Title: A curated non-violent games list | |
Author: Solène | |
Date: 18 October 2020 | |
Tags: gaming | |
Description: | |
For long time I wanted to share a list of non-violent games I enjoyed, | |
so here it is. Obviously, this list is FAR from being complete and | |
exhaustive. It contains games **I played** and that I liked. They | |
should all run on Linux and some on OpenBSD. | |
Aside this list, most tycoon and puzzle games should be non-violent. | |
## Automation / Building games | |
+ [Shapez.io](https://tobspr.itch.io/shapezio) | |
This game is like Factorio, you have to automate production lines | |
and increase the output of shapes/colors. Very time consuming. | |
The project is **Open source** but you need to buy the game if you | |
don't want to compile yourself. Or just use my compiled version | |
working in a web browser. | |
[Play shapez.io in web browser](https://perso.pw/shapez.io/) | |
+ [OpenTTD](https://www.openttd.org/) | |
A transport tycoon game, multiplayer possible! Very complex, | |
the community is active and you can find tons of mods. | |
The game is **Open source** and you can certainly install it | |
on any distribution with the package manager. | |
+ [Terra Nil - Reclaim the wasteland](https://vfqd.itch.io/terra-nil) | |
This game is about building equipment to restore the nature into | |
a wasteland, improve the biodiversity and then remove all your | |
structures. | |
The game is not open source but is free of charge. The music | |
seems to be under an open licence. | |
Still, you can pay what you want for it to support the developer. | |
+ [Everything is garbage](https://vfqd.itch.io/everything-is-garbage) | |
This is a short game about chaining producing buildings into another, | |
all from garbage up to some secret ending :) | |
The game is not open source but is free of charge. | |
## Sandbox / Adventure game | |
+ [Minetest](https://www.minetest.net/) | |
This game is a clone of Minecraft, it supports a lot of mods (which | |
can make the game very complex, like adding trains tracks with their | |
signals, the pinnacle of complexity :D). As far as I know, the game | |
now supports health but there are no fight involved. | |
The game is **Open source** and free of charge. | |
+ [Forest's Secret](https://bynine.itch.io/forestssecret) | |
This game is about exploration in a forest. It has a nice | |
music, gameplay is easy. | |
The game is not open source but it's free. | |
Still, you can pay what you want for it to support the developer. | |
## Action / reflex games | |
This category of games contains games that require | |
some reflexes or at least need to player to be | |
active to play. | |
+ [Xmoto](https://xmoto.tuxfamily.org/) | |
This game is about driving a 2D motocross and | |
pass through obstacles, it can be very hard | |
and will challenge you for long time. | |
it's **Open source** and free of charge. | |
+ [Frick. Inc](https://kenney.itch.io/frick-inc) | |
This is a fun game where you need to drive some big trucks only | |
**using a displayed control panel with your mouse** which make | |
things very hard. | |
The game is not open source and not free, but the cost isn't very | |
high (3.99€ at the moment from France). | |
+ [A short hike](https://adamgryu.itch.io/a-short-hike) | |
This game is about a teenager character who is on vacation in a | |
place with no cell network, and you will have to make a hike and | |
meet people to go to the end. Very relaxing :) | |
The game isn't open source and isn't free, but costs around 8€ at | |
the moment from France. | |
+ [Train valley](https://www.gog.com/game/Train_Valley) | |
This game is about adding trains to tracks and avoid them | |
to crash. I found this game to be more about reflexes than | |
building, simulation or tycoon. You mostly need to route | |
the trains in real time. | |
The game isn't open source and not free but costs around 10€. | |
+ [Celeste](https://mattmakesgames.itch.io/celeste) | |
This game is a 2D platform game with interesting gameplay mechanics, | |
it is surprisingly full of good ideas and a very nice music :) The | |
characters are very cute and the whole environment looking great. | |
The game isn't open source and not free. | |
## Simulation | |
+ [Euro Truck Simulator | |
2](https://store.steampowered.com/app/227300/Euro_Truck_Simulator_2/) | |
This game may not be liked by everyone, it consists at driving a | |
truck in Europe and pick up a cargo to deliver it someone else, | |
taking care of not hurting it and driving safely by respecting the | |
law. You can also buy garages and hire people to drive trucks for | |
you to make money. The game is relaxing and also pretty accurate | |
in the environment. I have been driving in many European countries | |
and this game really reflects country signs, cars, speed limits, | |
country side etc... Some cities received more work and you can see | |
monuments from the road. The game doesn't cost much and works on | |
Linux although it's not open source. | |
+ [Kerbal Space Program](https://www.gog.com/game/kerbal_space_program) | |
This game is hard and will require learning. The goal is to create | |
rockets to send astronauts in space, or even land on a planet or | |
an asteroid, and come back. Doing a whole trip like this requires | |
some knowledge about the game mechanics and physics. This game is | |
certainly not for everyone if you want to achieve something, I never | |
made better than just sending a rocket in space and let it crash | |
on the planet after lacking fuel or drifting in space forever... | |
The game works on Linux, requires an average computer and can be | |
obtained at a very fair price like 10€ when it's on sales (which | |
happens very often). Definitely a must to play if you like space. | |
## Puzzle games (Zachtronics games) | |
What's a Zachtronics game? It's a game edited by Zachtronics! Every | |
game from this studio have a common pattern. You solve puzzles with | |
more and more complexes systems, you can compare your result in | |
speed / efficiency / steps to the others player. They are a mix in | |
between automation and puzzles. Those games are really good. There | |
are more than the 3 games I list, but I didn't enjoy them all, | |
[check the full | |
list](https://www.gog.com/games?devpub=zachtronics&page=1&sort=populari | |
ty) | |
+ [Opus Magnum](https://www.gog.com/game/opus_magnum) | |
You play an alchemist who is asked to create product for a rich | |
family. You need to setup devices to transforms and combine | |
materials into the expected result. | |
The game isn't open source and isn't free. The average cost is 20€. | |
+ [Infinifactory](https://www.gog.com/game/infinifactory) | |
This game is in 3D, you receive materials on conveyor belts and you | |
will have to rotate and wield them to deliver the expect material. | |
The game isn't open source and isn't free. The average cost is 20€. | |
+ [Tis-100](https://www.gog.com/game/tis100) | |
This game is about writing code into assembly. There are calculations | |
units that will add/sub values from registers and pass it to another | |
unit. Even more fun if you print the old fashion instructions book! | |
The game isn't open source and isn't free. The average cost is 10€. | |
## Visual Novel | |
[The expression | |
Amrilato](https://www.gog.com/game/the_expression_amrilato) | |
This game is about a Japanese girl who ends in a parallel world where | |
everything seems similar but in this Japan, people talk Esperanto. | |
The game isn't open source and isn't free. The average cost is 20€. | |
## Not very violent | |
[Way of the Passive Fist](http://wayofthepassivefist.com/) | |
I would like to add this game to this list. It's a brawler (like | |
street of rage) in which you don't fight people, but you only dodge | |
attacks to exhaust enemies or counter-attack. It's still a bit | |
violent because it involves violence toward you, and throwing back | |
a knife would still be violent... But still, I think this is an | |
unique game that merits to be better known. :) | |
The game isn't open source and isn't free, expect around 15€ for | |
it. |