Lighthearted

Video game concept

Not a comedy but has an enjoyably non-serious/grim tone/mood. Worries, anxiety, urgency tend to be lacking. Could be cheerful, optimistic, or hopeful.

277

games

platforms

Attack of the Mutant Camels

C64 1983

Little Big Adventure 2

DOS 1997-05-31

Keen Dreams

DOS 1991

Scarygirl

FLA 2009-04-14

Jones in the Fast Lane

DOS 1991

Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse

WIN 2013-09-04

MediEvil

PS1 1998-10

Knytt Underground

LIN 2012-12-31

Zanzarah: The Hidden Portal

WIN 2002-07

Demigod

WIN 2009-04-14

Commander Keen 1: Marooned on Mars

DOS 1990-12-14

Little Big Adventure 2

WIN 1997-05-31

Related:
* Jovial

Contrast:
* Humorous
* Serious

"Enjoyable lack of seriousness, not grave." --Wiktionary

Generally anything that is not really humorous nor particularly serious.

Commonly these are children's games or casual games, often with cartoon graphics. None of these are required however, it can be mature, for hardcore gamers and have realistic graphics and still fit this tag.

Limitations:
* Blood & gore usually void this tag, though cartoon gore does not.

Parent group

Literary tone

Games by year

The first Lighthearted video game was released in 1982.

Gremlin Graphics, Apogee and Electronic Arts published most of these games.

Platforms

Windows		81
Linux		39
MS-DOS		34
Amiga		15
Mac OS X		12
C64		10
Mega Drive		8
Atari ST		6
PS2		5
NES		5
X360		4
Android		4
BeOS		3
ZX Spectrum		3
Win3.1		3
Flash		3
Atari 400/800		2
Apple II E		2
MSX		2
Amiga CD32		2
Wii		2
iOS		2
PS3		2
Amstrad CPC		2
Mac OS Classic		2
SNES		2
GB		1
Atari 7800		1
Tandy Coco		1
Konix		1

Most common companies