Non-Violent Games + Ideas

[Nepukadnezzar]

First of all, I don't know if a thread like this has already been created, if you read this, pls link me to it.

Recently I was thinking about the whole debate about violence in games and how it works as the primary mechanic. There is some buzz about it

http://www.destructoid.com/you-should-feel-bad-but-games-don-t-want-you-to-247794.phtml
thanks PA Report

So, I was thinking what are the game Ideas I am missing, which do not rely on violence or .... let's call it physical competition (I do not want to call a Mario game violent - it is not) ... ??

The only games i can think of are:

The Sims (let's ignore the ability to punch someone you don't like, it is not a core game mechanic)
A lot of social media browser games (Farmville, Mafia Wars, ...)
A lot of the mobile casual games (Angry Birds does not make it on the list, I mean the endless runners etc.)

What are your thoughts about this?

E_E_E_EDIT:
In addition, with the help of the other posters, I can add:

Simulation games of any kind (Roller Coaster Tycoon, Harvest Moon, etc.)
Most Racing Games (I do not want to count games where you can destroy/distract/slow your opponents with weapons or ramming)
Journey - why did I not think of that?
Puzzle Games (Tetris, Professor Layton, etc.)
What is the core mechanic of Ace Attorney/Phoenix Wright; Echo Bazaar?
Adventure Games
Sports Games (that means EAs best selling game is non-violent in my opinion, aww yeah)
Visual Novels
Turn Based Strategy Games

And a mention of Draken12s Post ... please read it

Any new ideas?

 

[IrenIvy]

Also Antichamber (and many physics platformers I think) don't feature enemies.
I don't know if Thief 2 and 3 and Deus Ex: Human Revolution can be considered non-violent: stealth and pacifists runs are real option so you (almost) don't have to kill anybody, but killing everything is also an option.
There is also a really old game called "Cat" where you play as a tomcat and try to reach another cat. You can't shoot or claw but you can die (a lot).
Some railroad simulators, which are more like puzzles, - "Shortline Railroad", for examples.
"Myst" and many detective investigation, like "Sherlock Holmes" games. Any "you are in a locked room" flash-games.
I don't recall if "Dreamfall" falls into this category as well but it is possible. And I'm pretty sure it is possible to find a quest or two without fights.

 

[Alfador_VII]

First of all, I don't know if a thread like this has already been created, if you read this, pls link me to it.

Recently I was thinking about the whole debate about violence in games and how it works as the primary mechanic. There is some buzz about it

http://www.destructoid.com/you-should-feel-bad-but-games-don-t-want-you-to-247794.phtml
thanks PA Report

So, I was thinking what are the game Ideas I am missing, which do not rely on violence or .... let's call it physical competition (I do not want to call a Mario game violent - it is not) ... ??

The only games i can think of are:

The Sims (let's ignore the ability to punch someone you don't like, it is not a core game mechanic)
A lot of social media browser games (Farmville, Mafia Wars, ...)
A lot of the mobile casual games (Angry Birds does not make it on the list, I mean the endless runners etc.)

What are your thoughts about this?

Some of those examples are indeed violent.

Mario: kill many many turtles by squashing them underfoot, or with fireballs, hammers etc.

Mafia Wars: Almost everything in the game revolves around killing enemies, robbing them, blackmailing them or all of the above

Angry Birds: The MOST Violent game on your list, crush helpless mobility impaired pigs by throwing suicidal exploding birds at them. EVERYONE DIES THERE!

I'll give you Farmville and the Sims though.

As for true non-violent games, you can have almost any puzzle game, or Tetris, or the like.

 

[FalloutJack]

Most racing games? They're not violent. Puzzle games? Largely not violent. (Even Portal barely qualifies.) Tetris is obviously not violent...unless it's the history of Russia video. Any sport that is non-contact is non-violent.

 

[The]

Phoenix Wright, though you look at crime scenes and murder happens, the gameplay itself isn't violent (unless there's a point in it I haven't reached) with investigation, talking to people and doing lawyer-y things.

 

[Ishal]

I've always wanted a game that had you construct/fund your own space program.

It would be a cross between games like Sim City and Roller Coaster Tycoon, then have a space sim element when you actually got out into space and started exploring.

You'd have to control funding for it, answer to people that control your funding. Control the technology that you create and take contracts from the Military. Heck there could even be an option to sell some of the cool new tech off the grid for oodles of $$$ if you need it at the end of each month, but there is a chance you might get caught.

Honestly the possibilities are many.

 

[Brainwreck]

Dishonored is not violent... until you get bored and sic all your rats on the guards.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Oh. I thought we were going to be sharing game design ideas, not listing off existing games.

I am disappoint.

Dishonored is not violent... until you get bored and sic all your rats on the guards.

...? But rat swarms are what make the game fun. What's the point if you can't summon rats to eat those who have wronged you?

 

[Sack of Cheese]

There is also a really old game called "Cat" where you play as a tomcat and try to reach another cat. You can't shoot or claw but you can die (a lot).

Ahh? Reminds me of another game called Dog's life. You play as a dog, digging through trashcans and the likes. And then there's another one called Jaws where you play as a shark and eat people.

 

[IrenIvy]

There is also a really old game called "Cat" where you play as a tomcat and try to reach another cat. You can't shoot or claw but you can die (a lot).

Ahh? Reminds me of another game called Dog's life. You play as a dog, digging through trashcans and the likes. And then there's another one called Jaws where you play as a shark and eat people.

I would not call game, where player character eats people, non-violent ^_^"
By "Cat" I meant that one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alley_Cat_%28video_game%29

 

[wintercoat]

There's the Harvest Moon games. They're non-violent. Unless you count adding a bad food item to the potluck pot, in which case you poison the entire village...

I was gonna say Chibi-robo, but then I remembered a core part of the game is destroying droves of Spydorz in order to get to new places...

Ghost Trick is non-violent. Though some people do die during the course of the game, your actual objective is to travel through time to save them.

The Professor Layton and Ace Attorney games are non-violent.

Does Link's Crossbow Training count? All you do is shoot at targets.

So that's farming sims, puzzle games, and target practice.

Edit: I forgot the Nintendogs series! Those were definitely non-violent, unless you count crippling adorableness as violent.

 

[Joccaren]

Mostly management titles and puzzle games that are non violent in totality.

Games like Banjo-Kazooie and such though where violence is usually just more of a side thing that happens, and no focus is put on it, with the majority of your gameplay focusing around a mix of platforming, problem solving and general exploring. Yeah, its still 'violent' in that you attack things, but I'd hesitate to call it a 'violent game' by today's standards, where the main focus of even most exploration games is in the combat.

 

[Nepukadnezzar]

Oh. I thought we were going to be sharing game design ideas, not listing off existing games.

I am disappoint.

Actually ... I want both in here^^

Games like Banjo-Kazooie and such though where violence is usually just more of a side thing that happens, and no focus is put on it, with the majority of your gameplay focusing around a mix of platforming, problem solving and general exploring. Yeah, its still 'violent' in that you attack things, but I'd hesitate to call it a 'violent game' by today's standards, where the main focus of even most exploration games is in the combat.

Agreed

 

[Nepukadnezzar]

EVERYONE DIES THERE!

I'll give you Farmville and the Sims though.

That's why I said it does not make it on the list ....
The Mafia Wars might be questionable, but the only violent act you actually see and do is clicking and reading. I do not think the violence is a core game mechanice, the game would also work if it is in a different setting.
Please read the whole post.

 

[Starik20X6]

Mostly management titles and puzzle games that are non violent in totality.

Games like Banjo-Kazooie and such though where violence is usually just more of a side thing that happens, and no focus is put on it, with the majority of your gameplay focusing around a mix of platforming, problem solving and general exploring. Yeah, its still 'violent' in that you attack things, but I'd hesitate to call it a 'violent game' by today's standards, where the main focus of even most exploration games is in the combat.

Totally agree with this. There's definitely a difference between a game where violence is ancillary, and a game where the violence is inherent. For example, the goal of a Mario game being 'rescue the princess', vs the goal of a CoD game being 'kill all the things'. I can't think of a reason why a 'pacifist run' of a Mario game wouldn't be possible, if it's very difficult.

As for my idea of a non-violent game? A stealth game where you play as Princess Peach trying to break out of Bowser's castle. Pretty much this, as a playable game [http://brawlinthefamily.keenspot.com/2010/08/05/260-the-captive-princess/]. Big budget console release, downloadable eShop game, I don't care. Just make it happen Nintendo.

 

[T3hSource]

Off-topic: Sorry, but have some pet peeves to show here

Spoiler: Tangents ahead

A lot of the mobile casual games [...]I mean the endless runners[...]

I don't like them, or more specifically I don't like what they represent and do. OK, I can give Cannabalt a pass since it's not patronizing you with any coins, power-ups, rewards or anything, it's just pure challenge and reaction timing, not to mention it has a bit of depth into the way you have to jump obstacles.
But this is what running was in my day!

Spoiler: Crash BEAR!

Yes, I am aware that it also "patronizes" the player, but at least it has an end goal, consequences and significantly more depth, complexity and challenge.

Recently I was thinking about the whole debate about violence in games and how it works as the primary mechanic. There is some buzz about it

Hehe it's not recent mate

Spoiler: Why games use combat for interaction

Link to an RPS article with a Dishonored dev's take on violence in the game [http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/01/14/dishonored-designer-joe-houston-on-violence-in-games/]

http://www.destructoid.com/you-should-feel-bad-but-games-don-t-want-you-to-247794.phtml

Oh god, they went Spec Ops in the comment section, I guess we don't need it here, it's not like it would contribute to the thread anyway so I won't start anything.

It's an interesting artice and discussion to have, and there are plenty of ideas that don't include violence, but the constraints for making a game for a "mainstram" audience make it near impossible for non-violent game design to flourish and show its complete potential.

In addition, with the help of the other posters, I can add:
(list)

Add in stealth games, I like to keep my delusion that they aren't violent because you don't engage your "enemies", rather they are a permanent, more dynamic obstacle to your objective. I just wish there was less killing and more stealing the art of theft is something seriously undercooked.

 

[TrulyBritish]

What about Limbo? Sure there are things trying to kill you in pretty gruesome ways (for a black&white shadow world) but you never really attack back and the core gameplay is the puzzles.

 

[King Aragorn]

I don't really see how car games are non-violent. I mean, you're going full speed and ramming cars, completely destroying them and causing pretty big accidents. And yes, I know you said you don't want to count that, but isn't basically almost guaranteeing death/major injury on someone the same?