Serene games

[Black_Eagle]

After playing and beating Amnesia: The Dark Descent, I've been traumatized to the point that, for the time, I no longer wish to play action-packed, violent video games. What I want now is a nice, peaceful, serene game that can envelop me in wonder and whimsy. No violence. No killing. A good example of what I'm looking for is the Myst series. Does anybody have any suggestions? Also, Myst Online Uru Live is free-to-play. I highly recommend giving it a shot.

[tommo]

I don't think many full games involve no killing tbh. There are some pretty cool games which are really just chill out kind of things.... and this Apple - Downloads - Dashboard Widgets - Zen of Clover

[Taosaur]

Glitch is pretty non-violent, and fun for a while at least (though I've never found a MMO that kept my interest long). It's mostly exploring and crafting, and pretty much built around whimsy. My profile: Vudu | Glitch

[Supernova]

MINECRAFT!! Plenty of wonder and whimsy. Totally chill yet somehow very entertaining once you get the hang of it.

[Xei]

Space sims like Homeworld 2. Also the rather old game called Black & White is extremely relaxing (the option is there to throw people off cliff faces, but the whole point is that you can choose to be nice). In a decade or so when the technology is a lot more immersive (proper virtual reality), I think giant sandboxes will be pretty common. Imagine how awesome that'll be... being able to meet up with friends from all over the world, sitting inside giant plastic bubbles on a deep blue sea. Just cos you feel like it.

[tommo]

MINECRAFT!! Plenty of wonder and whimsy. Totally chill yet somehow very entertaining once you get the hang of it. I don't know about you, but I don't get very "chilled" when creepers sneak up behind me and blow me up! Oh yeah, second B&W.

[LonelyTurtle]

Viva Pinata is a very relaxing game, surprisingly good too. Also I might recommend heading over to Emuparadise - N64 Playstation Dreamcast SNES Genesis NES MAME ROMs ISOs and picking up a n64, gameboy, ds, ps1,2, gamecube, or xbox emulator and playing some games for a trip down memory lane?

[Supernova]

I don't know about you, but I don't get very "chilled" when creepers sneak up behind me and blow me up! Oh yeah, second B&W. Well, I guess you don't have to be a hardcore cave-explorer. And how about creative mode? Slash's server, too (assuming that's still up )

[Arra]

You've been traumatized by Amnesia? Maybe you should give other games a chance first, like Skyrim. The environments in that game and in Oblivion are beautiful and serene to walk through, although you have to kill things too. I don't know about you, but I don't get very "chilled" when creepers sneak up behind me and blow me up! Well the original poster could just disable monsters from spawning. I started doing that on my server a while ago and don't think I'll change it back. They didn't add much excitement for me and diminished the fun of exploring and building. Minecraft was the first thing that came to my mind in response to the OP. EDIT: Also, Tomb Raider games. There is so little fighting in most of those, and the fighting there is is so easy, it might as well count as none, and the environments are quite beautiful. It's mostly traveling and puzzle solving. I recommend Tomb Raider - Legend. And she's secksie! Example from one of my favorite levels. (Don't mean for the whole thing to be watched, just a minute or 2. Couldn't find a shorter video.)

[Supernova]

Well the original poster could just disable monsters from spawning. I started doing that on my server a while ago and don't think I'll change it back. They didn't add much excitement for me and diminished the fun of exploring and building. Minecraft was the first thing that came to my mind in response to the OP. Yes, forgot about 'peaceful' difficulty.

[tommo]

Well, I guess you don't have to be a hardcore cave-explorer. And how about creative mode? Slash's server, too (assuming that's still up ) hehe yeah I dunno, every time I check it it's down. Well the original poster could just disable monsters from spawning. I started doing that on my server a while ago and don't think I'll change it back. They didn't add much excitement for me and diminished the fun of exploring and building. I kind've like it. It's like you have to tough it out and survive through the night. Or just hide like a pussy.... Makes it more real in a way I think.

[Xei]

Good shout with the Tomb Raiders, the first couple of games had an amazing sense of ambience.

[Spartiate]

X3:Reunion or the sequel X3:Terran Conflict. A new one is coming out soon called "X:Rebirth" or something. Spoiler for Screenies: Spoiler for Music: Freelancer is another really good one.

[Supernova]

X3:Reunion or the sequel X3:Terran Conflict. A new one is coming out soon called "X:Rebirth" or something. Spoiler for Screenies: Spoiler for Music: Freelancer is another really good one. Been looking up X3 and I have to say, that looks friggin' awesome

[Spartiate]

Been looking up X3 and I have to say, that looks friggin' awesome X3 is really open-ended and takes a bit of imagination to enjoy properly, there's never anybody holding your hand or pushing you in a specific direction (except during the rather lame, optional story line). The graphics are pretty damn good for their age (2005 for Reunion and 2008 for Terran Conflict I believe) and the soundtrack is one of the best I've come across. The X-series also has a very active moding community. I think it's the best space-sim available right now, can't wait for Rebirth...

[Black_Eagle]

Some interesting suggestions. I've played most of these games, and all of them are fantastic. I have not every played a Tomb Raider game, but I've heard good things. @Xei: I totally forgot about the Black and White games. I really loved the first one, but I never finished it due to the fact that it was fatally flawed. The Homeworld games are also pretty good, but I'll be damned if those games aren't stressful. The first one probably frustrated me the most out of any game I've played in a long time. Salvaging as a core gameplay mechanic? What the fuck. X3 is really open-ended and takes a bit of imagination to enjoy properly, there's never anybody holding your hand or pushing you in a specific direction (except during the rather lame, optional story line). The graphics are pretty damn good for their age (2005 for Reunion and 2008 for Terran Conflict I believe) and the soundtrack is one of the best I've come across. The X-series also has a very active moding community. I think it's the best space-sim available right now, can't wait for Rebirth... I actually purchased all of the X games in a steam deal. Fifteen minutes into X3 and I thought to myself, "Oh my god I just wasted ten dollars." But I've been hearing from multiple sources that it's a game you have to play for a little bit to really get into. It's still installed on my computer, so I guess I'll give it another shot. Also, for anybody who's interested, I just learned of what looks like an incredibly interesting strategy game. It's called Anno 2070 and was released yesterday. It's a game where you build a futuristic society on an island with the goal of bringing your metropolis prosperity. It's gotten universal acclaim so far. Somebody should buy it and tell me how it is. Is anybody else getting tired of mainstream games like I am? Does anybody else feel a desire for games that are more about intrigue and style rather than blood and action?

[tommo]

@Xei: I totally forgot about the Black and White games. I really loved the first one, but I never finished it due to the fact that it was fatally flawed. I also forgot about it until Xei mentioned it too. And now I also remember the reason I stopped playing was I restarted it over 3 fucking times because my saved games got deleted for no reason. (Well, at least no fault on my part). Also, for anybody who's interested, I just learned of what looks like an incredibly interesting strategy game. It's called Anno 2070 and was released yesterday. It's a game where you build a futuristic society on an island with the goal of bringing your metropolis prosperity. It's gotten universal acclaim so far. Somebody should buy it and tell me how it is. After buying Dead Island.... I actually purchased all of the X games in a steam deal. Fifteen minutes into X3 and I thought to myself, "Oh my god I just wasted ten dollars." .... and doing exactly this haha I'm waiting for many reviews and personal recommendations before buying any more games lol Is anybody else getting tired of mainstream games like I am? Does anybody else feel a desire for games that are more about intrigue and style rather than blood and action? Depends. I like Assassins Creed, one of the best series for a long time. I also liked the first Crysis, second one was fucking horrible tbh. Both Bioshock's were good too. But yeah, mostly mainstream games suck. I barely buy games anymore, and my last couple of purchases just put me off buying on a whim completely. Oh and Dragon Age: Origins was also good, considering I don't even like RPG's that much. So like, 4 games out of 50 or so that I have that I've liked in the past 5 years lol

[Spartiate]

Also, for anybody who's interested, I just learned of what looks like an incredibly interesting strategy game. It's called Anno 2070 and was released yesterday. It's a game where you build a futuristic society on an island with the goal of bringing your metropolis prosperity. It's gotten universal acclaim so far. Somebody should buy it and tell me how it is. I have Anno 1404 which is pretty good. It's kind of Sim City-ish with lots of resource management, a basic combat system and a single player campaign.

[Supernova]

I just went into a game stop looking for the orange box, and lacking that, bought Amnesia: The Dark Descent on a whim :/ It's installing now.

[ThePreserver]

For lower violence, nothing beats good oldies like Civilization or Sim City, or even city-building games like Pharaoh or Caesar. I still play those from time to time when I'm bored! Also, puzzle games. Keep you thinking but don't murder you.

[Arra]

I completely forgot about games like that. Caesar is fun, so is Roller Coaster Tycoon 3. It's rare but every so often I get the craving to play something like that. Also, a few days ago I bought and have been playing Tomb Raider - Anniversary. I never played TR1 so it's new to me. I love Steam, I rarely bought games before getting it because I'd have to go to stores. I might as well just get Legend again too. I had it when GameTap was providing it for free, but that's over. It's only like $10. Something I loved doing years ago was playing some of the early Tomb Raider games while listening to music, after I had already beaten them once and knew what to do. I actually started doing that with Anniversary a couple nights ago, but it's kind of difficult since I don't know what's going to happen and might need the audio.

[ThePreserver]

I completely forgot about games like that. Caesar is fun, so is Roller Coaster Tycoon 3. HOW DID I FORGET ABOUT ROLLER COASTER TYCOON?! All three are awesome games... and definitely peaceful (unless you like to build rollercoasters that fly off of the track and explode... but that doesn't happen much.) Oh, such a good game when I have that craving.