10 Best Nonviolent Video Games (According To Reddit)

Whether they feature realistic gunplay or cartoony brawls, most video games today include some kind of violence. While this trend stretches back to the medium’s early days, the very first video game had no aggressive content whatsoever. Tennis for Two, built by William Higinbotham and Robert Dvorak for the Brookhaven National Laboratory in 1958, simply featured a basic virtual ball and net.

It’s still possible today to find entertaining, high-quality games that foster fun and competition without weapons or fists. Perhaps surprisingly, not all of these games are marketed towards kids, either; the last few years have seen plenty of successful, peaceful games for all ages.

Beat Saber

Beat Saber gives players two lightsaber-like energy swords to wield, but they aren’t used for violence. Instead, these tools are used to dodge and slice blocks to the rhythm of music. Redditor Xyanthe gives high praise to the title, claiming that “Beat Saber is my most played vr game. Its [sic] such a fun game.”

This high-paced rhythm game can be a great workout, and it’s one of the first games Oculus Quest players should try. It’s the perfect game to show off virtual reality to friends and family.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Most people probably know that flying airplanes is a difficult, complicated task, and Microsoft Flight Simulator helps players learn how it works. There are dozens of planes to fly, and each one is recreated in great detail, complete with fully functional interiors and controls.

When a Redditor asked about good non-violent video games, Fasterthanligh responded simply: “Flight Simulator.” There are several cool locations and landmarks to explore, and more are being added with occasional “World Updates.” Microsoft Flight Simulator is the first title in the franchise to be available on home consoles.

Slime Rancher

The Pokémon franchise has become the highest-grossing intellectual property of all time by letting players collect monsters and fight them against each other, and Slime Rancher morphs a few of these ideas into a more peaceful package.

Slime Rancher sees protagonist Beatrix LeBeaux collecting gelatinous creatures to raise and care for on a farm in what Redditor Bigchungaswholesome calls “…one of the most calming yet entertaining games.” A sequel is currently in development and is one of the most anticipated indie games releasing in 2022.

Spiritfarer

Spiritfarer centers on death, but players don’t do any killing in this 2D management game. The protagonist, Stella, is a titular Spiritfarer who sails around the game world to tend to spirits before they pass on to the afterlife.

Beadgcf53 explains on Reddit that players can spend time doing any number of calming tasks like “…explore the world on a boat, and complete tasks on your boat like farming, cooking, and building various things.” A Farewell Edition was released in 2020, combining the base game with three major expansions.

Journey

When asked for peaceful game recommendations in a Reddit thread, aphexx12 recommended Journey, claiming that it’s “…the ultimate peaceful exploration game.” Players control robed figures trekking across a desert to reach a mountain. There are no enemies to fight, but players have to use their magic scarves and musical shouts to navigate platforms and puzzles.

Players can also come across and help others, though they can’t communicate until the end of the game. Journey can now be played on several consoles and mobile devices, but it was initially released in 2012 exclusively on the PlayStation 3.

Outer Wilds

Outer Wilds passed by unnoticed by many gamers, perhaps due to it releasing somewhat closely to the similarly named and more heavily The Outer Worlds, but this game is one of the best-received puzzle experiences of the past few years.

The game features an alien astronaut trying to uncover the mystery behind a strange, extinct race of beings and a solar system they once visited. Outer Wilds is filled with environmental puzzles and resource management. Head_Maintinance_323 explains that Outer Wilds has “…no violence and almost no interaction with other living beings…” in it.

Overcooked

Real restaurants are often busy places, and chefs can be put under a lot of pressure, but Overcooked 1 and 2 turn professional kitchens into a fun cooperative time management experience. Players must run around a kitchen to chop vegetables, mix ingredients, cook meat, and more before orders get too backed up, and customers become unhappy.

It’s certainly not a relaxing game, as it can become quite complex and challenging, but Redditor Dionysus24779 explains that Overcooked is “Very easy to pick up and understand, no violence.”

Gris

Gris is an emotionally charged, gripping platformer that uses artistic metaphors to discuss grief and depression, but it does so without engaging in combat or violence. Instead, players mostly navigate different landscapes to find a way through.

MaudQuickpaw makes a case for the game, saying, “I recommend Gris … which is an art platformer, kinda like a 2D Journey. Beautiful watercolor visuals and fun puzzle platformer gameplay, with another wonderful story about loss.” Gris sends a powerful message about coming to terms with oneself and dealing with the pains that everyone faces at points in their lives.

Animal Crossing

Over five mainline games and four spin-off titles, the Animal Crossing franchise has always focused on letting players relax in an open, mock-social environment. There aren’t many specific tasks or objectives; instead, players are free to build their communities and interact with their neighbors however and whenever they like.

New Horizons may be missing some popular activities, but players can still design clothing, decorate each room in their house, and much more. Redditor trophicmist0 describes the series as “…the obvious choice…” for a calm, non-violent game.

Unpacking

Packing belongings and moving may be stressful for most people, but Witch Beam’s Unpacking turns it into a relaxing experience for those looking to unwind. CiplakIndeed describes this isometric puzzle game in relatable terms, claiming that it’s “Therapeutic. Even my grandma likes it.”

Over eight stages and 35 rooms, Unpacking does tell a narrative story despite its minimalistic visuals and gameplay. The game has received several awards, including the Game of the Year and Excellence in Accessibility honors from the Australian Game Developer Awards and Game of the Year nominations from The New York Times, Forbes, and more.

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