Need a giggle? Sure you do. They say laughter's the best medicine, after all. ... unless, of course, you're actually sick. Then medicine is the best medicine. Regardless, this week's installment of the Vault is good for what ails ya, providing a dose of humour in three different ways. It may be an unexpected victory against a seemingly impossible foe, a game that seems to know you're playing it, or the very pinnacle of visual design wrapped up in a satisfying dose of snark. Call it what you want, some cunning developer out there thought it was funny. How about you?

• You Have to Burn the Rope - Mazapán's platform game about a little pink dude in a bowler cap going up against the Grinning Colossus has practically become an internet rite of passage. Chances are, you've already heard of it, but if not, don't let us spoil it for you. It's strange, it's exciting, it's more than a little silly, and it comes with one of the best victory songs of all time. Simple controls and adorable visuals make this one easy to get into (and to share with just about anyone), and easy to see why this has become one of flash gaming's most enduring titles.
• Thy Dungeonman 3: Behold Thy Graphics! - Homestar Runner is practically an internet household name, but you might not remember this deliciously silly retro text adventure. You play a great hero who manages to barely escape certain death, only to have the end of your quest yanked infuriatingly away when you find yourself teleported to the middle of nowhere after touching the FLASK. There follows an extremely silly parody packed with overly dramatic dialogue, snappy writing, and, of course, THY GRAPHICS. Chances are you'll get the biggest chuckle out of this one if you were born in a time when this would have been state of the art, but even if you're a young whippersnapper you'll find plenty to appreciate in this short tale.
• Inquisitive Dave - What's a little mockery between friends? This side-scrolling adventure game knows you're playing it, and it more than happy to poke fun at your actions from time to time as you try to lead your helpless avatar to escape. You find yourself locked in a miserable little dungeon with no way out, but even once you manage to trick your way out of that one there's no guarantee you won't meet a violent end somewhere else. With a retro style and an appealing sense of absurdity, Inquisitive Dave is fairly short and best enjoyed by people who don't take their games too seriously, or have a crippling fear of antlions.

While we welcome any comments about this weekly feature here, we do ask that if you need any help with the individual games, please post your questions on that game's review page. Well, what are you waiting for? Get out there and rediscover some awesome!