What are your favorite non-combat games?

[JustKneller]

I was reading Antimatter's recent post about top 100 games and it got me thinking of my list of top games and, more importantly, why they are my favorites. One thing I noticed was that none of my top games are there for the combat. It might be the story, other aspects of the gameplay loop, or just some innovative elements in the overall design. But, in all of these games, combat is just kind of a filler activity to connect the other dots. Usually, it's just a modicum of hand-eye coordination and some mouse clicking.

There are exceptions, of course. X-com is pure tactical combat. Some of the newer Zelda games require you study your opponents moves to find openings. But, for the most part, the model is pretty simple. In some cases, it's intentionally watered down into a participation trophy for the player.

In any event, since I find combat to be generally pedestrian, I thought I'd ask people what their favorite games are that don't have it. Honestly, I was having trouble coming up with much of anything. I liked Myst/Riven. Firewatch had a good story. I think I remember a scuba diving game on PS2 that was pretty good. But, yeah, I'm coming up pretty empty on this one.

Do you all have any favorites?

 

[m7600]

Subnautica, and its sequel, Subnautica: Below Zero.

Can't wait for the third part, hopefully it'll be published in 2025. Fingers crossed

 

[mlnevese]

Populous. I just loved the concept. I would love to see a decent remake of it.

 

[Antimatter]

Cocoon (my thoughts here)

Portal 1 & (especially) 2

Death Stranding (technically you can do combat there but I tried to minimize that)

Disco Elysium, of course

 

[O_Bruce]

I am wondering if either Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee or Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus counts. The goal ultimately is about saving your kin, but there is lots of death for your enemies in the meantime. From using the environment hazards to throwing grenades, possessing enemies, and using them in various ways (either to eliminate other enemies or solve puzzles). The thing is, in any open confrontation you are helpless and in almost all cases you die in one hit. Can a game like that be considered as one with combat in it, when you are incapable of any direct combat?

Also, can a game that has bosses be counted as non-combat game? Because if so, then Brothers: Tale of Two Sons can count.

 

[JustKneller]

Can a game like that be considered as one with combat in it, when you are incapable of any direct combat?

That's a good question. I think there's definitely a grey area for combat. Games without it have to rely on other game design elements. Games with it can often make it both banal and foundational to the gameplay loop. But, other games might have it, but it isn't central to the game. As I think about some of my top games, some of them have combat, but you can get a full experience without it. For example, I've done no-kill runs of Deus Ex and Thief: The Dark Project. The latter even requires pacifism on the hardest difficulty. Conversely, I've seen people do something similar with a game like Fallout 4. I wouldn't consider that fun. The game is essentially a looter-shooter so you're actually missing out on a ton of content as a pacifist.

Oddworld is a good example (and actually one of my uncle's favorite games, if not favorite). There's combat, but it's not mindless action. It's more narratively part of a larger puzzle. Maybe I need to refine my definition? That is games that may have combat, but it's not the primary method to drive the game forward and/or is not designed around just out-DPS-ing the opposition.

As for the other examples:

Subnautica, and its sequel, Subnautica: Below Zero.

I'm waiting for this to come to GoG and possibly have a sale. I've heard nothing but good things.

Cocoon (my thoughts here)

Portal 1 & (especially) 2

Death Stranding (technically you can do combat there but I tried to minimize that)

Disco Elysium, of course

For Cocoon,, $25 seems a little steep for such a short game. The Portal games are great. I've played both numerous times. I would say there is technically combat with the turrets and the final confrontation, but it's clearly done in a clever and compelling way. I just checked out Death Stranding on steam. That one will probably have to wait until I upgrade to a newer laptop.

Disco Elysium, I want to mention separately. It's on my GoG wishlist now. I have no doubt that I'd enjoy it. But, I noticed something odd when looking over reviews. A lot of good reviews, but when I see a bad review, it's detailing problems with what most are calling strong points (the story, the gameplay loop). It's weird. Normally, when I see crap reviews on a game that's generally praised, it's usually lacking detail or just not making sense. In any event, I'll still grab this one on a good sale just to check it out. I doubt I'll be disappointed.

 

[Skatan]

I used to play quite a lot of "tycoon" games when I was younger, but I have kinda fallen out of that. But I have fond memories of Railroad Tycoon, that hospital game which game now eludes me and also Sim City 2000. I tried the prison tycoon game that seems to be quite popular, that name now also eludes me, but never got into it.

Edit: And how could I forget, Pizza Tycoon of course! Had some bugged version so you could never win the pizza composition events, but I enjoyed sending guys to bomb the competitor and design ridiculous pizzas. I sucked at it though.

 

[m7600]

that hospital game which game now eludes me

Theme Hospital?

@Antimatter for a Planescape: Torment fan, what would you recommend that I play first, Torment: Tides of Numenera or Disco Elysium?

 

[Skatan]

Theme Hospital?

@Antimatter for a Planescape: Torment fan, what would you recommend that I play first, Torment: Tides of Numenera or Disco Elysium?

Indeed, that's the one! Great game. There was also one where you built a theme park, adequately called Theme Park, hah. Loads of fun! If i remember correctly, if you built the rollercoaster to crazy people could fly out of it while riding.

 

[Antimatter]

Theme Hospital?

@Antimatter for a Planescape: Torment fan, what would you recommend that I play first, Torment: Tides of Numenera or Disco Elysium?

Honestly, I didn't like Torment: Tides of Numenera, especially its writing. I think it felt forced and the game failed to capture me. Disco Elysium is one of my most fav games ever (you can tell by the avatar, loool). So it's not even a question (for me).

As for some reviews of Disco, I don't know. The game spoke to me on various levels. There were certain topics in that game that I don't remember other games ever touched upon. But you have to play a bit deep into the game to get there.

I enjoyed the characters in the game, the fact the main character is of the age he is, with all its problems, and also the atmosphere/vibe of the game world. It's a real SHAME we will get no sequel from the same people.

 

[WarChiefZeke]

There's a tiny little game called Beholder, where you play as a landlord who was given a job by the authoritarian government to spy on the tenets and report them, even for the most minor things. You can break and enter, plant false evidence and blackmail them, even sell out your own family! I thought that was particularly well done.

Other than that, Subnautica.

 

[JustKneller]

Subnautica, and its sequel, Subnautica: Below Zero.

Can't wait for the third part, hopefully it'll be published in 2025. Fingers crossed

So, I broke down and bought Subnautica in a steam sale. It's been on my wishlist forever. I'm hoping my laptop will run it. I think I'm on the low end for the requirements, at best.