Some random examples off the top of my head: Space Quest x, Thimbleweed Park, x Monkey Island, Day of the Tentacle, LSL, Paradigm, Darkside Detective, Deponia, and on and on.
Very campy with varying degrees of cartoonish humor, often with spooky/supernatural themes.
I know there are lots of other examples, but I perceive that the "spooky campy" genre dominates the field.
Why is this? I think it's because these storylines are easy to make self-contained. The details of the spooky/supernatural stuff sort of fill in themselves because these tropes are familiar. In contrast, for example, the techno-noir themes that Wadjet likes require quite a lot more exposition that's hard to get into games without tons of reading. Even those games often have the supernatural component.
As for the camp, I think it's just easier to get the comedy in when the theme is campy, and funny games are just more fun to play.
Very campy with varying degrees of cartoonish humor, often with spooky/supernatural themes.
I know there are lots of other examples, but I perceive that the "spooky campy" genre dominates the field.
Why is this? I think it's because these storylines are easy to make self-contained. The details of the spooky/supernatural stuff sort of fill in themselves because these tropes are familiar. In contrast, for example, the techno-noir themes that Wadjet likes require quite a lot more exposition that's hard to get into games without tons of reading. Even those games often have the supernatural component.
As for the camp, I think it's just easier to get the comedy in when the theme is campy, and funny games are just more fun to play.
Bomber Pilot
Humour naturally creates approachability in adventure games. Whether you call it campy, kitsch or hammy, (please don't say that word near the pigs) those humour styles get the job done regardless of the age demographic and intelligence of the player. Self-evident humour basically.
Spooky? Your mileage may vary, because most of those random examples you listed at the start, at least from my perspective lean towards science fiction/supernatural rather than the horror genre. As for the reason for combining genres, that gains you two different customer demographics for the price of one. In the best case scenario it will increase sales.
Spooky? Your mileage may vary, because most of those random examples you listed at the start, at least from my perspective lean towards science fiction/supernatural rather than the horror genre. As for the reason for combining genres, that gains you two different customer demographics for the price of one. In the best case scenario it will increase sales.
Two of the best examples of the combination of sci-fi/fantasy and humor are Callahan's Crosstime Saloon and Zork Grand Inquisitor. The combo also works in Discworld, The Space Bar, and The Feeble Files, although with some hair-tearing puzzles in each just to liven things up.
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(11-09-2025, 10:55 PM)LadyKestrel Wrote: Two of the best examples of the combination of sci-fi/fantasy and humor are Callahan's Crosstime Saloon and Zork Grand Inquisitor.
Likewise, LadyKestrel, I'm of the same opinion regarding Zork: Grand Inquisitor. The powerful overlords favouring technology whilst crushing the uprising of a magic rebellion is a wonderfully stark contrast. It blends not only sci-fi/fantasy masterfully with humour in the most even-handed tonality, but also FMV and 3D reasonably well for the time period, based on the visuals of the special DVD edition I got from GOG. Outrageoustugofwar, it's got that campy theme you were mentioning about. Your cheesy quota for the day will be easily fulfilled. Erick Avari is simply marvellous in it.
"Magic and technology, you can have it all."