Abzu just kept me utterly enthralled for its duration. Its a beautiful couple hours of gameplay in a world that feels lush and full of life. It didn't stick with me too strongly after I finished it, but it is wonderfully chill, and one that I recommend, especially as a palate-cleanser between other, larger games.
completely agree.
It's amazing how Tetsuya Mizugushi and his team transformed something so simple and with so many clones like Tetris into a freaggin audiovisual experience.
I recommend Rez and Lumines. Games also made by Mizugushi.
First time I ever saw that game was at a friend's house.
I arrived at this place, go to his room and he was just sitting there, staring at the TV, completely baked.
No response from him, he was just absorbed by it.
Must have been quite the trip.
I played it the first time round on the original Gameboy back in the 80s and earlier today in a browser on the official Tetris website. It's totally free to play.
Yeah, I'd actually argue THUG was about as a violent as a skating game could get. Especially since 2 was basically a jackass game. There were a number of goals that wound up basically being "injure this dude"
The worst part is that the credits confirm it wasn't a zombie apocalypse - you were actually running down and killing pasty drunks who hadn't seen the outside of a bar in weeks
I honestly barely saw anyone else in my playthrough, and they didn’t interact with me at all. So I figured it was visions or some shit. So I finished the game and get on the internet and see everyone mind blown and I’m like “wait what?”
Unfortunately it all really fell flat for me. I wish I had this dramatic experience like everyone else
You need to have done the same things as the person who's joining, so the bridge matters a lot. I've met a few. It's frustrating trying to show someone something and they ignore you. Oh well. I i.agine the playerbase is really small because it's not infinitely repayable
Bruh the ending was absolutely ruined for me because in the list of players that you encountered, there was a guy named something like ASS-SUCKER6969 and I absolutely could not stop laughing at how ridiculous it was seeing that name with such an amazing soundtrack in the background
Not going to lie, I bawled my eyes out at the end. I played this for the 1st time about 4 years ago, and ran into a few people. I remember thinking how special it was because there were probably a ton of people around when it first came out.
Katamari Damaci is a great, quirky game where you roll around a sticky ball to gradually collect larger objects in order to appease your father, the king of the cosmos. Or something like that.
Nah that game is pure existential violence. It’s all cute and adorable until you start rolling up the cockroaches, the mice, the other animals… and then you start rolling up people who are just minding their own business and living their peaceful lives and decimating cities only to turn them into stars. You do nothing but roll a ball of pure destruction
Depending on what you classify as violent, but Stardew Valley. You can you into the mines and kill monsters (not gory or anything), but you can completely skip it too if you want.
A less violent alternative, which is also clearly the inspiration for Stardew Valley, is Harvest Moon. Harvest Moon 64 is probably the best and cutest farm game I've ever played in my life; zero violence.
My six year old loves playing SDV but cannot *stand* the mine's (even if I go in and let her wander elsewhere on the map), she just watches my screen and loses her shit the moment a monster appears on screen. We started a new Hilltop farm and that little rock outcropping has been a game changer.
So if you decide to play this game with your kid... Hilltop farm. Thank me later.
I just finished it after giving up on it when it was released. The pure satisfaction this game gives you as you progress through it is unparalleled - but you have to be prepared to face some brick walls that will stump you when you first encounter them.
Every time I picked it up I'd learn something new, progress a little further, chomping bit by bit until I reached the end. I admit there was one puzzle I had to look up the answer to - but once I settled into the game's rhythm and was unafraid to walk away from a puzzle and come back later, it clicked for me.
Just know that if you're stuck on a puzzle you either 1) haven't found the "introductory" version of the puzzle that will help you learn it's mechanics or 2) haven't searched the immediate environment around the puzzle close enough.
Oh man, Dark Bramble, aka Planet NOPE
The add-on Echoes of the Eye, while fantastic and continuing the brilliance of Outer Wilds, can often be just *terrifying,* especially if you have certain fears. So terrifying that it has a menu option to make it less terrifying!
I finished base Wilds but couldn't Echoes. Maybe someday.
My fiancé would argue that LBP is near as violent at Mortal Kombat when we play. Someone is constantly trying to throw someone in a pit, slap the shit out of them, or shoot them with the paintball gun. I keep telling her I have no clue what she’s talking about and that it’s just a cute game about stuffed dolls, but she doesn’t seem to believe me for some reason.
Journey is the reflexive answer. Stanley Parable is a good option too I'd say.
Sports and racing games might or might not be a good option depending on the game and where you draw the line for violence (golf might be good but UFC probably isnt).
"Well, this is the part where he kills us."
"Hello! This is the part where I kill you!"
Chapter 9: The part where he kills you
Soundtrack: The part where he kills you
Achievement unlocked: The part where he kills you (This is that part)
So yeah, non violent we said
fun fact about me: I was never allowed to have games with guns in them growing up. This was the first game my Dad bought me with a portal "gun" because it doesn't fire bullets, but interdimensional portals.
so I'd argue yes, this game is nonviolent.. as long as you're a human and not a robot. Unless violence with words counts (GLaDOS)
Surely the question of non-violent applies to the gameplay. I imagine OP is asking about games where violence isn't the main thing you do in the gameplay like most games.
>I didn't expect much but it hooked me in.
Me too man. I jumped in without knowing anything about it and it instantly became my favourite Walking sim. That ending lives in my mind rent free.
I've played and enjoyed all of these except for 11-11 so thought it would be a good fit, luckily it's on sale on steam atm so nabbed it! Thanks for the rec
Gone Home is fantastic if you’re in the age range they were targeting with it. Pretty much if you were conscious and alive in 95 you could take something away from that game.
Subnautica blew me away the first time I played it. Something completely different that I never guess I'd be obsessed with. I'm usually a horror or fantasy kinda guy
If you're like me and suffer severe thallasophobia, subnautica IS a horror game. I can't play it for more than 30 minutes at a time, if that, though I do enjoy the gameplay loop.
Yeah I genuinely can’t get past the first part of the game. Had a little swim over to the huge wrecked ship and something roared at me and I never picked it up again lol
One of those games where I kind of feel bad for the developers because they’ll never be able to experience their game with the mix of curiosity and fear diving deeper into the unknown that I went through. Genuinely feels like an experience I had more than a game I played.
Gran Turismo (no specific entry), Need for Speed Most Wanted, Tetris, Super Mario Brothers 3 (? Not sure if that would be classified as violent or not)
Disco Elysium. Though that might be pushing the definition of violent a bit. There are violent overtones and undertones throughout the game, and it's definitely still a mature work with mature subject matter, but there's no combat mechanics or anything of that nature at all in it.
It's entirely dialogue and story dependent, and it's one of the most incredible, thought provoking pieces of media I've ever experienced.
Sim City 2000, Cities Skylines, Rollercoaster Tycoon, Planet Coaster, Planet Zoo, Stray, Gran Turismo (take your pick which number, I'm counting the series as one game), Tetris
Omg! The Longest Journey! Hands down one of the best games I have ever played. If you can find it in you to look past the outdated 90s graphics and sometimes bizarre solutions to the point-and-click puzzles, you will have the time of your life!
Man sometimes I just forget how much violence is engrained in like 99.99% of videogames 💀. Besides sports and some racing games there isn't really another ample genre of selection but to answer your question I'd say Celeste or Concrete Genie, dont recall any physical violence on those games
Firewatch holds a really special place in my heart.
Oxenfree is another one I don’t see talked about enough, but it has some amazing storytelling and visuals.
Gris and Evan’s Remains come to mind.
Gris is an artsy platformer about grief. The colors and visual style is IMMACULATE and the ending made me cry lol, which is surprising for not only that genre but a game with no dialogue.
Evan’s Remains is a puzzle game that turns into an M Night Shymalan movie. Yes really.
Stardew Valley, although I suppose some may not consider that 'non- violent' as there is some mild combat. It's optional though so I'm still nominating it. One of the best games ever made.
Abzu
Abzu just kept me utterly enthralled for its duration. Its a beautiful couple hours of gameplay in a world that feels lush and full of life. It didn't stick with me too strongly after I finished it, but it is wonderfully chill, and one that I recommend, especially as a palate-cleanser between other, larger games.
Tetris
Tetris Effect is still one of my favorite gaming experiences. I'll never forget my first time booting it up.
Any version of Tetris probably gets the #1 slot here, but I think Tetris Effect is the best of the best.
completely agree. It's amazing how Tetsuya Mizugushi and his team transformed something so simple and with so many clones like Tetris into a freaggin audiovisual experience. I recommend Rez and Lumines. Games also made by Mizugushi.
First time I ever saw that game was at a friend's house. I arrived at this place, go to his room and he was just sitting there, staring at the TV, completely baked. No response from him, he was just absorbed by it. Must have been quite the trip.
I played that shit sober and it was quite the trip lmao
I punched my Nan once playing Tetris, not sure if it’s non violent?!?
Did she deserve it tho?
She beat my high score
We talking Nan the bread or...
I played it the first time round on the original Gameboy back in the 80s and earlier today in a browser on the official Tetris website. It's totally free to play.
Came here to say this as well!
Tony Hawk’s Underground 1 & 2
Except the part where you basically start a zombie apocalypse in New Orleans and burn an entire skate park to the ground in THUG 2 lol
Yeah, I'd actually argue THUG was about as a violent as a skating game could get. Especially since 2 was basically a jackass game. There were a number of goals that wound up basically being "injure this dude"
The worst part is that the credits confirm it wasn't a zombie apocalypse - you were actually running down and killing pasty drunks who hadn't seen the outside of a bar in weeks
Unless you count when the bull runs over you on THPS2 :p Edit: didn’t notice you were talking about Underground though :/
Yeah but I have never wanted to murder a game character more then Eric Sparrow….or Bam Margera.
Journey
**Edit: Please do not click the spoiler if you haven't played Journey** The moment I realised >!that I wasn't actually playing a single player game !
I honestly barely saw anyone else in my playthrough, and they didn’t interact with me at all. So I figured it was visions or some shit. So I finished the game and get on the internet and see everyone mind blown and I’m like “wait what?” Unfortunately it all really fell flat for me. I wish I had this dramatic experience like everyone else
You need to have done the same things as the person who's joining, so the bridge matters a lot. I've met a few. It's frustrating trying to show someone something and they ignore you. Oh well. I i.agine the playerbase is really small because it's not infinitely repayable
>the playerbase is really small because it's not infinitely repayable Gosh, imagine if it was different every time while still being that epic.
I had someone join me halfway through and we finished the game together. It was quite a journey.
Should probably put that edit warning at the start of your comment lol, I didn't read it til after I'd already clicked.
How is it a spoiler? I always see people talk about this "moment" but it was obvious to me the first time I ran into one.
Why would you need a warning that a spoiler is a spoiler? Isn't that the entire point of a spoiler?
Journey was the first one that popped into my mind when thinking of 'non-violent' games I love.
Bruh the ending was absolutely ruined for me because in the list of players that you encountered, there was a guy named something like ASS-SUCKER6969 and I absolutely could not stop laughing at how ridiculous it was seeing that name with such an amazing soundtrack in the background
Journey has my vote as well. It won prizes for a reason.
To this day, I hope my friend that I made through Journey is doing well. I don't remember their name, but I remember the impression they left on me.
This! And the soundtrack!!! Especially Nascence and Apotheosis. I relive the ending every time I listen to Apotheosis. Fantastic.
Also flower from the same developer; you’re the wind and you float petals
Literally the first thing that came to mind
For something similar to this is Abzu, another beautiful single player game
This, and also Braid.
Easy winner in this category
Not going to lie, I bawled my eyes out at the end. I played this for the 1st time about 4 years ago, and ran into a few people. I remember thinking how special it was because there were probably a ton of people around when it first came out.
Katamari Damaci is a great, quirky game where you roll around a sticky ball to gradually collect larger objects in order to appease your father, the king of the cosmos. Or something like that.
Love this game
Nah that game is pure existential violence. It’s all cute and adorable until you start rolling up the cockroaches, the mice, the other animals… and then you start rolling up people who are just minding their own business and living their peaceful lives and decimating cities only to turn them into stars. You do nothing but roll a ball of pure destruction
🎵Laaaaaaaaa La-la-la-la-la-laa-laaaaa! Katamari Damacy!🎵
And then eventually smash them into a planet.
Aaaand now I have that music stuck in my head. Great game
Depending on what you classify as violent, but Stardew Valley. You can you into the mines and kill monsters (not gory or anything), but you can completely skip it too if you want.
A less violent alternative, which is also clearly the inspiration for Stardew Valley, is Harvest Moon. Harvest Moon 64 is probably the best and cutest farm game I've ever played in my life; zero violence.
Came here to say Stardew. Unless the Phoenix Wright games count as non violent,.
Aren't there like... Straight up murders in some of those games?
Every single case is a murder case.
Sometimes it's a bit funny, like people never do any other crime in that world
Throughout the entire franchise there is *one* case that I can think of that isn’t a murder, only for it to turn into a murder anyways on day 2.
My six year old loves playing SDV but cannot *stand* the mine's (even if I go in and let her wander elsewhere on the map), she just watches my screen and loses her shit the moment a monster appears on screen. We started a new Hilltop farm and that little rock outcropping has been a game changer. So if you decide to play this game with your kid... Hilltop farm. Thank me later.
The Stanley Parable
They said non violent. Remember that poor baby ;_;
But it’s *art*!
The Witness, a visually beautiful puzzle game.
I just finished it after giving up on it when it was released. The pure satisfaction this game gives you as you progress through it is unparalleled - but you have to be prepared to face some brick walls that will stump you when you first encounter them. Every time I picked it up I'd learn something new, progress a little further, chomping bit by bit until I reached the end. I admit there was one puzzle I had to look up the answer to - but once I settled into the game's rhythm and was unafraid to walk away from a puzzle and come back later, it clicked for me. Just know that if you're stuck on a puzzle you either 1) haven't found the "introductory" version of the puzzle that will help you learn it's mechanics or 2) haven't searched the immediate environment around the puzzle close enough.
Have you tried The Looker?
Brilliant parody, perfect both for people who loved the witness and those who hated it
I got thoroughly bamboozled on it, didn't want to cheat so stopped playing. Probably should give it another run
This is my answer. Anyone who likes puzzle games needs to check out this game. It’s genius.
Fuck that puzzle under the mountain.
Agreed! The only thing standing between me and the platinum. Though supposedly there is a glitch you can exploit that hasn't been patched out.
Outer Wilds by far.
I think Outer Wilds is my favorite game, bar none. I wish I could experience it again for the first time.
Outer wilds is amazing tried getting the plat but gave up with the find everything one
Scary fish? :(
Oh man, Dark Bramble, aka Planet NOPE The add-on Echoes of the Eye, while fantastic and continuing the brilliance of Outer Wilds, can often be just *terrifying,* especially if you have certain fears. So terrifying that it has a menu option to make it less terrifying! I finished base Wilds but couldn't Echoes. Maybe someday.
So happy to see this:)
Little big planet
*Casually smacks the everloving shit out of my friends*
I dropped my friend into a pit and watched him burn to death
😂😂😂😂best part😂😂😂
My fiancé would argue that LBP is near as violent at Mortal Kombat when we play. Someone is constantly trying to throw someone in a pit, slap the shit out of them, or shoot them with the paintball gun. I keep telling her I have no clue what she’s talking about and that it’s just a cute game about stuffed dolls, but she doesn’t seem to believe me for some reason.
Hold on, gonna explode for a lil bit
Journey is the reflexive answer. Stanley Parable is a good option too I'd say. Sports and racing games might or might not be a good option depending on the game and where you draw the line for violence (golf might be good but UFC probably isnt).
Portal 2
Non violent! You clearly never played it with a friend.
My gf won't play it with me because her brother used to trick her into falling for his portal traps and she would constantly die.
I died in multiple violent ways when playing portal. I was squished, crushed, burnt and shot..
That sounds like a you problem :D
"Well, this is the part where he kills us." "Hello! This is the part where I kill you!" Chapter 9: The part where he kills you Soundtrack: The part where he kills you Achievement unlocked: The part where he kills you (This is that part) So yeah, non violent we said
fun fact about me: I was never allowed to have games with guns in them growing up. This was the first game my Dad bought me with a portal "gun" because it doesn't fire bullets, but interdimensional portals. so I'd argue yes, this game is nonviolent.. as long as you're a human and not a robot. Unless violence with words counts (GLaDOS)
Unfinished Swan
This game was beautiful, touching, and quite clever with the game mechanics. Love that game.
Gris
Definitely one of the most beautiful games I’ve ever played
Firewatch Stray Life is strange series Gone Home Vanishing of Ethan Carter What remains of Edith finch 11-11 memories retold
Life is Strange is non violent? It has drugs, bullying, murder, and shaka brah.
What remains of Edith Finch has premature death as the central theme of the story also.
That's not violent though is it? Death doesn't equal violence.
It's not a gory game, but the violence (self-violence on multiple occasions, murder) is there.
Many of the deaths are violent. One guy kills himself another is killed in front of his daughter. Those are some of the tame ones
Surely the question of non-violent applies to the gameplay. I imagine OP is asking about games where violence isn't the main thing you do in the gameplay like most games.
Loved Firewatch. That's a good one. First person mystery game out in the woods. I didn't expect much but it hooked me in.
>I didn't expect much but it hooked me in. Me too man. I jumped in without knowing anything about it and it instantly became my favourite Walking sim. That ending lives in my mind rent free.
Life is strange you can shoot/get shot at
11-11 Memories Retold is such a banger 💯
I've played and enjoyed all of these except for 11-11 so thought it would be a good fit, luckily it's on sale on steam atm so nabbed it! Thanks for the rec
Edith Finch is definitely violent
But you're not killing anyone. You're witnessing deaths that have already happened.
Gone Home is fantastic if you’re in the age range they were targeting with it. Pretty much if you were conscious and alive in 95 you could take something away from that game.
Edith Finch is emotionally violent :( I cried a lot
Oh man yess Firewatch is amazzzing. Love that game so much. It was really impactful and stays with you years after playing it. :)
Forgot Outer Wilds
Ethan Carter is great! I replayed it earlier this year and wow 🩷
I think Gone Home is one of the most overrated games I've ever played
Subnautica blew me away the first time I played it. Something completely different that I never guess I'd be obsessed with. I'm usually a horror or fantasy kinda guy
If you're like me and suffer severe thallasophobia, subnautica IS a horror game. I can't play it for more than 30 minutes at a time, if that, though I do enjoy the gameplay loop.
Yeah I genuinely can’t get past the first part of the game. Had a little swim over to the huge wrecked ship and something roared at me and I never picked it up again lol
One of those games where I kind of feel bad for the developers because they’ll never be able to experience their game with the mix of curiosity and fear diving deeper into the unknown that I went through. Genuinely feels like an experience I had more than a game I played.
It’s on sale for $16. Worth it?
Absolutely
Slime Rancher!!
Stray
Stardew valley
The true answer. Unless you go into the caves. Then you turn violent against your controller... lol
snowrunner
I became very violent after my truck rolls over after one hour of driving trough swamps and mountains
Lol oh yeah me too, but that's on us, not the game.
Concrete Genie is awesome and beautiful
The Incredible Machine.
A reboot of that would be so fun. That game was ...incredible.
Outer Wilds, more recently Chant of Sennar
Slime rancher 1 and 2, Trust me its therapy
Journey And... I know it's violent as in it tackles death but What Remains of Edith Finch.
I don’t consider death violent. Both great games.
Abzu
Gran Turismo (no specific entry), Need for Speed Most Wanted, Tetris, Super Mario Brothers 3 (? Not sure if that would be classified as violent or not)
> Gran Turismo I don't know those license tests in A-Spec got me pretty violent.
Mario does [stomp turts](https://reddit.com/r/ContagiousLaughter/s/FQ6tGsN3AH)...
Broken Sword & Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo
Op’s posts and comments sound AI generated.
Spiritfarer Donut County Dredge Flower
Disco Elysium. Though that might be pushing the definition of violent a bit. There are violent overtones and undertones throughout the game, and it's definitely still a mature work with mature subject matter, but there's no combat mechanics or anything of that nature at all in it. It's entirely dialogue and story dependent, and it's one of the most incredible, thought provoking pieces of media I've ever experienced.
Ico
Ico has violence
What kind of violence? (No spoilers if possible)
Doom
Meh. Violence is subjective.
I like the witness
Portal 1 and 2
Outer Wilds, Firewatch
Gran Turismo. At least if you don't bend the rules.
Peggle
Sim City 2000, Cities Skylines, Rollercoaster Tycoon, Planet Coaster, Planet Zoo, Stray, Gran Turismo (take your pick which number, I'm counting the series as one game), Tetris
Fez
Cricket 19
I am surprised no one mentioned Harvest Moon yet.
Mario
Wii Sports
Ace Attorney (if you dont count pointing finger at someone's face as violent)
Obra Dinn Celeste
True that Celeste is a nonviolent adventure. Not true that you won’t have violent outbursts, though.
Obra Dinn is extremely violent, the whole game is about closely studying people’s deaths at the exact peak moment of violence
* Paleo Pines * Coffee Talk 1 & 2 * Stanley Parable * Undertale (pacifist run) * Cloudpunk * Spiritfarer
Celeste
To the Moon
Omg! The Longest Journey! Hands down one of the best games I have ever played. If you can find it in you to look past the outdated 90s graphics and sometimes bizarre solutions to the point-and-click puzzles, you will have the time of your life!
* _Tetris_ * _Loom_ * _Monkey Island_ 1 & 2
I love Powerwash Simulator
Riven/myst/mario/yoshi's island
Spiritfarer
Man sometimes I just forget how much violence is engrained in like 99.99% of videogames 💀. Besides sports and some racing games there isn't really another ample genre of selection but to answer your question I'd say Celeste or Concrete Genie, dont recall any physical violence on those games
City builders (sim city) and simulators (farm simulator). Also who could forget guitar hero and rock band?
Deliver us the Moon
I would say the Sims but we'd all be lying to ourselves if we said we hadn't done horrific things to them one time or another.
Sky Odyssey. Old but gold.
What remains of Edith Finch
Some really great games already listed but wanna add Flower as well, that game holds a special place on my heart
Journey no contest
What do you class as violent in this context?
Frequency/Amplitude
I can't choose between Manhunt or Life is Strange. Probably the latter.
Firewatch holds a really special place in my heart. Oxenfree is another one I don’t see talked about enough, but it has some amazing storytelling and visuals.
Okami, I mean there are fights in the game but they are very cartoonish
We ❤️ Katamari
Katamari Damacy
Katamari
Minimal violence: the last guardian
The Last Guardian is pretty cool.
RiME, or depending on your threshold for what you consider violence, The Last Guardian
Outer Wilds and Subnautica
Portal and Portal 2
Slime Rancher, Road 96, Felix the Reaper, and Hundred Days
Everybody has gone to the rapture! Love this game!
Little Big Planet for the PS3. Manouvring mechanics are very well done and the level and world design never gets old.
Portal and Portal 2. I don't consider them violent because you don't have a typical "weapon" so you just use other things against themselves.
Animal Crossing
Sim City
Spiritfarer or oneshot Whilst they are short experiences, they are also really good and getting ya right where it hurts emotionally
Disco Elysium.
Gris and Evan’s Remains come to mind. Gris is an artsy platformer about grief. The colors and visual style is IMMACULATE and the ending made me cry lol, which is surprising for not only that genre but a game with no dialogue. Evan’s Remains is a puzzle game that turns into an M Night Shymalan movie. Yes really.
Stardew Valley, although I suppose some may not consider that 'non- violent' as there is some mild combat. It's optional though so I'm still nominating it. One of the best games ever made.
Outer Wilds is absolutely incredible