RPGs You Can Beat With No Combat

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen it all – from epic battles filled with adrenaline-pumping combat to heart-wrenching storylines that leave you in tears. But lately, I’ve found myself drawn to games that offer something different: an escape from the violence and chaos that often comes with the genre.

For those who don’t relish combat in RPGs, there’s good news: a vast selection of alternative options awaits them. From farming sims to intricate puzzles, open-world adventures, and terrifying horror games, the RPG genre encompasses a rich tapestry of experiences. Each player can find their ideal match, ensuring that video gaming remains an enjoyable pastime rather than a source of frustration and excessive challenge.

For those seeking a more relaxed gaming experience with less pressure to manage armor, weapons, and strategies, opting for combat-light role-playing games can feel like a refreshing change of pace. Here is a list of ten RPGs, including “Stardew Valley” and “OneShot,” where players can triumph without the strain of intense battles.

We Happy Few (Honorable Mention)

RPGs You Can Beat With No Combat

In this game, there’s a small element of fighting involved, but players aren’t obligated to take lives. Instead, it offers an engaging and difficult pacifist alternative, reminiscent of “Undertale.” Set in a retrofuturistic British society, people are addicted to a new antidepressant called Joy. Those refusing the drug are ostracized as “Downers,” and their absence from Joy’s effects may provoke hostility among NPCs.

Although not formally classified as a role-playing game, this title is rich in RPG characteristics like quests, skill development, and narratives. To accomplish a peaceful playthrough in “We Happy Few,” players need to think creatively to sidestep conflicts with townspeople, law enforcement, or even doctors. The alternative is to disguise oneself, make quick escapes, or consume Joy to conceal one’s true emotions and avoid detection.

9 Stardew Valley

Just Avoid The Mines!

In Stardew Valley, this unassuming farming simulation doesn’t compel players to confront adversaries. Enemies are restricted to a specific zone within the game, making it simple for players to steer clear of them during their gaming experience. While certain objects might remain out of reach if players opt to bypass the mine throughout their entire playthrough, it is technically possible to complete Stardew Valley without ever wielding a weapon. Players can still achieve a perfect completion, albeit with an added level of difficulty.

As a passionate gamer, I can tell you that this game offers me the freedom to manage my farm at my own pace without any compulsion or confrontation. I’m in control of my choices, and if I prefer to steer clear of the mine, I won’t encounter any adversaries. Of course, there are incentives and engagements that I might miss out on, but the game can still be finished without engaging in combat.

8 Sky: Children Of The Light

A Game About Helping Others

In the serene MMO world of Sky, players are immersed amidst an array of vibrant colors, mystical elements, and radiant light. The core experience is predominantly tranquil, featuring intriguing puzzles to solve and captivating landscapes to explore. However, as the game nears its conclusion, players will come across adversaries. While there’s no need for head-on combat, players must tread carefully around these enemies and steer clear of their harmful line of sight.

In Sky: Children of the Light, novice players frequently meet experienced ones who are more than willing to lend a hand and show them the ropes in challenging parts of the game. Newcomers can also ask for assistance from these “guide players” via an in-game menu option if they find the game too difficult to play on their own. Sky’s friendly player community and stunning, expansive world make it a top contender among MMO titles today. And best of all? Sky is completely free!

7 Undertale

Challenging, But Fun

While this path may present challenging combat sequences, players have the flexibility to bypass them based on the chosen storyline. Evading every enemy assault is no simple task, but the game’s captivating narrative more than compensates for the pacifist path’s complexity. Players are granted access to a diverse cast of characters, each possessing distinct quirks, weaknesses, and designs; all of them intriguing, all of them multi-dimensional.

In the game “Undertale,” players have the unique ability to decide whether to attack or spare every adversary they come across. Consequently, it’s possible for players to progress through the game without ever harming their enemies. Some players might find the intricate enemy assaults in “Undertale” intimidating, whereas others appreciate the challenge and complexity these encounters bring to the gameplay experience.

6 OneShot

Save The World After Its End

In OneShot, you assume the role of Niko, a character who stumbles upon a massive light bulb in an unfamiliar setting. This bulb turns out to be no ordinary item; it’s the dwindling sun of a long-lost civilization. Your mission is to guide Niko in returning this valuable artifact to its proper location. Keep in mind that every choice you make holds significance in this game.

In “OneShot,” every move the player makes could result in significant consequences. The game’s title signifies the importance of this principle – players get only one opportunity to set things right and undo any disasters that may occur. The journey the game’s plot assigns to the player might be unachievable depending on the decisions made along the way. This engaging, pixelated, top-down puzzle/adventure RPG boasts an enthralling narrative and is completely devoid of combat.

5 SCP: Containment Breach (Early Access Demo)

You’re Helpless Against Them

Released: N/A, currently in Early Access on Steam
Developer: Hyperity Games
Platforms: PC

Run, take shelter, and make your escape as fast as you can. Please, for your own safety, avoid engaging in combat at all costs. In SCP: Containment Breach, players find themselves in a heart-pounding predicament where they’re cornered in a research facility, tasked with housing otherworldly beings that possess powers beyond human comprehension. And the worst part? These entities have managed to break free from their confinement, and now seek retaliation against their captors.

In this horror role-playing game, players find themselves in a perilous predicament with no defense options, compelling them to flee from the ominous creatures lurking in the shadows of the facility’s hidden corners. Discover the enigmatic secrets held captive by the SCP Foundation as you evade and learn about the chilling entities hot on your trail. Best of all, this game is available for free – enjoy both the classic and enhanced editions at no cost.

4 Disco Elysium

Be A Detective And Solve Crimes—With Amnesia

In Disco Elysium, players aren’t forced to battle intimidating foes and emerge victorious in combats. Instead, they must immerse themselves in this extraordinary game’s captivating storyline and untangle the intriguing mysteries presented to them. However, the game doesn’t offer a straightforward experience: the character you command suffers from amnesia, adding an extra layer of challenge. Good luck on your investigative journey!

In Disco Elysium, there’s no need for fighting as the game doesn’t include a combat system at all. Instead, players are invited to delve deep into an intriguing world filled with puzzles and enigmas to solve. The title boasts an impressive replayability factor by presenting various endings based on the player’s decisions throughout the game. For those who relish in captivating narratives without the pressure of engaging in battles, Disco Elysium is a must-try.

3 The Outer Worlds

Be A Pacifist (But In Space)

In “The Outer Worlds,” players find themselves on an alien planet with a world reminiscent of “Fallout.” The experience begins as your character is awakened from cryo-sleep and propelled into an unfamiliar environment. While conflict does occur, the game offers an option akin to “Undertale” for peaceful playstyles – players who opt for non-violent approaches are still rewarded.

In The Outer Worlds game, weapons, including guns, are easily accessible throughout the world. However, it’s important to mention that many situations can be resolved with cleverness, quiet approaches, or persuasive dialogue. While using brute force makes things simpler, where’s the excitement in that? For newcomers, consider attempting a peaceful playthrough as an alternative challenge.

2 Fallout: New Vegas

Test Your Patience In Post-Apocalypse Vegas, Baby!

In this game, set in the desolate and irradiated Mojave desert of the year 2281, the player goes on a mission seeking only one goal: vengeance. The character embarks on a journey to track down and confront their hidden adversary. Most games include fighting as a necessary step towards achieving revenge. However, for those players who prefer non-violent solutions, an alternative of pacifism is available.

In the games “The Outer Worlds” and “Fallout: New Vegas,” there is an option for a peaceful playstyle. These games provide this alternative and include a pacifist trait in their skill sets, enabling players to finish the storyline without causing harm. While this approach makes the game more difficult, as it necessitates using intelligence to converse, sneak, or evade perilous situations, a bit of added challenge can be enjoyable for many players.

1 Potion Craft

Ever Made Pretend Potions As A Kid?

In this title devoid of any hint of fighting, Potion Craft stands out as a role-playing game (predominantly point-and-click) with an engrossing narrative. Players are taken on a journey through a stunningly illustrated world teeming with distinct and captivating characters. Interaction with the game mechanics adds fun and excitement at every turn for those who spent their childhood creating potions in their backyard.

In this snug alchemist role-playing game, players aim to create potions for diverse clients, each with a unique affliction or predicament. Explore the narrative, encountering numerous new non-player characters, all while honing your alchemy abilities.

2024-07-20 13:34