Comedy
Make 'em laugh! The comedy genre is about being funny, first and foremost. Whether it's wacky over-the-top slapstick, clever and biting political satire, black comedy tinged with darkness, or whimsical absurdism, comedy is all about playing on, misdirecting, and subverting the expectations of its audience to get the laugh. Anyone who's ever played a tabletop roleplaying game can tell you it's nearly impossible to play one without some comedy creeping in; something about the nature of a group of friends gathered to play pretend games of imagination together lends itself to levity and humor. Even in darker-toned games, funny jokes, bits, and gags shine all the brighter. Some games, however, are dedicated to creating an environment especially conducive to hilarious antics. Some crazy games have an inherently absurd premise, others have rules that interact with play in funny or unexpected ways, and many silly games have fun, lighthearted mechanics and writing that elevate the act of play itself.
Popular Comedy RPGs
Brindlewood Bay
Brindlewood Bay is a tabletop roleplaying game that combines Murder, She Wrote with H.P. Lovecraft. In it, you play a group of elderly women, members of the local Murder Mavens Mystery Book Club, who help the authorities solve murder cases in a picturesque New England Town. Over the course of their investigations, they become aware of a dark occult conspiracy that connects the cases, and will eventually have to face that conspiracy in order to save their community. The game is low-prep and easy to play no matter your experience with tabletop roleplaying games.
Dungeon Crawl Classics
You’re no hero. You’re an adventurer: a reaver, a cutpurse, a heathen-slayer, a tight-lipped warlock guarding long-dead secrets. You seek gold and glory, winning it with sword and spell, caked in the blood and filth of the weak, the dark, the demons, and the vanquished. There are treasures to be won deep underneath, and you shall have them. Return to the glory days of fantasy with the Dungeon Crawl Classics Role-Playing Game. Adventure as 1974 intended, with modern rules grounded in the origins of sword & sorcery. Fast play, cryptic secrets, and a mysterious past await you.
Frequently asked questions about Comedy
Comedy Reviews and Actual Plays
Dimension 20 Presents: Dungeons and Drag Queens
Comedian Brennan Lee Mulligan leads four drag queens on a hilarious fantasy adventure.
TableTop with Wil Wheaton Plays Fiasco
Geek & Sundry's original Actual Play series explores Fiasco, a dark comedy game inspired by Coen brothers movies.
Marisha's Honey Heist
The Critical Role crew play the legendary one-page comedy RPG Honey Heist, a game about criminal bears.