What games express sheer joy?

[J T]

There are lots of dark and dreary games out there, but sometimes you just want something that is ridiculously happy and joyful for no good reason other than it's fun to be ridiculously happy and joyful. What games fit this experience for you and why?

The first games that jump to my mind are Rayman Origins, Klonoa (though its ending is strangely bittersweet), and Katamari Damacy. These games all have bright color, playful characters, playful game mechanics, and despite having elements of violence, manage to maintain an overall cheery disposition.

[EllertMichael]

The first game that comes to mind for me is the Kirby series.
Return to Dreamland had me smiling start to finish

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Rayman Origins is one that came to mind right away.

Team Fortress 2, while extremely violent, has a pretty cheerful and joyous attitude to it.

The Spyro the Dragon games are also extremely cheerful.

[sabrage]

Nimbus kind of reminded me of old-school Sonic games. Blocks That Matter was pretty innocuous. Lots of adventure games.

[ExedExes]

For me, an obvious choice is Warioware Twisted, because of the more interactivity one has to perform to play it, the ability to play so many "microgames" and even though they don't last all that long, they are very satifsying. Finally, much joy comes for all old school gamers with all those great Nintendo references shoved in for good measure. It is just such a perfect little diversion and 3 second games fit the pick up and play mantra that is the Game Boy Advance.

[Menegrothx]

Platformers, plain and simple. Overly cute/happy games is pretty much the only thing that Nintendo has produced ever since the N64 and besides that there are just hundreds of well known happy, colorful platformer games so there's not really a point in listing them.

But I will say that you should try out the original Rayman, if you dont mind high difficulty.



Nights into dreams is a great "harmless and colorful"-type of game that isn't a platformer. Really trippy too. Can you imagine a game like that being one of the flagships of Xbox 360 or PS3 in 2012? That would never happen. Well, in Saturn's case it really was one of the flagship games.

[KDub]

Animal Crossing

It is just so happy and calming. Few games can pull that off, making walking around in a digital town while it is raining an enjoyable experience just because of the emotions.

[Gamerforlife]

Flower, especially the last level. It's a celebration of life, nature, the divine, and creation.

Here's a vid for those of you who haven't played it. It's spoilery, but this game has a minimalist approach to story



Every arcade game I've ever played. Remember how loud, crazy, colorful, and over the top, batshit insane they were? They didn't take themselves seriously the way modern console games too. They just were an expression of pure, unadultered fun.

Viva Pinata - The game is so colorful, family friendly, full of smiles and congratulatory messages every time you accomplish something it will either charm you or make you sick

[BoneSnapDeez]

Loads of Japanese games...

- Cute 'em ups like Twinbee, Parodius, Cotton, and Magical Case
- Popful Mail
- Kirby series
- Magical Pop'n
- Magic Knight Rayearth
- Eternal Sonata
- and many, many more...

[AznKhmerBoi]

Mario Land on the gameboy, I just love the simplicity of the graphics and wonderful happy music throughout the levels.



My favorite track are:

Main Theme -

Ending Credit song -