Top 10 Times South Park Made Fun Of Video Games

Script written by Ty Richardson

In its grand journey to make fun of everything, "South Park" has roasted video games on a few memorable occasions. For this list, we're looking at our favorite moments where "South Park" made fun of video games and/or the people that play them. Our countdown includes "Red Dead Redemption II" (2018), the Nintendo Wii, "Guitar Hero" (2005), and more! Did you see any of these episodes? Which one was your favorite? Share with us in the comments below!

#10: Nintendo Wii

“Go God Go”

The year is 2006 - the year where the Nintendo Wii console launched and became incredibly scarce for parents to find for their kids. For Eric Cartman, the wait is just too much. “Go God Go” sees Cartman trying to find ways to speed up time so he can get his hands on the Wii. His impatience and excessive eagerness is a bit of a remark on the ridiculous hype video games generate, and considering how toxic the console wars have become in recent years, it’s almost alarming to witness. At least none of us would go through the trouble of freezing ourselves on the top of a mountain over a plastic box.

#9: “Minecraft” (2011)

“Informative Murder Porn”

In this episode, Stan has put parental locks on his parents’ televisions, preventing them from watching murder and crime documentaries. The only way to unlock it is by answering the question, “How do you tame a horse in ‘Minecraft’?” As expected, none of the parents know, and they’ll have to find a kid to teach them the game in order to regain access to their shows. The episode points out how easy it is for parents to get behind the times while also making fun of how addictive “Minecraft” can be. Had they known that horses in real life are tamed through “breaking” (somewhat similar to “Minecraft”), they wouldn’t have had to get sucked into the game.

#8: “Farmville” (2009)

“You Have 0 Friends”

Speaking of getting sucked into things, “You Have 0 Friends” sees almost everyone in South Park get sucked into Facebook. Whereas Stan becomes frustrated with everyone berating him for how he spends his time on the platform, Kyle has become obsessed with “Farmville”. Unfortunately, Kyle can’t find anyone to help him with his crops ever since adding Kip Drordy as a friend. Not only does the episode comment on everyone’s infatuation with Facebook at the time, but it also dives into the addictive nature of “Farmville”. To this day, “Farmville 2” is still supported on Facebook, and a third “Farmville” is available on mobile devices.

#7: “Guitar Hero” (2005)

“Guitar Queer-O”

Looking back, the popularity of “Guitar Hero” was a bit out of control, and of course, even “South Park” recognized this. The episode sees Stan and Kyle ascend beyond playing the game in the living room and land themselves a contract with a music label. It sort of mocks the awe folks had over those who could play “Guitar Hero” at higher difficulties compared to seeing someone playing a real instrument. This commentary was especially evident during the scene where Stan meets another kid who can play various songs in the game. All we hear is plastic getting mashed about.

#6: Let’s Play Videos

“#REHASH” & “#HappyHolograms”

By the time these two episodes premiered, “let’s play” videos were already becoming a dominant force in entertainment. Folks, primarily kids, would rather spend time watching someone else play a video game on YouTube than play the game themselves. “South Park” dedicated an entire TWO episodes to the absurdity of it all, telling a story where Kyle attempts to revive family time in the living room while Cartman transcends and live commentates in every space of the world. The story doesn’t come off as “okay, boomer” as one might expect, and it kind of embraces it a bit by including the likes of Pewdiepie. …That may go against what the episode’s message might have been, but at the time, these episodes made solid observations.

#5: “Pokémon” (1996)

“Chinpokomon!”

The kids of South Park have become obsessed with the latest sensation - a toy line called “Chinpokomon” that encourages kids to collect every monster manufactured. While some may point out parallels between the episode and the boom in collecting TY plush dolls in the 90’s, others can easily recognize the callout to “Pokémon”. “Chinpokomon” doesn’t exactly criticize the business model employed by The Pokémon Company to sell their toys and games, but it does comment on the hype surrounding the IP and how kids quickly became obsessed with it almost overnight. We also learned how parents managed to curb kids’ obsessions with brands and toys, too.

#4: “Red Dead Redemption 2” (2018)

“Time to Get Cereal”

As we’ve learned across several “South Park” episodes as well as interviews with show creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the duo are avid gamers. So, when a big game like “Red Dead Redemption 2” launches, they’re most likely playing, and they openly admit it in the episode “Time to Get Cereal”. As the world faces a global warming crisis, almost everyone in town is too preoccupied playing the latest game from Rockstar. The kids, Randy, even the local law enforcement are too busy catering to Dutch’s demands instead of paying attention to current events. Overall, it was one hard and long look in the mirror.

#3: “Free-to-Play” Games

“Freemium Isn’t Free”

This one was a bit more aggressively critical than we had expected from “South Park”, and rightfully so. Stan has become insanely addicted to a new “Terrance & Phillip” mobile game, spending hundreds of dollars on premium currency. Meanwhile, our two Canadian stars are trying to get the game taken down for how the game preys upon players. Surprisingly, the entire episode practically exposes the business models of many mobile and “freemium” games, explaining how it taps into your dopamine levels and encourages addictive behavior. Eventually, it all gets out of control in usual “South Park” fashion, but “Freemium Isn’t Free” did a hell of a job educating the audience on this controversial part of the gaming industry.

#2: Console Wars

The Black Friday Trilogy

The Black Friday Trilogy may go down as one of, if not THE best collection of “South Park” episodes. This three-part story adapts the “Red Wedding” story from “Game of Thrones” and turns it into a commentary piece on the console wars. The kids of “South Park” are at war, one side fighting to buy PlayStation 4s while the other wants everyone to play Xbox Ones. After several “Game of Thrones”-esque betrayals and empty promises of dragons from George R.R. Martin, Stan draws the line. During the climactic Red Robin Wedding, Stan reveals to the kids that everyone has been fighting each other on behalf of corporations. Honestly, it’s a scene that still fits in with the gaming community’s climate today.

#1: “World of Warcraft” (2004)

“Make Love, Not Warcraft”

When one thinks of “South Park” and video games, this is always the episode that springs to mind. It’s not just because half of the episode was shot using character models and assets from the famous MMORPG. Much like the other episodes on this list, it was an observation of the monumental popularity of “World of Warcraft”. However, it not only celebrated the game, it commented on and criticized those who literally spent days or even weeks doing nothing else in their lives but playing “World of Warcraft”. Come on, we have to admit that some of us did end up becoming the troll character who was going around griefing other players. It’s no badge of honor, but we’ll wear it with pride…and self-ridicule.