Video games have surpassed all other forms of entertainment in terms of revenue, with games like Grand Theft Auto V grossing more than any other title in history. It’s also the poster child for gruesome, gratuitous violence in video games. In fact, in video games, violence is nearly a given. Video games and violence appear to be two sides of the same coin, from Mario squashing helpless Goombas to DOOM’s horrific, demon-smashing action.
It couldn’t be further from the truth, however. While shooters and other violent action games remain popular, today’s video game medium encompasses a vast array of game ideas and techniques. Many inventive games have been created by game developers that do not require you to conduct violence against other players in the game.
There are different levels of violence when it comes to gaming, and we avoided games with even the cartoony Mario-jumping-on-things level of violence in this list. This means that games like Stardew Valley, which are popular with families and allow you to whack monsters on the head, aren’t allowed.
Here are ten nonviolent video games to give you a taste of what’s available in the nonviolent gaming market. Also, you can see some gameplay in the YouTube video above.
Skylines in cities
SimCity is a legendary brand among sim gamers, but there hasn’t been a good one in a long time. Due to a faulty launch and always-connected online requirements, even for the single-player mode, the last version of the mainline titles was published in 2013 to much controversy. Since then, there have been some fairly bad mobile adaptations, but nothing official provides us with a current analog of the real SimCity experience.
Cities: Skylines is a game that allows you to do just that. While it lacks the classic SimCity flair, this is without a doubt the best current open-ended city simulation. Skylines is a game that can be played on almost any platform, including the Nintendo Switch! It also boasts extremely stunning graphics if you have the PC to support it.
The simulation and building mechanisms are what matter. Skylines are extremely granular, allowing you to create almost any city design you choose. There’s also a tonne of DLC and expansions, and some of the later console editions include some of the DLC as part of the package. The After Dark and Snowfall DLC, for example, are included in the Switch edition.
The classic game excludes some of SimCity’s more violent elements, such as natural disasters, but there is an extension for that as well!
Euro Truck Simulator 2 is the sequel to Euro Truck Simulator.
Euro Truck Simulator 2’s ongoing appeal is a bit of a puzzle, and that is until you try it out. Yes, this is a game in which you drive your big rig across the European countryside, and there is also a game in which you expand your trucking company.
However, the pure zen delight of putting on some excellent music and traveling the highways in your truck for hours on end is what makes this game worth playing.
Even though the nonviolent video game was released in 2012, the developer actively supports and expands it. It has one of Steam’s most active player bases.
ETS2 provides you thousands of stress-free hours seeing Europe from the cab of your truck after nearly a decade of expansion and upgrades. It’s strange, yet it’s effective. You don’t even have to be a big fan of trucks.
Rime
In recent years, there has been a slew of non-violent “walking simulators.” Examples include Dear Esther, Gone Home, and Journey. The issue is that these titles push the boundaries of what constitutes a “game.” Instead, they’re more correctly described as digital narratives that are minimally interactive.
At first, Rime may appear similar to Journey, but it is a 3D puzzle game. Climb, explore, solve puzzles, and evade monsters as your character. The game is lovely and well-crafted, even if it isn’t extremely deep or tough.
It contains just enough gameplay to avoid being classified as a walking simulator. It’s available on almost every platform, but we recommend playing it on a console, including the Nintendo Switch. In our experience, the Windows version isn’t very well optimized.
You play a young boy who washes up on the shores of a strange island, where you must solve the island’s mysteries while interacting with the spooky spirits who inhabit there. It is worth a look.
The Talos Principle is a concept that has been around for a
This nonviolent video game can be found on a variety of platforms, and we tested it on a high-end PC as well as an iPad Pro. It’s a science-fiction puzzle game in which you start as a robot, a person managing a robot, or someone who believes they are a robot.
The whole goal of this game is to figure out the big riddles of the world you’re in, so we’ll let you do that firsthand because it’s such an important part of it.
The collecting of Tetris pieces is the main game mechanic. They’re hidden behind puzzle zones, where you must solve mind-boggling physics and logic riddles to progress to the next level. It’s a lot of fun, and there’s no real violence other than having your robot body destroyed and rebuilt.
Forza Horizon 4 is a racing game.
Yes, Forza Horizon 4 is another vehicle-based game that appears to be an easy choice when seeking non-violent games. Still, it is not a simulation management game like Euro Truck Simulator, and it isn’t your typical racing game, either. It’s an open-world game with strong internet integration and a diverse selection of vehicles, events, and racing kinds.
Nothing compares to this incarnation of Forza, which has a long and illustrious history on Xbox. This version is also available on Windows and is included in Xbox Game Pass on PC when writing. If you enjoy racing games, this one will satisfy practically all of your needs.
The key thing to remember is that Forza Horizon 4 is neither a simulator nor an arcade game. It strikes a good compromise between the two, but if you’re looking for a hardcore racing game in the vein of Gran Turismo, you’ll have to go elsewhere.
Rocket League is a video game developed by Rocket League.
Another game involving automobiles? This will not be like the other two-wheeled games on the list, and this is “car-soccer” instead. You can play against the computer with someone else, only against the computer, with the computer, and so on. You are in charge of an RC car and must kick a large soccer ball into the opposing team’s goal. Isn’t it simple?
Rocket League is simple to pick up yet quite tough to master. Experts in the game can perform seemingly superhuman feats, but you’ll need a lot of practice time if that’s your objective. This is also available on the Nintendo Switch, and this is a great nonviolent video game to play with your friends locally.
Tetris’s Effect
When you play a game like Tetris too much, you get the “Tetris Effect,” which you keep seeing when you close your eyes. It’s also the name of a popular video game that has swept the globe.
It’s Tetris like you’ve never seen it before, and it’s available for both Windows and PlayStation 4. You still set your tetrominoes and clear lines, but music and rhythm features have been added to create something fresh and captivating. The game is very popular in virtual reality, but it is equally enjoyable without it.
Fez
Fez is a couple of years old now, but its wonderfully crafted retro aesthetics still stand up admirably. The main draw of this side-scrolling platformer is that it isn’t a 2D game at all, and the entire globe may be turned in 3D, which aids in solving riddles and creating new paths for your character. The universe is fascinating, the art is inspiring, and Fez is available on various platforms.
PS3, PS4, and Vita are all included. In our opinion, the Vita version of the game is the greatest mobile version, but you can also play on iOS, which has a far wider install base.
Splatoon 2 is a sequel to Splatoon.
Splatoon 2 is a third-person multiplayer shooter exclusive to the Nintendo Switch and is a sequel to the successful Wii U game. Except there are no gunshots or blood in this place.
You take on the role of a squid with a paint gun. So, let’s see if we’re sticking to the game’s terminology. It offers a unique mechanic in which you paint surfaces with your ink color and then transform them into a squid to speed through the level.
There’s also a single-player mode, so you don’t have to play with your pals. It’s just that the multiplayer aspect of this very family-friendly game is the main attraction.
Portal 1 and Portal 2
Because it includes two nonviolent video games, the last inclusion on the list is a bit of a cheat. These games, however, are short and should be played together. This is a physics puzzle game in which your character is tormented by a deranged computer that is conducting “experiments.” You must utilize your portal gun to navigate your way through, dodging more dangerous traps.
The writing is hysterically funny, and the gameplay is tight and entertaining. The Portal games are widely regarded as among the best of all time, and the fact that you don’t have to shoot anyone to play them was and continues to be a breath of fresh air.
Peace and Love
Nonviolent games are still uncommon, but we’re witnessing an increasing number of titles that don’t revolve around murder. There will always be violent games, which is OK, but who can complain about having more options when choosing your favorite digital entertainment?