Is there a non-violent option?

[Xanadu84]

Isn't it possible to do a pacifist run of Mirror's Edge but it's just really hard?

Id say it's one better: Solving problems with violence in Mirrors Edge is HARDER then running away. Pacifist runs are the default difficulty, its when you try to actually fight that the game gets more difficult. Though technically, you are forced to fight hand to hand on one or 2 occasions. Personally, I think that Mirrors Edge might have one of the strongest anti-violence messages in games: you are absolutely free and capable of being violent, but it is generally more difficult, less rewarding, and ultimately pointless. Its the fact that you are capable of violence, but the desire to avoid it emerges naturally out of the mechanics that makes the non-violent approach so strong.

 

[MetroidNut]

The Deus Ex series lets you solve the vast majority of your problems non-violently, through stealth, hacking or conversation. Sounds like Dishonored does the same. So RPG is covered.

The only act of violence in Portal is killing GLaDOS, and you do that by redirecting her own rockets, so overall it's a pretty non-violent platformer.

There's lots of potentially (though not exclusively) non-violent RTS games. Age of Empires had modes that forced peace, as I recall, and games like Stronghold often let you handle your economy without an enemy to deal with.

Overall, there's lots of games in generally violent genres that avoid (or let you avoid) violence.

 

[sXeth]

They did the non-violent FPSes years back (Paintball and various NERF ones), it didn't go over so hot

 

[CD-R]

Postal 2 can be beaten without killing anyone.

 

[Souplex]

Do you count non-lethal as non-violent?

 

[Vivi22]

Regarding the OP... how do you expect to find a FIRST-PERSON SHOOTER that is non-violent?

The original Deus Ex can be beaten without killing anyone. Not sure about Invisible War since it's terrible. Human Revolution can be beaten without killing anyone but the bosses which almost counts.

 

[Cheesepower5]

I just got Catherine, a little late to the party. The plot explores a completely mundane relationship where the protagonist struggles with his feelings of imprisonment in his relationship as he has to deal with the consequences of an accidental one night stand that hgets him forever branded a cheater. The gameplay is completely non-violent, there are nightmare sections that play like block puzzles. You can die, in various pretty brutal ways and you CAN kill, but its by pushing other "sheep" of the edges, and it definitely isn't combat. It does the supernatural back-drop, with no saving the world and no real combat sections and still has mature themes, a dark story and above all: It's fun!

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Regarding the OP... how do you expect to find a FIRST-PERSON SHOOTER that is non-violent?

The original Deus Ex can be beaten without killing anyone. Not sure about Invisible War since it's terrible. Human Revolution can be beaten without killing anyone but the bosses which almost counts.

It's fine that you *can* but that's not really the point of the game, is it? And they *are* shooting at you regardless of whether you shoot back. I'm sure there're plenty of "pacifist runs" ala Mirror's Edge out there but the point is that violence is always out there, and you're either the violent-er or the violent-ee.

 

[Scow2]

The closest thing to non-violent RTS games are City/Simulation games, where your job is to build up a base, manage resources, and deal with assorted environmental threats the world throws at you.

I must learn how to make games, so I can create a nonviolent, awesome platformer/action game that's focused on environmental exploration and interaction, sort of like the Prince of Persia games without the combat.

 

[Irridium]

You can play Mark of the Ninja and only kill three people.
(Yes, I will take every opportunity to plug Mark of the Ninja)

As you should, the game is fantastic and I'd say the best stealth game I've played in a long while.

 

[DementedSheep]

Most non violent games I see are puzzle games or SIMS. Outside of that though...I guess its a bit hard to translate a lot of genres into non violent forms to to make an interesting story that doesn't involve conflict.

Isn't it possible to do a pacifist run of Mirror's Edge but it's just really hard?

Oh! Just thought of another one. What about Pokemon? Technically you don't kill anything when you battle, just knock them out.

I'd say knocking out animals is pretty damn violent. Not as violent as killing them but still violent.

If by pacifist you mean not killing anyone, it's most certainly possible and always seemed like how the game was meant to be played to me. I wouldn't care if they just removed the ability to pick up guns. It usually easier to avoid than engage and you don't get rewarded for fighting. I can only think of 3 places in the game where you actually have to fight.

 

[Nouw]

Isn't it possible to do a pacifist run of Mirror's Edge but it's just really hard?

If by pacifist you mean not killing anyone, it's most certainly possible and always seemed like how the game was meant to be played to me. I wouldn't care if they just removed the ability to pick up guns. It usually easier to avoid than engage and you don't get rewarded for fighting. I can only think of 3 places in the game where you actually have to fight.

I find that description of pacifism a bit silly to be honest. Pacifism is about violence in general, not just killing. It's about your beliefs regarding conflict and your actions should show this beyond not killing. A pacifist doesn't knock out someone.

Perhaps they will completely rid the next Mirror's Edge of violence, if it ever comes out.

 

[wintercoat]

I was going to say Viva Pinata, but then I remembered that you can murder your pinatas...

What about Runescape? Most of the skills are non-combat oriented, and indeed, you can play much of the game without even getting into a fight, let alone causing acts of violence.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

Isn't it possible to do a pacifist run of Mirror's Edge but it's just really hard?

It's possible to go through the entirety of Mirror's Edge without ever firing a gun at another person, but it is impossible to perform a pacifist run. Almost, at least. I recall near the very end of the game, there's a large chamber packed full of guards with firearms trying to gun you down. Technically you need to fire a gun, yourself, in order to get past the room itself(you have to fire at and destroy several power sources around the room in order to advance). But it's incredibly difficult to do with 7-8, maybe 9 guards firing at you from all directions(which are all susceptible to being disarmed and K.O.'d). However, it's not difficult at all to go through the whole game never killing a single person.

Journey is a non-violent game, for the most part. The only thing that threatens you is a creature that eats your scarf and you don't even see it for 3/4 the game.

I'm not sure since I've never played them but Flower and Fl0w look to be pretty non-violent games, as well. Also done by the same guys behind Journey.

 

[someonehairy-ish]

Anyone mentioned portal yet? You can look at it as an fps where instead of having to shoot people you shoot walls and ceilings!

 

[Full]

This is honestly the biggest problem with gaming IMO. There has never once been a popular, mainstream game without combat.

There are games where you can not kill anyone, but violence is still the or part of the core gameplay mechanic. That's why I give props to Journey, and other thatgamecompany's games, it's a perfect example of a game that can be fun, without any violence whatsoever, and provide that feeling of satisfaction and immersion, that only gaming can offer. And a lot of puzzle games have violent traps and hazards, so you technically can't count those.

However, if you look at games without any violence in the past, they got either repetitive, or were abysmally short.

We need a pioneer, to break the gap and create a great, non-gruesome experience that no-one can shrug off as "boring" or "It's not really a game".

 

[Smooth Operator]

Well before you people spaz out completely, the top selling game for Xbox is Kinectamals and for Wii it's bowling, you just aren't noticing those games because most of you are looking in the adult section where we don't haveto pussyfoot around.

So it seems to be the same as other mediums, there are plenty of non violent games and movies but I can't really say when I last came across one of those, even something seemingly serene like Looney Toons and Nintendo games actually resorts a great deal to something that can be called violent.
I guess the real question here is why, why do we feel the constant need to create and take in media like that.

Oh and my game recommendation would be the Serious Sam series, yes I mean the crazy gory monster FPS, the game has an option to turn all gore into candy or flowers or some other silly stuff and it becomes incredibly kid friendly.
That last statement might have been exaggerated.

 

[alexwbyrd]

As far as I know, Dear Esther is a First-Person Adventure game with no violence in the slightest...but I don't know for a fact cause I haven't played it before.

Also, as many have stated before me: Just because you're not killing anybody doesn't mean you're being non-violent. Karate chopping someone in the neck may not be lethal but it's still fairly violent by video game standards.

Also, Portal is still a violent game, just not so much as most FPSs. Getting shot at by robot turrets and a giant "female" robot trying to gas you to death is still rather violent.