bad Fur Day incorporates witty references to different video games and pop culture icons too. One boss fight, in particular, is inspired by Ridley Scott’s “Alien” films. Conker finds himself battling a Xenomorph-like entity, resulting in a brutal yet hilarious climax.
On top of having crude language, which wasn’t common in other 3D platformers, Conker’s Bad Fur Day is a game worth revising for its references and cast alone.
Retro City Rampage DX+
Retro City Rampage DX+ is a fantastic parody game that pays homage to the 8-bit era of gaming. The game captures the essence of classic games like Grand Theft Auto, offering a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
With its pixelated graphics, humor, and over-the-top action, this game is a standout in a world brimming with other parodic content. Coupled with its chiptune soundtrack and nostalgic color palette, Retro City Rampage transports players to the golden age of gaming. Through careful attention to detail, Retro City Rampage DX+ emulates the aesthetics of old-school games while adding its own satirical twists.
From nods to classic gaming icons like Mario to famous comic characters like the TMNT, Retro City Rampage DX+ is a bundle of joy that’s worth checking out for its gameplay and references alone.
South Park: The Stick of Truth
After the weird South Park games of the N64 era to the present, many questioned if we’d ever get a game that’s on par with titles like The Simpsons: Hit & Run for South Park’s IP. Thankfully, Ubisoft heard fans’ plea and worked alongside South Park’s creators to create an RPG-themed South Park game that’s still cherished today. Enter South Park: The Stick of Truth, a game that makes you feel like you’re a part of the show, thanks to its incredible art style, gameplay mechanics, and clever writing.
One of the game’s best features is how it brilliantly parodies RPG tropes and gaming cliches. It cleverly mimics various aspects of the genre by incorporating twists on character classes, turn-based combat, and quest mechanics.
Furthermore, The Stick of Truth excels at delivering incredible social and cultural commentary like the animation it’s based on. From political corruption to consumerism, you can expect this game to put off all the stops like the actual animated series.
In conclusion, if you’re searching for a phenomenal parody of RPGs and a fantastic game based on one of the most popular adult-animated series today, check out South Park: The Stick of Truth.
Duty Calls
Duty Calls is what you’d expect, a parodic take on the famous Call of Duty game series. It expertly satirizes the exaggerated patriotism, cliched storylines, and relentless action that’s often associated with FPS games.
From its bombastic title to its fantastical patriotic intro narration, the game pokes fun at the grandiose nature of games like Call of Duty. For example, the game features a comically exaggerated grenade explosion that completely destroys a building. This showcases the excessively intense action sequences found in most shooter titles but puts an exaggerated spin on the matter for laughs.
Duty Calls even includes a one-button QuickTime event that mocks the cinematic sequences found in the Call of Duty franchise for added effect. If you’re looking for a funny shooter game that’s not afraid to criticize other FPS titles like it, check out Duty Calls.
Luigi’s Mansion
Surprisingly, Luigi’s Mansion is a fantastic parody game that expertly satirizes the ghost-hunting genre, specifically influenced by movies like Ghost Busters. With its clever humor, unique gameplay mechanics, and attention to detail, Luigi’s Mansion is a great parodic horror title that continues to be adored by many Nintendo enthusiasts.
The game places Luigi as the protagonist and tasks him with capturing ghosts in a haunted mansion. Luigi’s cowardly persona serves as a humorous parody of the confident ghostbuster archetype found in similar media. Furthermore, Luigi’s iconic Poltergust 3000 ghost-catching vacuum machine serves as a playful twist on the ghost-busting equipment found in other ghost-hunting media too.
Therefore, if you’re looking for a game that’s fun, memorable, hilarious, and somewhat spooky at times, check out Luigi’s Mansion.
Sonic Dreams Collection
Sonic Dreams Collection is a unique, quirky, and inventive title that satirizes everything fans love about Sonic the Hedgehog. Through its bizarre gameplay, subversive narrative, and attention to detail, this is a game that’s going to make you laugh or entice you to sleep with the lights on after you’ve played it.
Sonic Dreams Collection’s tongue-in-cheek approach to the franchise is one of its best features. The game presents itself as a collection of prototype games that were unreleased SEGA projects. However, these gamers are intentionally bizarre and surreal, poking fun at the Sonic fandom and internet culture’s obsession with fan creations. For example, one game gives players a chance to create a Sonic-themed avatar of their own. You can make it look stunning or downright horrifying. This game mode takes a humorous jab at the endless variations and reinterpretations of Sonic found online.
On top of having strange glitches, unfinished graphics, and awkward controls, this is a title worth playing if you’re into fan projects that are downright absurd.
Splatterhouse
Splatterhouse is an outstanding parody game. It artfully mocks the horror genre while paying homage to classic horror films. The game’s known for taking classic horror tropes, like haunted houses and gruesome violence, and amplifying them to absurd levels. Players take on the role of Rick, a protagonist resurrected by a mysterious terror mask that gives him immense strength.
This title embraces harsh violence, parodies it, and adds a dash of humor to ensure fans know the game’s exaggerated intent. Furthermore, the game features levels based on classic locations you’d find in horror films. From haunted mansions to twisted alternate dimensions, you’ll enjoy the level of care and detail that went into crafting this game’s locales.
On top of having excellent sound design, Splatterhouse is a fantastic horror game that’ll make you giggle and smile.
Hyperdimension Neptunia
Hyperdimension Neptunia (Neptunia) is a game all about criticizing the gaming industry and its culture. The game’s premise centers around anthropomorphic consoles personified as goddesses in the fictional world called Gamindustri. These goddesses represent different gaming consoles and companies like SEGA, Nintendo, and others. The game uses this premise to satirize console rivalries and its corporate side.
Furthermore, Neptunia showcases its parodic nature through its self-aware references. The game constantly breaks the fourth wall, with characters acknowledging their existence as game characters and mocking some gameplay mechanic aspects. For instance, you’ll see Neptunia’s character criticize “grinding for experience points” and “random enemy encounters” through witty banter and dialogue.
Therefore, if you’re looking for a game that’s not afraid to poke fun at different gaming companies and conventions, check Hyperdimension Neptunia out.
Kid Dracula
Kid Dracula is a Konami-developed title that skillfully satirizes the classic Castlevania series and vampire tropes in general. While the original Castlevania games were known for feeling dark, Kid Dracula takes a lighthearted approach, transforming the brooding vampire hunter into a cute young version of Dracula.
Moreover, Kid Dracula parodies Castlevania’s serious tone and harsh difficulty curve. It does so by introducing more forgivable mechanics, comical enemy designs, and humorous dialogue. Kid Dracula’s ability to honor and poke fun at its iconic source material showcases its cleverness as a parody title.
On top of having comical character designs and fantastical level design that parody popular games like Super Mario Bros, Kid Dracula is a parody game worth mentioning on this list.
So, there we have it, our pick for the best parody video games through the years!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!