There are a lot of things that can make a game unique. The setting, the enemies, and even the tone of the dialogue can all be used to make a unique experience. One kind of dialogue that is more often used as of late is that classic snarky, comedic tone.
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One-liners, sarcasm, and even full-blown mockery are all constant when this tone is used. For better or worse, they make a game a little more lighthearted, even in the face of horrible monsters and terrible events. But, when has snarky dialogue been used the best in games?
10Atomic Heart
Atomic Heart’s P-3 seems pretty disillusioned when it comes to all the events before him while at Facility 3826.
The snark in this game is constant, and while some think it has a more quantity-than-quality approach, there are some moments that are so ridiculous that it would be impossible not to make some snide comment. Explosions everywhere, zombie-like experiments, and robots with… questionable designs; P-3 has something to say about all of it.
9Borderlands 2
Life on theBorderlandsof space is not for the faint of heart. With all the death and poverty, it’s best to have a good sense of humor when deciding to set up shop on the fringe of civilized space.
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The Borderlands series is one that doesn’t often take itself too seriously, but Borderlands 2 is where it shines. Every character you meet has some level of snark to them, and it’s impressive how many flavors of humor you can pack into a game that long. From the richly sarcastic Handsome Jack to the peculiar Dr. Tannis, they all have something to say about the circumstances that surround them.
8High On Life
Few games go as heavy into snarky dialogue asHigh On Life. Each of the characters has something to say, and it’s almost always with a snarky delivery.
Whether you’re relaxing to a nice dinner at Space Applebees or catching the newest action movie at an interstellar theater, someone has something sarcastic to say to you. Even your weapons are guilty of it, often having a snide remark about your play style or the goings-on of the world around you.
7The Outer Worlds
There are quite a few games that take a snide tone when it comes to capitalism, but none do it as well asThe Outer Worlds.
Spacer’s Choice and the people they hire are a constant reminder of this. While there are many serious moments in the game, the backdrop of it all being propelled by this company is constantly reinforced by the snarky remarks of those who are forced to interact with the corporation. This only doubles when you meet those directly employed by the company and watch them struggle not to betray corporate ideals.
6Portal 2
Cave Johnson was a genius inventor, eclectic scientist, and a man who loved an AI with a snarky attitude. This is readily apparent in the halls of Aperture Science inPortal 2.
Still stuck, the silent protagonist Chell may not have much to say about it, but the robots and AI around her fill that silence wonderfully. None seem too pleased that you’ve destroyed the facility, and while they’re more than happy to punish you for it, they’re also keen on making snarky remarks while you dodge turrets, acid, and falling to your death.
5Destroy All Humans
No one thought being an alien invading the Earth would be such a frustrating experience. But, seeing as it is for Crypto inDestroy All Humans, he has to stay sane somehow.
Snark seems to be his main way of dealing with the constant stress of having to deal with humans. The only thing better than his caustic attitude is the fact that most humans that see him are so taken aback by his appearance that his tone goes completely over their heads. Who would have thought that aliens had such an attitude?
4Saints Row
Being a gang member is a hard life. Especially when you’re rising the ranks to try to lead the Third Street Saints. Thankfully,Saints Rowhas plenty of snarky dialogue to keep things cool.
Johnny Gat, Kinzie, and even Keith David; they all have lines that make the already wild world of Saints Row seem that more peculiar. How else are you supposed to deal with going from gang member to president, all the way to repelling alien invaders? It’s a series thatbalances violence and a humorous toneincredibly well from start to finish.
3Bulletstorm
Bulletstorm is a humorous take on the action-packed first-person shooter genre of games. But, seeing as nothing good seems to happen to protagonist Greyson Hunt, it sort of makes sense.
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How would you react if you were betrayed by your commanding officer and your best friend and battle buddy was turned into a cyborg that wanted to kill you? You’d probably crack a joke once in a while. Well, in this game it is far from once in a while. Every new enemy, every new location, and especially at every inconvenience Greyson has something snarky to say.
2South Park: The Stick Of Truth
Of course, the series that is well known for pushing the boundaries of comedy was interested in taking the jump into games.
South Park: The Stick Of Truthis over the top at every step of the way. The dialogue is no exception. Fans of the series will be happy to see that even in the face of danger, the characters don’t skip a beat taking turns chiding one another. No one on screen is safe from a snide remark from the game’s protagonists, which is something that never seems to get old.
1The Secret Of Monkey Island
A classic game for a lot of reasons. Not least for its comedic and sometimes darkly snarky dialogue, anyone who has playedThe Secret Of Monkey Islandprobably has at least one quote that stands out in their minds.
There are countless moments of dialogue where the protagonists directly make fun of the situation they find themselves in. From the island itself to the deadly vegetarian cannibals, to breaking the fourth wall entirely to talk about the game they’re in. You could easily see how it became a foundational game in using humor.
