The Top 10 Happiest Video Games That Need to Be Played

Today, September 5th, marks the anniversary of the North American debut of my favorite Sony series — LocoRoco. Sony Japan’s colorful puzzle platformer is a delight, and I can’t imagine anyone playing it without grinning from one ear to the other. It’s the closest that the medium has gotten to digital nirvana, and it’s the game I immediately think of when someone asks me what the happiest video game is.

Sony hasn’t released a new LocoRoco title since 2009, so I have had to get my fix elsewhere. Thankfully, there are other video games that are also a joy to play. Since I’ve gotten so much joy out of these PlayStation titles, I wanted to share with our readers what some of the happiest video games are. The only rule is that they’ve had to have appeared on a PlayStation console, since we are a PlayStation-centric site after all. Check out my list of 10 of the happiest video games below!

I hope you enjoyed my list of 10 of the happiest video games. It was tough narrowing down the list to only 10 titles, so a lot of joyful games didn’t make it through cuts. That’s why I want to hear about what video games make you the happiest.

Let me know in the comments below what the happiest video games are for you, and if you think it’s time for a new LocoRoco game!

Happiest Video Games

Happiest Video Games
A Boy and His Blob

Few video games have a button dedicated to hugging, but A Boy and His Blob is not your average game. A remake of the NES classic, this puzzle platformer is adorable. Using jellybeans, the boy can help his blob-like friend progress through levels. Most importantly, he can hug his blob. It's the cutest animation and it always puts me in a great mood.
Ape Escape

The Ape Escape series has been putting smiles on the faces of gamers ever since it debuted on the original PlayStation. The game's wacky premise has players catching a colorful cast of primates, and its light-hearted vibe always left me laughing. Hopefully gamers haven't seen the last of these mischievous apes, as I feel like a lot of fun could happen in VR.
The Beatles: Rock Band

As a huge fan of The Beatles, I was delighted when The Beatles: Rock Band came out. The Harmonix developed rhythm game allowed me to pretend to be my idols, even if it was just for a few songs at a time. There is something extremely powerful about music, and I've rarely been happier while playing a game than I was when belting out "A Hard Day's Night."
Katamari Forever

I want to live in the world that Katamari Damacy designer Keita Takahashi lives in because it seems so wonderful. While not by Takahashi, Katamari Forever is a celebration of the franchise that is mostly comprised of classic stages. It's still fun for returning players, but a great time for those new to the series. Regardless, it's a stellar way to experience the series' charm and undeniable happiness
LittleBigPlanet

While I've never been the biggest fan of LittleBigPlanet's platforming (it's just a tad bit too floaty), I can't deny that the series is brimming with happiness. Just look at this picture of Sackboy and friends. They're the happiest sack-people I've ever seen, and even when Sackboy is trying to be angry it's still adorable. Plus, as someone who believes that people are happiest when they are creating something, I feel like LBP is one big celebration of that. I love getting to see the creations of others, and the fact that gaming allows me to do that is incredible.
LocoRoco

If we ever get to the point where humanity has the issue of separating humans and robots, then I have a simple solution. If anyone can play LocoRoco without smiling, then they don't have a heart and are a robot. It's a foolproof plan. LocoRoco is the happiest video game series ever made, and is just pure joy transformed into a playable game. From its cheery visuals to adorable soundtrack, players always have a great reason to be grinning.
Rayman Legends

I spent a lot of my childhood playing 2D platformers, so Rayman Legends is a bit like comfort food for me. It's an incredibly polished game that shows why the genre is so special. From its fantastic level designs to its gorgeous visuals, every inch of Rayman's adventure is worth checking out. Even if the limbless hero is making enemies burst like a balloon, they at least look happy while exploding. It's a game that preaches positivity even in death!
The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition

I often associate happiness with laughing, and no game makes me laugh more than The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition. Ron Gilbert's classic adventure game is just as funny today as it was when it released in 1990 (I don't actually know this since the game is older than I am, but just go with it), and the game plays better than ever in the Special Edition. The cumbersome controls that defined adventure games are gone, and it's now much easier to experience the fantastic script.
Twinkle Star Sprites

A shooter isn't typically thought as happy, but Twinkle Star Sprites isn't your average shooter. No, ADK corporation's game belongs in a different genre — cute 'em up. Twinkle Star Sprites has only been released in Japan (although, thankfully a Steam version released this year worldwide), but it's a great PS2 title to import. If you don't want to import (or just prefer first-person shooters), then check out Lovely Planet as its equally as happy.
Um Jammer Lammy

I've already talked about how music makes me happy, but Um Jammer Lammy takes it to the next level. The successor to PaRappa the Rapper stars a guitar playing lamb who is just as positive as the rapping dog. It's filled with cameos from PaRappa and adds a whole new cast of fun characters on top of it. The entire game is one delightful trip, and it's a title that I've gone back to over the years since it always cheers me up.