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A curated non-violent games list

Comment on Mastodon

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

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=popularity)

+ [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.