Subnautica is fantastic. A very nice mysterious story and amazing atmosphere. I think you might be able to kill the sea creatures, but I didn't as it is really not the point. If you don't have Thalassophobia yet, you will by the end!
Ask HN: Non-violent video games with great stories?
291–300 of 452 posts
Re: Ask HN: Non-violent video games with great stories?
#292Earlier quoted context omitted.
Or alternatively, they might play it and become super interested in programming / logic / automation.
Rocky's Boots was aimed at young children, many of whom did grow up and do just that.
One of the best programmers I know grew up on Rocky's Boots.
IA has a playable version [0].
[0] https://archive.org/details/Rockys_Boots_1982_Learning_Compa...
Re: Ask HN: Non-violent video games with great stories?
#293If you deem beating up three bosses and the occasional exploding snail still tolerable, I'd like to nominate Yoku's Island Express :)
Re: Ask HN: Non-violent video games with great stories?
#294Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't think The Witness is pretentious. Pretentious means "attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed", but The Witness really is as deep and meaningful as it acts like it is if one bothers to be open to all it is saying in all of the ways it is saying it. > except one.... you know which one it is jblow I found several to be un-fun, but yes, that's part…
What would suck is a 1hr long puzzle forcing you to listen to a lecture and if you misclick at any point being forced to restart the whole hour Yes, truly that WOULD suck
Yes, exactly. Hmm... maybe, and hear me out here, just maybe there isn't a lot of value in completionism for completionism's sake?
Re: Ask HN: Non-violent video games with great stories?
#295Maybe not the greatest story but definitely one of the loveliest games I've played was A Short Hike. It is a kinda short (~5-6h) feel good game in which you more or less just have to explore a holiday island and meet different other Animals The developer held a talk on the GDC how he made the game: https://youtu.be/ZW8gWgpptI8
It's on sale right now at GOG.
Re: Ask HN: Non-violent video games with great stories?
#296Turing Test isn't necessarily a great story, but is interesting to play.
The Trine games are pretty fun if you like platformers.
Get Packed is a hilariously fun couch coop.
Sorry if I'm not specifically hitting the nail on the head, every game I can think of with an awesome story has some amount of violence in it.
Re: Ask HN: Non-violent video games with great stories?
#297I really liked the story of Celeste, not super deep but the gameplay is super smooth, and the art is gorgeous. It has the perfect balance of being difficult but not difficult enough to get mad at (except a few levels...).
Re: Ask HN: Non-violent video games with great stories?
#298Kentucky Route Zero is beautiful, weird, and more or less non-violent. However, its themes may be too mature for your kids, depending on their ages.
Pop Culture Happy Hour from NPR has done a couple video game recommendation episodes. I bet you'll find some suitable recommendations from them:
https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1068592935
https://www.npr.org/2021/05/11/995825684/three-of-our-favori...
Re: Ask HN: Non-violent video games with great stories?
#299Single player games fun to play around tv / switch controls : Firewatch - about 6 to 10 hours narrative walking exploring adventure with beautiful scenery. Teens and up probably. Outer wilds : astonishing space exploration game. So many mysteries and puzzles and wonders and connections to be made. Cannot recommend highly enough. Tale of two brothers. There's sadness in this game but handled very well. If you're ready…
That list above is what I was mainly thinking of. Here's a few more with great storytelling, done in various ways (sometimes non obvious but they all have a story to tell that kept me hooked)
I don't recall any physical violence in the following games, although psychological violence can be very personal and some may run you in a mood or facing events that can be unsettling at times. Some of these have neither.
Gone Home
The Swapper
Fez
Day Of The Tentacle
VVVVVV
You Have To Win The Game
Braid
Shelter 1 & 2
Her Story
Portal 1 & 2
Thomas Was Alone
One Night Stand
The Stanley Parable
Antichamber
Carto
RiME
Oxenfree
Never Alone
Life Is Strange
Mirror's Edge has punching but you don't kill anyone and you can avoid most encounters, with parkour style. Definitely not COD.
Limbo and Inside have gore but clearly not the COD one.
While enemies have guns and the setting may subscribe to "war-like", I seem to recall you can also complete Deus Ex Human Revolution Director's Cut without lethal action (in the original non DC bosses have to be killed) which is rewarded with an achievement at the end of the game.
Heavy Rain is also a great game with original mechanics. Don't attempt to play with PS Move, use a controller.
Some of these are good for kids, some aren't, depends on kid age and how you want to raise them!
Re: Ask HN: Non-violent video games with great stories?
#300I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Lego games, Harry Potter and Marvel variations are a lot of fun
The Lego games humor is surprisingly good, and they’re quite forgiving to playing with children.
It's cartoon violence, but the gameboy ones I played had plenty of violence.
Vader can force choke other minifigs to death.