Summary
- Open-world games shine by blending zany humor with rich mechanics and absurd storytelling.
- Borderlands 2's Handsome Jack and Fable 2's chicken chaos mix charm with ridiculous villainy.
- Saints Row 4, Yakuza 0, and Atomic Heart push absurdity with parody, dark conspiracies, and retro-future chaos.
Tales of the Absurd are always a refreshing surprise for those looking for something decent to play, and these types of stories work like a charm in some Open-World Games. These titles combine wacky and zany humor with fantastic features, scenarios, and mechanics that will keep players entertained for hours.
Some have cool heroes waiting to make it big, but failing due to dumb reasons. Others have pure comedic relief in their cast of characters, but all have storytelling that borders on the ridiculous and sometimes even crosses the line.
Borderlands 2
Has One Of The Best And Most Absurd Villains
Borderlands 2
- Released
- September 18, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
The absurd game by excellence, Borderlands 2, has a story that involves a group of misfits, the second generation of Vault Hunters, while they travel around Pandora, looking for the riches hidden in the Eridian Vaults and the mysterious energy that draws all Sirens to these artifacts. All of these colorful characters (even secondary ones) are not completely sane, and the more the players know about them, the more evident it becomes that they are only there for the shooting and looting. But perhaps what makes this game's story such an absurd and perfect fit is its villain: Handsome Jack.
Jack is a megalomaniacal CEO of a Weaponry and Technology company named Hyperion, obsessed with the power of the Vaults and determined to rule the galaxy with an iron fist. His sometimes charming and sardonic personality also hides a deeply jaded and maniacal attitude that serves both as comedic relief and taunts from a vicious archenemy. It is the perfect villain, a paradox in itself, which makes the story even more absurd and enjoyable to play.
Fable 2
The Legendary Tale Of The Chicken Chaser Lives On
Fable 2
- Released
- October 21, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
Fable 2 established itself as the continuation of the acclaimed Fable: The Lost Chapters, and repeats the premise of the starting character (Sparrow) born in poverty, and rising to power through sheer force of Will (and probably, the other two Heroic Disciplines as well). What the game doesn't tell players is that from the moment they set foot in Ablion, they are about to witness one of the most absurd combinations of humor, tragedy, and drama they've ever seen. The main villain is the typical psycho/murderous noble with airs of world domination, who wants to reshape reality at his own will.
But what gives this game such an absurd and audacious nature is that it has tons of cool references to the first game, some of which might include chasing chickens and kicking them into oblivion, fighting the ridiculous (yet dangerous) Hobbes, and indulging in debauchery (and pie-eating contests) until their characters are practically unrecognizable. Fable 2 gives players the freedom to choose between being heroic, pure evil, or participating in public self-humiliation, which is magnificent.
Yakuza 0
A Convoluted Journey Through The Darkest Parts Of Modern Japan
Yakuza 0
- Released
- January 24, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Walking down the streets of Japan until you get lost was never such a fun and absurd experience: Yakuza 0 is one of the most magnificent and well-made games of the series. Yakuza 0 is set in the late Showa period, and its story follows a young and rebellious yakuza named Kiryu, who discovers a dark conspiracy by a group of mobsters who want to take over 'the family' by less than honorable means. Kiryu will have to use all his wits to stop a convoluted plan to frame one of the main leaders of the clan for murder, which is none other than the legendary protagonist from Yakuza 1 and 2: Shintaro Kazama. Kiryu, who is the adoptive son of Kazama ends up becoming a target for elimination, forcing him into exile.
Everything would have ended there, if not for the intervention of a mysterious proxy, who claims to be working for the framed yakuza boss, and wants to cooperate in order to bring down the traitors and the mysterious 'man behind the shadows' who conspired with the rebel yakuza Lieutenants to oust Kazama. The story keeps getting more convoluted and crazy as it goes, and Kiryu goes from lying low to becoming a human target for the Dojima clan, provoking a wild chase through the streets of Tokyo, as he gathers allies, information, and builds strength to counter the coup attempt on his adoptive father. Yakuza 0 has to be one of the most absurd games of the series, filled with gags, references to Japan's night culture, and a strong criticism of the country's corporative elitism. But that doesn't make it any less good; in fact, many believe Yakuza 0 is the best of the series.
Saints Row 4
Nothing In This Story Makes Sense, But It's Still So Much Fun!
Saints Row 4
- Released
- August 20, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Open-World
Born as a standalone game based on a canceled expansion for Saints Row: The Third, it mixes up an absurd amount of tropes that all fall together like pieces of a mismatched puzzle, but deliver a ton of hours of entertainment for both hardcore fans of the franchise and newcomers. The story follows the Leader of the Saints, a criminal organization that has been trapped in a perfect simulation of his city, in a clear parody of The Matrix. What's worse, the ringleaders behind this strange imprisonment are a race of warmongering aliens who have decided to conquer Earth. 'The Boss' (also, the President of the United States) will have to stop them using a ridiculous combination of superpowers, criminal schemes, and public disturbance.
The story by itself doesn't make any sense, but the mechanics and freedom of exploration grant this game some leeway in that sense. It's zany humor, obnoxious parodies, and non-stop winks to pop culture make it an unforgettable experience. Even the most resilient and serious of players will crack a smile upon seeing their favorite series being satirized while playing Saints Row IV.
Atomic Heart
A Communist Dystopian World, Where AI Has Rebelled Against Its Masters
Atomic Heart
- Released
- February 21, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Mundfish
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, FPS
Set in an alternate timeline where a Soviet scientist developed a miraculous new technology that sped up robotics and artificial intelligence development by leaps and bounds, a supersoldier and war hero with incredible skills is tasked with investigating a sudden catastrophic failure in the AI governing all robots. This Soviet Paradise, named The Facility, is now locked down, and the entire world hangs on a slim thread of hope. So far, pretty authentic and not so far-fetched.
The problem starts when robots start to do weird things, like developing a weird obsession for replicating themselves, or a kinky perversion for being used as vending machines. All the craziness of a dystopian AI-induced apocalypse, plus the existence of the Polymer as a semi-liquid conduit for both information and physical bodies, turn Atomic Heart into one of the wackiest and absurd experiences players will find in an Open-World Sci Fi Shooter. Some of its characters are definitely mad, while others are simply trying to survive the ordeal, though most of them have clear inclinations for murder. It's a lovely game, created by Mundfish, and its DLCs add tons of interesting lore and gameplay, and is way more solid than just regular content drops. Definitely worth a try for players who love a good old-fashioned retro-futuristic setting, similar to games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. And Fallout.