Pacifist runs make games so much more interesting to play -- especially if they're only optional. They add replayability value and they force the players to strategize better if they wish to experience a game in a different light. In most cases, performing a pacifist run is more difficult to complete than a normal one. In others, it is close to impossible to do.
Indeed, there are games out there that allow players to fulfill their pacifist and peaceful nature. However, due to various circumstances where killing an enemy is necessary, a perfect pacifist run is made impossible to do. Surprisingly, these 10 games, despite not having a focus on non-lethality, let players go pacifist.
10 Batman: Arkham Series
The Batman: Arkham series is widely considered by many to be the best video game series in the superhero genre. Its incredible combat gameplay and its engaging story have influenced other superhero games that have since joined the fold. One of the things you can and must constantly do in the Batman games is to perform stealth moves.
Since it's Batman's one rule to not kill, technically, you don't actually kill anyone at all while playing any of the Batman: Arkham games. But, there is no way at least one of those goons didn't die from Batman's insane attacks, explosives, batarangs, and more. Batman can believe his words all he wants, but not everyone he attacked survived him.
9 Cyberpunk 2077
There is no video game in recent memory that's more controversial than Cyberpunk 2077, for better or worse. Despite the game's overabundance of bugs and the like, the game is fairly enjoyable if you don't encounter any game-breaking mishaps. One of the game's saving graces is its gameplay. It can be immersive at times and the players are given options as to how they want to approach a given situation. One of those options is stealth.
A player can go through the game without killing anyone if they're skilled enough. They can simply knock them out. However, this won't work in various boss fights, though, as it seems, story-wise, some bosses need to be killed in order to move the story forward.
8 Bloodborne
One of the most absurd examples of being able to do a pacifist run in a game is in Bloodborne. However, as speedrunners will tell you, you can absolutely conquer the treacherous world of Yharnam and beyond without killing a single soul using the help of unpatched glitches and summons.
A lot of players have been doing this as a challenge (as if the game itself wasn't already challenging enough). One aspect of this type of run is using a couple of ways to steer off the game's main path to skip multiple bosses. The players can also have summons take care of bosses. It's not a complete pacifist run, but for a Souls-like game, it's a very impressive and challenging run to complete.
7 Halo Trilogy
The Halo series is a brand any gamer will recognize -- even if they haven't played at least one game from the series. The games themselves are highly renowned and it remains to this day as one of the best first-person shooter series of all time.
Despite the game's focus on being a shooter game, however, it is completely possible for players to get through the game without killing a single enemy. There's an exception with a couple of bosses in Halo 2 and 3, though. But still, for a series that willingly idolizes a genetically mutated indentured soldier, that's not bad.
6 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrim is, without a doubt, one of the most entertaining games in history. It has a very compelling and deep world lore that goes with the enjoyable gameplay, as well. Being a massive open-world game added with an RPG element, there are many ways of going about finishing this game; being a pacifist is one of them.
While playing Skyrim, you can get to the end of the game without actively killing anyone. That is if you can move around fast enough and employ the assistance of others. However, once you reach the final boss, you will have to at least land the killing blow. Otherwise, use a summoning spell to push Alduin off the map. This will kill the boss but it won't be registered as an actual kill.
5 Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Deus Ex: Human Revolution is an action RPG game released in 2011. The game, like the other games in the series, was met with a positive response. Those who played it know how character-driven the narrative of this game is which just adds an extra layer of immersion to this already immersive game.
Another way of feeling the game's immersion is by performing a complete pacifist run while playing it. In the game, there are indeed a handful of bosses you will need to actually kill. However, outside of that, the game will present the players with an achievement for doing a pacifist run.
4 Contra By Konami
Everyone remembers Contra, right? This classic NES game made by Konami, released in 1987, will always have a place in the hearts of those who played it. It's challenging and gratifying while offering a simply enjoyable experience overall. However, Contra was far from easy. In fact, the game was so challenging that most people needed the infamous "Konami Code" just to complete the game. But others took a different route.
Instead of firing their way through the game, they simply skipped through the enemies and went right ahead to the mechanical and alien bosses. Perhaps killing those bosses will negate the pacifist run, but technically you won't be killing anyone. You'll just be destroying machines... right?
3 The First And Second Fallout Games
In the Fallout series, particularly the first and the second game, it is completely possible to finish the game without having to kill anyone. Granted, you may not kill anyone actively, but due to the nature of the game and the narrative, you will at least be responsible for the deaths of a handful of people.
Things are a little bit different for Fallout 3, however. The players will be forced to kill something very early on in the game. Moving forward, though, the players will have the chance to attempt another pacifist run.
2 Metal Gear Solid Series
It can be argued that Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid franchise absolutely revolutionized the way stealth is handled in video games. The narrative and gameplay of this series are absolutely phenomenal and those who got the chance to play it (the millions who did) can attest to the high level of quality this game provided.
It is also relatively known that being a pacifist in most Metal Gear Solid games can be doable -- save for a couple of bosses you will really have to kill in order to continue the story. In some of the games in the series, you will even receive an achievement for doing a pacifist run. Then, of course, there's the infamous "Wait for the old sniper guy to die using a time glitch on your console" method.
1 Red Dead Redemption
Who doesn't love Red Dead Redemption? The story is compelling, heartwarming at times, and in the end, heartbreaking. Also, the gameplay is highly enjoyable. Playing as a gunslinging cowboy in the old, wild west, it is almost encouraged that the players should always use their guns when the need arises.
However, if you're feeling a little brave, you can get through most of Red Dead Redemption without having to fire a gun except for certain missions where killing is a necessity. All you need to do is equip your lasso and you should be good to go.