Not every RPG player loves combat,and luckily for them, there are a plethora of games on the market for them to try out. Farming sims, puzzle games, open world, horror titles, you name it, there’s an RPG out there perfect for any player. Video games are a hobby that should be enjoyed, not rage-fueled and insanely difficult.
For the player who wants a (relatively) low-stress playthrough where they don’t have to worry about balancingarmor, weapons, and techniques,taking a break from combat-heavy titles can be like a breath of fresh air. FromStardew ValleytoOneShot,here are 10 RPGs that players are able to beat without the stress of intense combat.
This one has a little bit of combat, but players aren’t required to actually kill anyone, therefore meaning that it has an optional - yet challenging - pacifist option, much likeUndertale.Playin a retrofuturistic versionof the United Kingdom; one where everyone is out of their mind on a new antidepressant drug called Joy. Those who choose not to take it are cast out of society and labeled as Downers, and if enemies catch wind of the Joy-less player, they’re sure to get aggressive.
Though this game isn’t outwardly labeled as an RPG, it is very heavy on elements from the genre such as questing, skill trees, storylines, etcetera. to complete a pacifist run, players must get clever in order to avoid having a scrap with the local townsfolk, a run-in with a Bobby, or heavens forbid, a Doctor. InWe Happy Few,players either have to play pretend, dash around corners, or take their Joy, lest they are caught and forced to take it.
This cozy little farming sim doesn’t ever force players into taking on enemies, and they’re super easy to avoid since they’re confined to a single area in the game’s world. Though some items may be unobtainable if the player chooses to avoid the mine for their entire playthrough,Stardew Valleycould technically be beaten without ever picking up a weapon. Players can still finish the gamewith 100% completion,though it does present a considerable challenge.
If players wish to, they are able to simply go about their business andtend to their farmas they see fit, never being forced into anything or made to fight. As long as the mine is avoided, there should be absolutely no enemies out to attack the player. Though several rewards and interactions will be missed, it is still possible to complete the game without facing combat.
InSky,players are thrust into abeautifully simplistic MMOworld full of color, magic, and light. The majority of the game is peaceful and focused on puzzle-solving and exploration, but towards the end, players will encounter enemies. Though players won’t have to face them in battle, they must sneak around them and avoid their dangerous gaze.
Oftentimes, new players will encounter veteran players who will generously offer to help them and guide them through tougher areas. Newbies are even encouraged to call on guide players, as they are given an option in the menu to request help from one if they are finding the game difficult to play on their own. With a friendly community and a huge, breathtaking world for players to fly through,Sky: Children Of The Lightcould be one of the best MMO titles out there today. Oh, and no need to worry about the cost, becauseSkyis completely free!
This one may have difficult combat elements, but they are technically avoidable depending on which story route the player decides to take. Though dodging all enemies’ attacks can be hard, thegame’s rich storylinecertainly makes up for the difficulty of the pacifist route. Players are able to meet a wide variety of characters, each with their own unique quirks, flaws, and designs; all of them memorable, all of them with multiple layers to their personalities.
InUndertale,players are given the choice to kill or spare every single enemy they encounter, meaning that players have the option to never raise a hand against their enemies. The “bullet hell” style ofUndertale’senemy encounters can be off-putting to some players, but others enjoy the difficulty and challenge level presented by this game.
InOneShot,the player controls a character named Niko, who finds an oddly large light bulb in a completely unfamiliar place. Players discover early on that this is not any ordinary light bulb, but it is the dying sun of an entire civilization. It is the player’s job to help Niko return the sun to its rightful place, but it is important to note that this is a game where decisions matter.
Every action the player takes could potentially have consequences. As the game’s title implies, players only have one shot at fixing things; one single chance to reverse disaster. The mission that the game’s plot sends the player on may even be impossible depending on the routes the player chooses.OneShotis a fun, pixelated, top-downpuzzle/adventure RPGwith absolutely zero combat, and a riveting storyline to bind it all together.
5SCP: Containment Breach (Early Access Demo)
You’re Helpless Against Them
Run. Hide. Escape. But for the love of all that is holy,do not try to fight.SCP: Containment Breachplaces players in a terrifying scenario in which they are trapped in a government facility designed to control and imprison terrifying entities with abilities that are beyond the scope of human imagination.And these monsters?They’vebreached containment,and they’re out for the blood of their captors.
In this horror RPG, players are forced into a situation in which they have no means of defending themselves and can only run and hide from the threats lurking around every dark corner of the facility. Uncover the dark mysteries kept under lock and key by the SCP foundation, all while avoiding and learning about the eerie entities hunting them down. Players are able to access this game 100% free of charge; both the original and the remastered edition.
InDisco Elysium,players don’t have to face down any intimidating enemies and crush them in combat, but they are required to play through this amazing game’s storyline and unravel the mysteries laid out before them. However, the game doesn’t make it that easy for players, as the character they control has amnesia…so good luck.
Disco Elysiumdoesn’t even feature a combat system in the entire game. Players are encouraged to explore the world around them as theyuncover clues and solve mysteries,and it even offers a considerable amount of replayability value by including multiple endings depending on the choices made by the player. Overall,Disco Elysiumis perfect for gamers who enjoy mysterious storylines while avoiding the stress of combat.
The Outer Worldsplaces players in a world that’s fairly similar in nature toFallout.Experience an alien planet through the eyes of a character who was launched into space while in cryo. Of course, combat is present in this game, but it also rewards players - in a very similar fashion toUndertale- for choosing a pacifist route.
Guns and various other weapons are readily available all over the game’s world, but it should be noted that encounters can very easily be handled with a bit of tact, stealth, or charisma. Of course, the game is much easier if the player just resorts to simple violence, but where’s the fun in that? For players who have never attempted it before, they shouldtry a pacifist runforThe Outer Worlds.
For this game, the player travels across the nuke-scorched, barren Mojave desert in the year 2281 in search of nothing but one thing: revenge. Players are set on a quest to hunt down and demand satisfaction upon their mysterious assailant, though most games require the player to engage in combat in order to do so. Luckily, for the player who would rather not get blood on their hands, pacifism is an option!
LikeThe Outer Worlds,Fallout: New Vegassupports a pacifist build (and even offers a pacifist perk in the skill tree), allowing players to complete the game’s story without shedding a drop of blood. Of course, this means that the game will be challenging and will require players to use their intellect totalk, sneak, and escapefrom dangerous situations, but who doesn’t enjoy just a touch of challenge every now and again?
Without even an inkling of combat anywhere in this title,Potion Craftis a story-driven(mostly point-and-click) RPG that leads players through a beautiful, hand-drawn world full of unique and interesting characters, working with fun, interactive mechanics the entire way through. For gamers who played pretend and made “potions” in their backyard as kids, this game is just about as perfect as it can get.
In this cozy little alchemist simulator, it is the players' goal to brew potions for various patrons, each designed to cure a specific ailment or solve a problem that they may have. Journey through the game’s story, meeting tons of new NPC characters along the way, all while practicing and improving the player character’s alchemy skills.
