You’ve seen the show. You know the drill. Rick Belches. Morty screams. The universe collapses under the weight of a nihilistic scientist who treats gods like mild inconveniences. But when it comes to Rick and Morty video games, things get weirdly complicated. Most TV-to-game adaptations are trash. They’re lazy cash-grabs meant to rot on a digital shelf. Yet, somehow, the interactive versions of C-137’s adventures have managed to carve out a niche that actually respects the source material. It isn't just about slapping a skin on a generic shooter. It’s about the specific, chaotic energy that Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon baked into the DNA of the franchise.
Honestly, the journey started in a place nobody expected: your phone.
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The Pokémon Clone That Shouldn't Have Worked
Back in 2016, Pocket Mortys dropped. At first glance, it looked like a blatant rip-off of Pokémon. You collect different versions of Morty, you battle other Ricks, and you level up. Simple. But Big Pixel Studios did something clever. They leaned into the multiverse theory. Why are there so many Mortys? Because the Council of Ricks is obsessed with bureaucracy and exploitation.
The game worked because it understood the "Rick-ness" of the situation. You aren't just a trainer; you’re a grandfather using your grandson as a disposable tool for clout. It was cynical. It was funny. And for a free-to-play mobile title, it had an incredible amount of depth. Even now, years later, the developers keep adding new Mortys—from Cronenberg Morty to the bizarrely specific Mascot Morty. It’s a grind, sure, but it captures that "gotta catch 'em all" dopamine loop while making fun of the very concept of collecting lives.
Virtual Reality and the Art of Doing Nothing
Then came Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality. Developed by Owlchemy Labs—the geniuses behind Job Simulator—this was the moment the series proved it could handle a 3D space. Most Rick and Morty video games try to give you an epic quest. This one just trapped you in Rick’s garage.
It’s short. You can finish it in about two hours. But those two hours are packed with the kind of environmental storytelling that makes VR worth the headache. You’re a clone. Your only purpose is to do Rick’s laundry and fix his stuff. The genius here is the tactile feedback. Opening cabinets, pushing buttons, and accidentally blowing yourself up feels exactly like being an extra in an episode. It didn't need a massive open world. It just needed a bunch of weird gadgets and a Plumbus.
Critics often point out that the game relies heavily on "inside jokes," which is a fair critique. If you don't know why a Meeseeks is screaming, you're going to be lost. But for the fans? It’s basically a holy site. It’s the closest we’ve ever gotten to actually standing in that messy, booze-stained garage.
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The High on Life Connection and the Squanchy Factor
We have to talk about Squanchtendo—later rebranded as Squanch Games. While High on Life isn't technically a Rick and Morty game, it is the spiritual successor to everything the show represents in the gaming world. It uses the same stuttering, improvisational voice acting style. It uses the same "living world" philosophy where NPCs will yell at you for ten minutes if you stand still.
Before that, we had Trover Saves the Universe. It’s a platformer, sort of. But really, it’s a comedy special disguised as a game. This is the peak of the "Squanchy" era of Rick and Morty video games. It’s crude, loud, and frequently breaks the fourth wall.
What most people get wrong about these games
People think the humor is the only thing that matters. That’s a mistake. If the mechanics are broken, the jokes don't land. Virtual Rick-ality succeeded because the physics were tight. Pocket Mortys succeeded because the elemental rock-paper-scissors combat (Rock, Paper, Scissors... literally) was balanced. You can’t just have Rick call the player an idiot; you have to give the player something satisfying to do while he’s doing it.
The Technical Reality of Multiversal Gaming
Let's get technical for a second. Developing Rick and Morty video games presents a unique challenge: the art style. The "thin line" aesthetic of the show is notoriously difficult to translate into 3D without looking like cheap plastic.
- Cel-shading: This is the go-to technique, but it’s easy to mess up.
- Voice Timing: Comedy in games is hard because players move at their own pace. Scripted triggers have to be flexible.
- Canon Constraints: Since the show is constantly changing, games have to exist in their own "pocket" of the multiverse to avoid being outdated by the time they ship.
Building a game where the protagonist is literally the smartest man in the universe is a narrative nightmare. How do you give a player a challenge when the character they control can invent a portal gun to escape any situation? The developers usually solve this by stripping Rick’s power away or making you play as a subordinate, like a Morty or a clone. It’s a smart way to maintain tension without breaking the lore.
Why we haven't seen a Triple-A RPG yet
You’d think a massive, open-world Rick and Morty RPG would be a no-brainer. Imagine No Man's Sky but with more nihilism and better dialogue. However, the reality of game development in 2026 is that big-budget licensed games are risky. The licensing fees are astronomical, and the expectations are even higher.
Warner Bros. Discovery (who owns Adult Swim) has been erratic with their gaming strategy. We’ve seen Rick show up in MultiVersus, the platform fighter, where he’s actually a top-tier character with a high skill ceiling. Seeing Rick use a portal to redirect a projectile in a fighting game is cool, but it’s a cameo, not a standalone experience.
The fans want a full-scale adventure. They want to fly the space cruiser to different dimensions. They want to fight the Galactic Federation in a meaningful way. But for now, the franchise seems content staying in the indie and mid-tier space. Honestly? That might be for the best. Big-budget games often lose their soul to corporate committees. The current Rick and Morty video games feel like they were made by people who actually watch the show at 2 AM.
The Future of the Franchise
Where do we go from here? The recent voice cast changes in the show haven't slowed down the momentum of the brand. If anything, it’s opened the door for new interpretations. We’re seeing more integration into metaverses and social gaming spaces.
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There are rumors of a new VR project that utilizes the latest haptic tech. Imagine feeling the vibration of a portal opening next to your ear. That’s the direction the industry is moving. We don't just want to watch Rick Sanchez; we want to deal with the consequences of his actions.
Actionable Insights for Players and Developers
If you're looking to dive into this world, don't start with the biggest title. Start with the one that fits your playstyle.
- For the collectors: Download Pocket Mortys. It’s the most accessible way to see how the game designers handled the "Council of Ricks" lore. Don't spend money on the microtransactions early on; you can find most Mortys through exploration and patience.
- For the VR owners: Virtual Rick-ality is a must-play, but wait for a sale. It’s a "one and done" experience that’s perfect for showing off your headset to friends, but it lacks replayability once you’ve seen all the gags.
- For the completionists: Watch the hidden tapes in the games. The developers often hide "interdimensional cable" style clips that you won't find on YouTube or the main show.
- For developers: If you’re building a licensed comedy game, prioritize the "silence." Some of the best moments in these games happen when the player is just messing around and the characters react to their boredom. That’s the secret sauce.
The era of the "bad licensed game" is ending, and Rick and Morty video games were some of the first to lead the charge into quality territory. They aren't perfect. Some are buggy, and some rely too heavily on yelling. But they are authentic. In a multiverse of infinite possibilities, having a few good games to play isn't the worst outcome.
Check your platform's storefront for the latest updates on MultiVersus character balancing if you want to play Rick competitively. His portal placement remains one of the most complex mechanics in the game, requiring a deep understanding of stage geometry and frame data. If you prefer the single-player route, keep an eye on Squanch Games' social channels; they tend to shadow-drop weird updates when you least expect them.