A common complaint about games is how violence seems to be an intrinsic part of the medium. While combat is a part of many titles, the ten games listed below prove that is not always the case. Just because a game has no combat does not mean it does not require an immense amount of skill, either.
Some of the titles here are more narrative-driven adventures casual players should have no problem getting into, while others are highly competitive or have their own unique mechanics that take time to understand. Even hardcore gamers appreciate a game with no combat every once in a while.
10 Disco Elysium
Do not be fooled by Disco Elysium's status as an RPG. You are not slaughtering goblins or dragons to level up. Instead, the game takes RPG mechanics and translates them to a pure narrative adventure, with stats and die rolls determining the outcome of the dialogue. The game was intensely celebrated upon its 2019 release. A recent re-release brought the game to other consoles along with additional content and more voice acting.
9 Dream Daddy
Dating simulators are plentiful, but few are as charming and unique as Dream Daddy. Published and developed by Game Grumps, the game follows the player's efforts as a single father to meet and romance other fathers. While an incredibly cute concept, the game elevates itself above other dating simulators with humorous and poignant writing. Gamers might start playing because of the novel idea, but they'll stay for sincere stories about relationships and parenting.
8 Fuser
Harmonix started a small gaming revolution with Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Even though the music peripheral fad has died down, the company still manages to innovate in regards to getting players involved with music through gaming. Fuser has players take the role of a DJ as they mix together tracks from different songs to make their own creations. It is also done all through a controller. The game is surprisingly challenging and involves an element of creativity.
7 Tell Me Why
Tell Me Why differentiates itself from other Dontnod narrative games by not including supernatural elements. The drama surrounding the twins in Tell Me Why is brutal and will likely have you tearing up by the time credits roll. The game is only available on Windows and Xbox One. Dontnod worked with GLAAD to ensure a proper and respectful representation with its trans characters, as one of the two protagonists is a trans man and it plays heavily into the plot.
6 Baba Is You
Released in 2019, Baba is You is a puzzle game with uniqueness on par with Braid or The Witness. In the game's 200 levels, you have to move words on the game field to manipulate rules and obstacles.
It is a difficult concept to understand, but seeing it in action alleviates some of the confusion. Like the best puzzle games, it is just vexing enough to make you work for the answer, making the satisfaction of solving them incredibly rewarding.
5 Outer Wilds
This adventure game tasks players with discovering a mystery surrounding a 22-minute time loop where a star goes supernova and sends you back to the beginning. You continuously go through this time loop, learning more and more each run. The unique concept piqued gamers' interests, and the execution netted it high acclaim and multiple game of the year awards. Few games achieve a similar sense of discovery and awe, especially in the modern age.
4 Life Is Strange
Dontnod impressed few with the action game Remember Me. The developer did the right thing by focusing purely on narrative and decision making rather than combat with Life Is Strange. The game still deals with supernatural powers but tells a decidedly human story. It was successful enough to spawn a whole series, including a prequel and a sequel. Currently, fans are awaiting Life Is Strange: True Colors, which is being handled by a different developer.
3 Microsoft Flight Simulator
This series has been around for a while, but the recent Microsoft Flight Simulator really took the series to new heights. The game literally uses real map data to let players fly all over the world. This novelty is not the only reason for the game's success. It also just plays well and offers a slew of options for all skill levels. Flight enthusiasts can opt for as realistic an experience as possible, while casual players can go for simpler options for a breezier play session.
2 Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons brought the series to a new level of popularity. This was especially acute given the relatively troubled times during which the game released, as people held onto some semblance of normalcy through this cutesy life simulator.
The Nintendo Switch is also the perfect system for it. You can relax on your couch and do some daily chores on your island before calling it a day. We just wonder how Nintendo will top it in future Animal Crossing installments.
1 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2
Vicarious Visions made fans' dreams come true by beautifully recreating the first two games in the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series. It plays as tight and smooth as the series ever has and also looks gorgeous. The gameplay is relatively simple to understand but takes a lot of time and dedication to master. Considering its success, we sincerely hope the third and fourth games receive remakes on a similar scale in the future.