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20 best comedies streaming on Netflix, November 2023
Do you need a laugh right about now? Here are the 20 best comedies on Netflix — including “Superbad,” “Groundhog Day,” “Lady Bird,” and more.
Nothing feels as good as a deep, genuine laugh. It’s an expression of joy! It’s a workout. It’s a sign that you’re having a good time.
Netflix has a dazzling selection of comedy movies that put that good-time feeling on demand. Whether you’re craving action-spiked shenanigans, quirky coming-of-age adventures, awkward humor, stranger-than-fiction silliness, madcap musical numbers, or crime with a spree of laughs, there’s a perfect pick for you. And we’ve made singling it out all the easier by highlighting the most hilarious below.
Here, in no particular order, are the 20 funniest movies now streaming on Netflix.
20. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Credit: Netflix
Writer/director Rian Johnson follows up his critically heralded whodunnit with a sequel that’s even more explosive than Knives Out. Southern gentleman/detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is back, drawling deductions and whipping out witticisms, much to the chagrin of a group of wealthy and conniving friends.
It was supposed to be a murder mystery weekend where homicide was just a game. But when tech scion Miles Bron (Edward Norton) brings together his closest friends and worst enemy, real blood will be spilled, and the game is afoot! Joining in on the comically chaotic fun are Kate Hudson, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., and Jessica Henwick. — Kristy Puchko, Film Editor
How to watch: Glass Onion is now streaming on Netflix.
19. Superbad
Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock
This R-rated teen comedy from 2007 is a classic in the genre for good reason. Written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, Superbad took the buddy comedy to unique places of hormonal humiliation and the hysterical agonies of trying to fit in with the cool crowd. Jonah Hill and Michael Cera star as a pair of high school losers desperate to get close to their crushes (Emma Stone and Martha McIsaac). But first they’ll need to get booze with the help of the fake ID of their screw-up friend, McLovin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). Full of slapstick, merciless burns, zippy banter, and gross-out gags, Superbad not only went on to inspire movies like Booksmart and Bottoms, but also still thrills as a stupid silly good time. — K.P.
How to watch: Superbad is now streaming on Netflix.
18. My Best Friend’s Wedding
Credit: Tri-Star / Kobal / Shutterstock
P.J. Hogan’s 1997 offering blew up the traditional rom-com standards. Forget the tale of boy meets girl that ends in a happily-ever-after wedding between the two. America’s Sweetheart Julia Roberts playfully torched her casting niche by playing the masterfully (and hilariously) manipulative ex-girlfriend, hellbent on getting her old flame (Dermot Mulroney) back before he can marry a much younger woman (Cameron Diaz). Cultures clash as this city girl invades the bride’s Southern-charmed family. Plus, there are dangerous flirtations, outrageous jokes, an infectious sing-along, and Rupert Everett as the gay bff who proves to be the movie’s MVP. — K.P.
How to watch: My Best Friend’s Wedding is now streaming on Netflix.
17. Bullet Train
If you like your comedy with in-your-face action, you should race to check out this 2022 romp from Deadpool 2 director David Leitch. It’s a high-octane film that asks the classic question: “What happens if you pile a bunch of assassins onto one bullet train through Japan?” The answer is delightfully daffy carnage.
Brad Pitt leads a star-studded cast as a merc who’s lost his bloodlust. What’s supposed to be a simple snatch-and-go job turns dangerously complicated as he crosses paths with a cavalcade of curious characters, all of whom are rocking code names like Tangerine, Lemon, Wolf, The Prince, The Hornet, and White Death. Rapid-fire wit is wielded by the likes of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Michael Shannon, Bad Bunny, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Joey King, Zazie Beetz, and Sandra Bullock. Also wielded? Every form of weapon you can imagine, from guns and knives to poison, wild animals, and even a well-traveled water bottle. Sound cool? Catch it while you can. — K.P.
How to watch: Bullet Train is now streaming on Netflix.
16. Between Two Ferns: The Movie
Credit: Adam Rose / Netflix
Zach Galifianakis’s awkward celebrity interview web series Between Two Ferns might not seem like fodder for a full-length movie, but Between Two Ferns: The Movie goes double meta by presenting his success on Funny or Die as an insult to the actor’s intention to host a “serious” interview show. Galifianakis the character sets off to correct the assumption that his original show is a joke by interviewing even more celebrities, like John Cho, Keanu Reeves, Gal Gadot, Tiffany Haddish, and more. — Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Between Two Ferns: The Movie is now streaming on Netflix.
15. Do Revenge
Credit: Netflix
Looking for a revenge flick that pays tribute to teen classics like Mean Girls, Heathers, Cruel Intentions, and more? Then check out Do Revenge, a dark comedy sure to join the canon of iconic high school movies. Students Drea (Camila Mendes) and Eleanor (Maya Hawke) couldn’t be more different… apart from the fact that both have major bones to pick with people who ruined their reputations. They decide to team up and execute one another’s revenge plans, which leads down a winding road of morally dubious choices, snappy one-liners, and excellent outfits.
Mendes and Hawke have great chemistry, but it’s Sophie Turner who damn near steals the show in a bit part that simply must be seen to be believed.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Do Revenge is now streaming on Netflix.
14. The Road to El Dorado
This undersung animated musical is a charming blast, boasting not only a slew of Elton John songs, a rousing adventure, and wildly irreverent hijinks, but also Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh, and Rosie Perez bringing rambunctious life to their trio of thieves. In the 16th century, as brutal Spanish conquistadors sought the legendary City of Gold, a pair of rakish stowaways known as Tulio (Kline) and Miguel (Branaugh) accidentally discovered El Dorado, where the locals mistook them for gods. Eager to exploit this wealthy and warm tribe, the pair begin to scheme how to set sail back to Spain with all their ill-gotten loot. On their side is street-smart Chel, who is totally over her hometown. Together, amid dance numbers, power struggles, and fantastical magic, these lovable crooks will seek gold but discover something much more valuable. Full of radiant color, booming energy, and plenty of punchlines, The Road to El Dorado is an adventurous comedy sure to please the whole family. — K.P.
How to watch: The Road to El Dorado is now streaming on Netflix.
13. Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Credit: Piki Films / Kobal / Shutterstock
This 2016 adventure about bad egg Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison) and his curmudgeonly foster father Hec (Sam Neill) is the kind of eccentric delight that writer/director Taika Waititi specializes in (this time co-writing with Barry Crump, who wrote the original book).
After losing his foster mother, Ricky flees into the forests of New Zealand; Hec pursues him, only to realize he doesn’t feel the need to return to civilization either. Together, they become the wilderpeople, living off the land and evading capture from authorities, including Thor: Ragnarok‘s Rachel House. Wilderpeople is equal parts stirring, hilarious, and absurd — a silly yet sentimental story of found family and adventure that can be loved by all. — Proma Khosla, Senior Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Hunt for the Wilderpeople is now streaming on Netflix.
12. Always Be My Maybe
Credit: Netflix
What if the one who got away got a second chance? Back in the day, Sasha and Marcus were tight as a slap bracelet. But one fumbled night in a sweaty backseat seemed to shatter their future together.
Fifteen years later, she’s a world-renowned chef and he’s — well — he’s working for his dad’s HVAC business and playing with his band on the side. Still, fate arranges for them to reconnect, which could mean Marcus (Randall Park) has a shot to show Sasha (Ali Wong) how he feels. Comedy ensues as the stakes get high when Keanu Reeves crashes the party, being all weird and hot and having the audacity to be Keanu Reeves! This Nahnatchka Khan–helmed laffer also boasts appearances by James Saito, Charlyne Yi, Karan Soni, Daniel Dae Kim, and Michelle Buteau.* — K.P.
How to watch: Always Be My Maybe is now streaming on Netflix.
11. Lady Bird
Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock
Being a teen girl is a unique (and hilarious) hell. Few films capture this frenzy of hormones, angst, obstinacy, insecurity, and recklessness as deftly and humorously as writer/director Greta Gerwig’s coming-of-age dramedy.
Saoirse Ronan stars Lady Bird, a self-named 16-year-old girl who views her Catholic high school, working-class constraints, and hovering mother as insufferable obstacles to her inevitable greatness. Ravenous to carve out her own identity, she throws herself at boys, into fights with her exasperated mother (Laurie Metcalf), and out of a car! Yet even in her most outlandish moments, this gonzo girl’s journey feels achingly relatable. If you’re game to feel 16 again, check out this critically heralded stunner that is specific, insightful, and achingly vulnerable. Tracy Letts, Beanie Feldstein, Lucas Hedges, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Timothée Chalamet co-star, sprinkling in humor, heartbreak, and f*ckboi-style hotness.* — K.P.
How to watch: Lady Bird is now streaming on Netflix.
10. Dolemite Is My Name
Credit: François Duhamel / Netflix
Chronicling the true story of late comedian Rudy Ray Moore — also known as Dolemite — this Eddie Murphy vehicle is worth every minute of viewing.
An outrageous showbiz comedy, Dolemite Is My Name is at once a poignant look at the life of an underdog and an unbelievably good time. With supporting performances by Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Wesley Snipes, Craig Robinson, and more, this biopic offers more beat-for-beat joy than many of its fictional counterparts. Sensational, aspirational, and electric: You’ll love it. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Dolemite Is My Name is now streaming on Netflix.
9. Groundhog Day
Credit: Columbia / Kobal / Shutterstock
The time-loop movie that launched untold imitators has been a comedy gem since its debut in 1993. Directed and co-written by Harold Ramis, Groundhog Day stars Bill Murray as a cantankerous weatherman who is irate about his on-the-groundhog assignment in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to cover the superstition-rich American holiday. So imagine his frustration when this eponymous day repeats and repeats and repeats. Over the course of this temporal trap, this curmudgeon lays out biting zingers, dark punchlines, and pratfalls. But the overall arc is a sweet tale of romance finally getting a chance. Andie MacDowell and Chris Elliott co-star. — K.P.
How to watch: Groundhog Day is now streaming on Netflix.
8. The Polka King
Credit: Netflix
Sometimes true crime can lead to some pitch-perfect dark comedy. This is the case for this outrageous offering, which stars Jack Black as infamous scammer/local celebrity Jan Lewan. Black brings all the rock star panache you need to understand how Lewan could be so beguiling to the Pennsylvanian retirees who surrendered their savings to the self-proclaimed Polka King.
Screenwriters Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky gave this story of fraud and showmanship shape. But they wisely trusted in the local flair of the terrific 2009 documentary The Man Who Would Be Polka King to provide some of the wildest lines of dialogue. Plucking directly from interviews with the friends, family, and victims of Jan Lewan, this comedy feels stranger than fiction but is jaw-droppingly real. Salty supporting turns from Jenny Slate, Jacki Weaver, and Jason Schwartzman bring added fun.* — K.P.
How to watch: The Polka King is now streaming on Netflix.
7. The Mitchells vs. The Machines
Credit: Netflix
Sony Pictures Animation has given audiences such daring and dynamic animated movies as Surf’s Up, Hotel Transylvania, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This zany 2021 release centers on a family who’s battling back the robo-apocalypse with togetherness, internet savviness, and a wall-eyed pug named Monchi (voiced by social media icon Doug the Pug).
The Mitchells’ adventure into chaos begins when daughter Katie (Abbi Jacobson) is poised to go off to college. Desperate for one last family-unifying road trip, her dad (Danny McBride) piles the whole family into his beater of a vehicle, unknowingly charting a fateful route into heroics. Director Mike Rianda infuses Katie’s excitable perspective throughout the film by working in internet memes, social media-style reactions, and blitz of bonkers visuals. It’s a bold move that might alienate some viewers but has largely won the acclaim of critics and kiddos.* — K.P.
How to watch: The Mitchells vs. The Machines is now streaming on Netflix.
6. The Nice Guys
Credit: Misty Mountains / Bloom / Silver / Kobal / Shutterstock
If you’re a sucker for black comedy, witty dialogue, ’70s style, and/or odd-couple comedic duos, it doesn’t get much nicer than The Nice Guys. Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) and Holland March (Ryan Gosling) play a pair of washed-up private investigators who reluctantly join forces to search for a missing woman (Margaret Qualley) in 1977 Los Angeles — with occasional assistance from March’s clever teenage daughter, played by Angourie Rice.
Though the mystery takes the gang to the farthest reaches of the city, burrowing deep into rabbit holes and brushing up against all manner of eccentrics, it’s the unexpected chemistry between Crowe and Gosling that really keeps this engine running, and it’ll leave you wishing for more where that came from.* — Angie Han, Deputy Entertainment Editor
How to watch: The Nice Guys is now streaming on Netflix.
5. The Forty-Year-Old Version
Credit: Jeong Park / Netflix © 2020
The Forty-Year-Old Version isn’t just any film about a struggling New York artist, but one about a Black female playwright who’s continually held back from creating something authentic to her perspective. Radha Blank’s autobiographical directorial debut, which she also wrote, produced, and stars in, is a searing, funny, and unabashedly honest look at the compromises Black creatives are pushed to make in a world dominated by whiteness.
A teacher approaching her 40th birthday, Radha (Blank) gets the chance to produce one of her plays — only after she refuses to write a slave musical. But forced to change her vision to appease white audiences, Radha considers a totally different medium to express herself: becoming a rapper. The Forty-Year-Old Version may be one of the most slept-on Netflix originals, and it’s a shame we’ve yet to see another film from Blank since, itself an indictment of an industry that fails to continually platform raw and honest Black storytelling.* — O.W.
How to watch: The Forty-Year-Old Version is now streaming on Netflix.
4. Vampires vs. the Bronx
Credit: Netflix
Want a movie that’s got excitement, comedy, a scorching message about the evils of gentrification, and is a kid-friendly romp? Then take a bite out of Vampires vs. the Bronx.
Oz Perkins’s PG-13 horror-comedy centers on Afro-Latino teens who recognize that a flurry of missing person posters and an influx of rich white folks with tote bags means bad news for the neighborhood. Together, they team up Monster Squad-style to take down the bloodsuckers and save their community. With a sharp wit, a warm heart, a rich sense of atmosphere, and an equal appreciation for the Blade movies and ’80s Amblin, Vampires vs. the Bronx is an easy watch full of rewards.* — K.P.
How to watch: Vampires vs. the Bronx is now streaming on Netflix.
3. The Breaker Upperers
This hidden gem comes from New Zealand, the fertile comedy ground that gave us Taika Waititi, Flight of the Conchords, and What We Do in the Shadows. Waititi collaborators Jackie van Beek, James Rolleston, and Jemaine Clement team up for a deeply quirky buddy comedy about two long-time besties with a bonkers — but brilliant — business model.
Need someone to dump your partner so you can avoid a messy confrontation? Call on Jen and Mel (co-writers/co-directors/co-leads van Beek and Madeleine Sami). For a reasonable fee, these fearless Breaker Upperers will impersonate police officers, play pregnant, or even fake your death to help you ghost an ex. Whatever the shenanigans, van Beek and Sami sparkle. Booming with wild humor and big heart, this comedy is guaranteed to leave you cackling.* — K.P.
Where to watch: The Breaker Upperers is now streaming on Netflix.
2. Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Credit: John Wilson / Netflix
With its reputation for wacky musical numbers, the Eurovision Song Contest is ripe for parody. Luckily for Eurovision lovers, the contest gets the send-up it deserves in this gloriously goofy flick starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams. They play the Icelandic musical duo Fire Saga, who find themselves in the Eurovision spotlight. There, they discover that the famed competition is a world of cutthroat competitors, glitzy costumes, and many, many bops.
Eurovision Song Contest is full of larger-than-life characters and ridiculous humor, but it’s also teeming with Eurovision references that will have fans laughing and cheering. For every “Jaja Ding Dong,” there’s a joyful Song-A-Long — and both are great! Pair all that with pitch-perfect comedic performances from Ferrell and McAdams, and you have a comedy that will both have you in stitches and win your heart. (Best of all, if you weren’t a Eurovision fanatic before seeing this movie, you’ll definitely be one by the time it ends.)* — B.E.
How to watch: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is now streaming on Netflix.
1. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Credit: FilmPublicityArchive / United Arch
Made up of Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, John Cleese, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam, the comedy troupe Monty Python are the uncontested kings of comedy. So it’s only fitting that we raise a glass to their most popular film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Sure, Life of Brian has iconoclastic fun with Bible stories — and a toe-tapping sound number to boot! But many of the crew’s most memorable characters tumble forth in this parody of Arthurian lore.
From the knights Who Say “Ni!” to the dreaded Rabbit of Caerbannog to a taunting Frenchman to the Black Knight who’ll never say die, Holy Grail is overflowing with madcap comedy. It’s endlessly quotable, stupidly funny, and captures everything that made this comedy team spectacular. Not to mention, it forever changed how we see coconuts, swallows, hamsters, and elderberries. — K.P. & A.F.
How to watch: Monty Python and the Holy Grail is now streaming on Netflix.
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Credit: Netflix
* denotes that this blurb appeared in a previous Mashable list.
UPDATE: Oct. 25, 2023, 5:11 p.m. EDT This story has been updated to reflect the current selection on Netflix.
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Emma Rogue, Gen Z thrifting queen, on ‘childhood nostalgia-core’ and the future of fashion
Emma Rogue, Instagram creator and thrift queen, on Gen Z ‘nostalgia-core’ and how technology is making fashion ‘accessible to the masses.’
We’re hanging out at Emma Rogue’s thrifting dreamland in downtown Manhattan, the physical embodiment of her adoration of the last 30 years of style. A handful of young women in exquisitely curated outfits sift through clothing racks as the Pussycat Dolls and Backstreet Boys play in the background. Tees and trinkets from the early 2000s adorn the walls, making the shop feel more like Emma’s childhood bedroom than a booming thrift business.
Emma knows a thing or two about looking good. Her Instagram and TikTok videos celebrate New York street style, spotlighting the looks of strangers, celebs, and fellow creators alike. But today, she’s trying something completely new: wading into the waters of wearable tech.
Emma is one of a handful of creators tapped to bring Meta’s “It’s Your World” campaign to life by showing people how the nebulous (and sometimes confusing) world of AI and the metaverse can be put to use IRL. The company’s new Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are her first piece of wearable tech. The shades can livestream, shoot photos and videos, play music, and offer assistance via Meta AI, and she’s already filmed a few clips on them for her Instagram.
In between shots, Mashable asks Emma about her vision for the future and digital fashion.
Mashable: Thrifting can be an accessible form of fashion. How do you see tech making fashion more accessible?
Emma Rogue: Everything, in every way. With Rogue, we utilize Instagram Reels’ short-form videos a lot. It’s become integral to our business model. We do short-form interviews with customers who come to us organically through word of mouth or if they’ve seen us online. A lot of the time, they’re wearing thrifted outfits, [so] just being able to showcase that online and show our viewers that, yes, you can dress in an amazing fit and it all be from the thrift. That’s a great form of making it accessible to the masses.
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Credit: Meta
A lot of times people are afraid of style, right? You might be scared to tap into that world. So when they see someone that looks similar to them or their age looking amazing, and they realize it’s all thrifted, it might spark a light in their head like, “Oh, maybe I could try doing that.” They’re gonna screenshot that outfit, then they’re gonna go to their local thrift and be like, “OK, I love her look, let me try to recreate it.”
So that’s one way we do it. Every day we post a video. Volume and consistency are key in the content game. It’s the Victoria Paris method, shout out [to] Victoria. I love her. She sold with me on my opening day.
I think the first time I saw you online was in Caleb Simpson’s apartment tour series. You showed him your Pop-Tarts collab.
Oh yeah, right there! [points to a Pop-Tarts box in display case.] And our Guinness World Record is right over there, too. We built the world’s biggest Pop-Tarts throne, 8 feet!
Where is the throne now?
In my parent’s garage in New Jersey. A lot of my stuff has been removed from it, but the throne remains.
Are you into digital fashion at all? How do you dress in the digital world?
I don’t have a gaming avatar, but I would dress it in something I would not wear every day because it’s maybe a little uncomfortable. I would put myself in a peak Emma fit: big platforms — I just got my first ever Rick [Owens] shoes so I might do some crazy Rick heels — thigh highs, a cute mini skirt, maybe a cargo mini? That would be cute. A mesh long sleeve and a tank top on top of that, a strappy cami. Accessories everywhere. A lot of metal rings, pigtails, with two strands of hair in front. And arm warmers and leg warmers.
I’m so excited for the day Rogue exists in the metaverse and customers all over the world can shop our stuff there.
Have you been talking about opening a Rogue in the metaverse?
I have a friend who’s really into the metaverse. He’s like “Emma, you gotta get on, buy some land, and build Rogue!” I’m not that deep into it. I haven’t bought land yet because I’m kind of nervous. But I’m excited for when it comes.
The thing is, we have such a big audience. It pains me when they say like, “Build a Rogue in London!” or “Come make a Rogue in Italy!” or I’ll get a DM from some kid in Germany, and they’ll say, “Can you come to this little town in the middle of nowhere?” So if Rogue was in the metaverse and existed there, it’d be so cool for these kids to just like tap in and visit. It would be cool if we could update it with all our new drops and then they could dress their avatars in them.
What does Rogue in the metaverse look like?
Childhood nostalgia-core bonanza. Foam pits, trampolines everywhere, giant slides into fluffy mattresses. Remember in Princess Diaries 2 when they slid down the slide? Stuff like that. Everything you wanted to do as a kid in one place. Everywhere your parents wouldn’t take you in one place. Disney World. All the best parts of your childhood.
I get so happy thinking about my childhood, thinking back to the times when I had no worries. I think everyone can relate to that in some sort of way. As you get older, it’s amazing, right? We’re growing, and learning more every day. But you’ve got bills to pay and it’s like, “I don’t want to do taxes!” Like, come on! There will be no taxes in Rogue World.
I would love to have a zoo in there. You know, ride the elephants or something. Literally your wildest imagination. The NeverEnding Story is one of my favorite movies of all time, so there’s going to be Falkor in there. Maybe different themed rooms, or zones. There’d be a room [that] anyone could walk into and it’d become their favorite dream. I think cooler than a room would be like a dome. Many different domes, so it doesn’t look like a ceiling.
Like in “Club Penguin.”
I’m more of a Webkinz girl.
I love the way that Gen Z has repurposed and revived Y2K tech. Why is your generation so drawn to those items and aesthetics?
They never experienced it. It’s exciting to them because it was never part of their day-to-day, but maybe they heard their mom talk about it or their brother talk about it. Maybe they saw it in their favorite movie. Those pieces of technology have become ephemeral. [Gen Z] never got to experience that but [they’ll see it on] old online mood boards or certain aesthetic pages on Instagram. In music videos on YouTube [from the 2000s] they held Sidekick phones. [Gen Z] never had that experience. They’re experiencing something they never got to, they’re transporting back in time.
You mentioned mood boards and Instagram accounts dedicated to a particular aesthetic. Where do you find inspiration online?
I like Instagram’s Explore page and Reels a lot to find inspiration and to find new talent — maybe to find emerging brands that we want to have a drop with here [at Rogue]. Or someone we want to collaborate with or a designer I want to commission to design a piece for me in my new collection. Instagram is part of my daily life and also for connecting with people. Sending a DM is the best thing that we could have access to. I posted Diplo on my story yesterday because I was at his concert, and he reposted me and DM’d me back! And I was like, “Perfect, pull up to the shop and we’ll get a fit check.” There’s no limit to what we have access to.
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9 indie games we loved from SXSW Sydney Games Fest
Here’s some of the most interesting upcoming indie games at SXSW Sydney, including “The Dungeon Experience” and “Drag Her!”
The inaugural SXSW Sydney took place this October, taking the famous tech, film, music, and games festival international for the first time ever. It was already a big month for video games in Australia, with the Melbourne International Games Week and PAX Aus ending just seven days prior.
Fortunately, many exhausted independent game developers still made their way to SXSW Sydney to show off what they’ve been working on.
In no particular order, here are some of the most interesting upcoming games we checked out at SXSW Sydney.
1. The Dungeon Experience
If you were on gaming TikTok back in 2021, there is a non-zero chance you encountered a gameplay clip of someone examining a rather vocal crab, or offering an ingenious solution to the issue of how to approach feet in first-person games. This is that game.
Developed by Australian studio Bone Assembly, The Dungeon Experience positions you as an intrepid adventurer taking part in the titular experience: a fantasy-themed role playing attraction that’s like if an escape room and a LARP had a very weird baby. Unfortunately, the whole thing is run by a single enterprising crab on a very tight budget, who may or may not be trying to rope you into a multi-level marketing scheme.
This fully voice-acted experience draws inspiration from The Stanley Parable, and unapologetically leans into the absurd as your friendly crab guide continually promises you the elusive treasure of Financial Freedom.
The Dungeon Experience is scheduled for release when “the four moons of Xogris align and the Messiah Khidrius returns.” So basically, within the next year or two.
2. Drag Her!
U.S. developer Fighting Chance Games raised over $75,000 on Kickstarter to bring this fabulous fighting game to life, and it’s easy to see how. I mean, it’s drag queens fighting each other. What more do you want?
Drag Her! is a 2D side-scrolling fighting game featuring a cast of real drag performers, including famous names such as Kim Chi, Laganja Estranja, and Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 (all officially licensed, of course). Each drag queen is transformed into a cartoon fighter with her own arsenal of creative and thematically-appropriate attacks, which somebody appears to have had a lot of fun naming.
Drag is, by nature, a performance art centering on exaggeration, which means Drag Her!‘s embellishment of these personas gives it a lot of room to get creative. The real Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 probably isn’t an alien from Planet Glamtron, nor is Kim Chi seven feet tall and capable of conjuring pancakes out of thin air. I’ve never met them though, so who knows.
You can also change up characters’ outfits by swapping their colour palette, and the health bars are lipsticks. Fabulous.
3. Drăculești
Drăculești, or “the gay Dracula game,” is exactly what it sounds like. In this beautifully illustrated visual novel from Australian-based Fine Feathered Fiends, you play as Roger M. Renfield, a timid lawyer visiting Vlad Dracula’s estate on business. Unfortunately, your fragile mental health takes a further hit when you discover the castle’s occupants are much more villainous than they first appeared.
Though Drăculești is far from the first media to romanticise Dracula, it does distinguish itself by not even pretending your blood-sucking love interest is in any way a good person. The game might even test the question of how far you would go for love, with the developers stating that Renfield will have to participate in some pretty awful acts to attract Dracula’s interest.
That will probably just heighten the appeal for some people. Fortunately for those who can’t bear to be mean to video game characters, Drăculești will have three alternative potential love interests in case you need to bail on Dracula’s route. In addition to your host, players can romance the mysterious Ghost, Dracula’s second bride and aspiring divorcee Cez, or your comparatively normal boss Jonathan Harker.
4. Hotel Magnate
Hotel Magnate brings together elements from The Sims and Two Point Hospital to create a hotel management simulator featuring extensive decor customisation. It’s an undeniably attractive idea, but also an incredibly ambitious project.
Developed by Australian studio Arcade Oven, Hotel Magnate puts you in charge of managing a hotel. This includes building new rooms and facilities, hiring and assigning staff, and meeting guests’ demands to ensure they leave a favourable review. Their room might not have had a mini-fridge when they booked it, but they’ll certainly be unhappy if it doesn’t have one when they leave.
A lot of work still needs to be done on this game, with the developers still adding features and tweaking the gameplay. The demo build Mashable tried had several bugs to iron out, and the information displays could be confusing. But if you’re a fan of management sims, this might be one to keep an eye on to see how it develops.
Hotel Magnate is currently out in early access.
5. Winnie’s Hole
A former colleague advised me to check out Winnie’s Hole, stating that it seemed right up my alley. He wasn’t wrong, but it’s a very concerning statement about my vibes.
Winnie’s Hole is a horror-themed strategy game from Australian studio Twice Different, in which you play a virus invading the gut of lovable public domain character Winnie the Pooh. By stringing together tetrominoes through Pooh Bear’s internal organs, players spread and gather upgrades to grow stronger, while also mutating your remarkably blasé host’s physical appearance.
These mutations later come in handy when Winnie’s frightened and concerned friends attempt to address the teethed hole in his rumbly tummy — not to mention the many extraneous limbs and eyes he has grown.
Like a messed up deckbuilder, Winnie’s Hole allows players to curate a collection of mutations with effects that complement each other. As such, Pooh will look different in every run, as the upgrades you choose dictate whether he’ll sprout a new limb, eye, or bulging tumour.
Winnie’s Hole is scheduled to be released in early access this year.
6. Crab God: Mother of the Tide
Sometimes video game titles give little indication of what it’s actually about. Crab God: Mother of the Tide is not one such title. You are crab, you are god, and you are mother.
Developed by Australian studio Chaos Theory Games, Crab God: Mother of the Tide draws influence from Kingdom and Reus, positioning you as the titular Crab God watching over your crab babies. Hatching your children and putting them to work, you direct your colony to destroy invasive plants, plant native species to attract other sea life, and gather enough resources before time is up to safely move on to the next area. Fail, and you may have to sacrifice some of your children for the greater good. Crabs for the Crab God.
Your aim is to gradually take your colony from the Great Barrier Reef down to the Mariana Trench, with your children growing and ageing with every move. Personally, if I’d gone through all the trouble of making my little patch of ocean so nice, I’d rather stick around for a bit. At the very least I wouldn’t move on before I’ve hoarded enough food to enable all my children to survive the trip. But that’s just me.
Crab God: Mother of the Tide includes real oceanic species, which is an interesting touch but can make it difficult to differentiate between invasive and native species (it turns out that green doesn’t automatically mean good). The developers are still working on it though, so hopefully things are a bit clearer when the full game is released.
7. Enter the Chronosphere
Enter the Chronosphere sits at an interesting place between a real time strategy game and a turn-based one. The top-down bullet hell from Australian studio Effort Star uses similar mechanics to SUPERHOT, in that time only moves when you do. This means you’re often given a nice long moment to contemplate your choices just before you bite the dust.
The sci-fi roguelike tasks you with saving the universe by disabling the titular chronospheres: round, multi-levelled structures that twist time and threaten reality. But in order to do so you must fight your way through them, with each chronosphere featuring different biomes that include varied assortments of weapons, enemies, and items.
Let’s be real though — the story is second to the gameplay on this one. Enter the Chronosphere lets players choose from an eclectic cast of mostly alien characters, each with their own special abilities, and pick up different weapons and upgrades to figure out what play style best suits them. Simply spraying and praying won’t cut it here, with thoughtful action your best bet at making it out alive.
Fingers crossed the final game will let you rewatch your run in real time after you’ve finished, so you can pretend you were much cooler than you actually were.
For a better idea of the gameplay, you check out Effort Star’s earlier, browser-based version of Enter the Chronosphere for free on itch.io.
8. Copycat
In comparison to our neverending capitalist rat race hellscape, the lazy life of a cat seems downright luxurious. That doesn’t mean cats don’t have their own problems to deal with, though.
Narrative game Copycat puts you in the position of Dawn, a shelter cat who ardently believes she belongs in the wild. Adopted by an older Australian woman named Olive, Dawn slowly begins to bond with her, learning that life as a housecat isn’t all that bad. However, a mix-up eventually puts Dawn on the street with an imposter in her place, leaving it up to her to find her way back home.
This feline-themed walking simulator from Australian developer Spoonful of Wonder is fully voice-acted, which means you can tell it’s set Down Under from the moment Olive opens her mouth. Copycat targets your softer emotions, aiming to reflect on love, loss, and the meaning of home. There’s also a cat wand minigame.
9. Lil’ Guardsman
If you enjoy the bureaucratic gameplay of Papers, Please but want something less soulbreakingly grim, Lil’ Guardsman might just fill that paperwork-shaped hole in your heart.
Lil’ Guardsman follows Lil, a 12-year-old living with her father in a retro fantasy world of cassette players and elves. Unfortunately, her dad would rather gamble than perform his duty as a city guard, leaving it up to Lil to gaslight, gatekeep, and girlboss in his stead. This involves questioning anyone who tries to enter the city, and making the call on whether or not to admit them, turn them away, or even jail them. You know, normal kids’ responsibilities.
Despite the child labour, Canadian studio Hilltop Studios‘ deduction game is a friendly, lighthearted experience that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and boasts a tonally appropriate art style reminiscent of a Saturday morning cartoon.