The best MMOs that don't require combat

Summary

  • Star Stable: Collect horses, customize avatars and explore an open world without combat.
  • A Tale in the Desert: Build a utopian society through resource management and crafting in Ancient Egypt.
  • Palia: Enjoy a comfortable open world adventure with no combat, a great story and an active community.



MMOs can be intimidating spaces for new players to enter. When combat comes into the equation, this can increase the pressure even more: who hasn't seen clips of crazy overreactions to missed hits or insufficient healing? Some gamers are looking for social experiences that focus on something other than killing bad guys – after all, video games provide escapism. Sometimes people are looking for a quiet place to escape to.

4:00 am

Related

26 of the best co-op simulation games, ranked

Even though simulation games tend to emulate real-life experiences, they can be fun to play, especially those with a co-op mode.

A lot of single player games cater to this audience. The rise of the farming simulator as a result of the popularity of the indie RPG Stardew Valley is a significant part of the gaming market these days. What's rarer is a non-combat game with online social capabilities: combat-based games have dominated the MMO scene for years. However, there are a few titles that pioneer the cozy, non-combat genre.


5 Star Stable

Girls of Horses Rejoice


  • release date: September 25, 2011
  • platform: PC, Mobile
  • Developer: Star Stable Entertainment AB
  • Collect horses
  • Customize a rider
  • Open world

Collect horses and race, go on quests and dress them up with adorable horse accessories in this horse game of 2011. There is no fighting in Star Stable: the only friendly competition on the magical island of Jorvik. There are tons of customization options for both player avatars and their hooks, with regular updates every month.

Related

All horse-based Pokemon

Despite the fact that there are more than a thousand different species of Pokemon, some may be surprised to learn that there are only eleven horse-based ones.

This game uses a subscription service, but allows players to test the waters in a small trial area. There are also a lot of items that can be purchased with real currency. Either way, this is the premier horse girl game available (other than Red Dead Redemption 2of course) and will not require weapons or fists.

4 A story in the desert

Live an ordinary life in Ancient Egypt


  • release date: February 15, 2003
  • platform: PC
  • Developer: Desert Nomad Studios
  • Resource management
  • Crafts
  • 2003 graphics

While the graphics are rather clunky, this animal farming, crafting, and tech-advancing MMO has a lot of heart. Players can choose a faction and work with their community to build a utopian society. This game focuses on long-term progress and teamwork and takes place over an 18-month cycle. The closest thing players will experience is a card game called “Rite of Command” that determines discipline.

This game has fishing, bug breeding, fireworks, and a setting that gives players a lot of insight into the history and people of ancient Egypt. There's a reason why it has maintained an active player base since its release in 2003.

3 Fae Farm

Fairy friends


Sistema

8-bit super grayscale logo PC-1

ISSUED
September 8, 2023

Multiplayer
Online multiplayer

OpenCritic rating
Strong

Developer(s)
Phoenix Labs

  • Avoidable fight
  • Agriculture
  • Build and customize a household

As if Stardew Valley it was an MMO, Fae Farm has much more to offer than combat. The art style and world design is so beautiful and the community is alive and well. Although players can choose to enter dungeons, they can be avoided with invisibility potions.

Related

7 Cozy post-apocalyptic games

Post-apocalyptic doesn't have to be bleak and dark, and here are some great examples of games that have pulled it off.

Farm, catch bugs and go fishing instead of fighting monsters – there's a lot to do in this game that doesn't require a gun. Plus, this game is available as a one-time purchase, so there's no chance of surprise fees or forgetting a subscription.

2 pale

A comfortable open world adventure

Sistema

8-bit super grayscale logo PC-1

Multiplayer
Online cooperation

ISSUED
August 10, 2023

Developer(s)
Singularity 6, Inc.

  • Active community
  • Great story and NPCs
  • Low barrier to entry


pale revolutionized the MMO formula by including robust RPG and simulation gameplay elements. Players can find romance, customize their terrain, craft, fish, hunt and catch bugs in a beautiful (and just a little buggy) open world setting. There is no struggle; instead, players progress through the story by solving puzzles and collecting resources.

This game does a great job of making sure players interact with each other as well – certain resources require more than one player to acquire. This online community is extremely active, so help is never hard to find.

1 Heaven: Children of Light

Beautiful puzzles as far as the eye can see

From the makers of Travel, this beautiful and award-winning multiplayer puzzle game is the ultimate relaxing experience without the combat. Explore an open world with smooth animation and peaceful sound design to solve puzzles with friends. Players can customize their avatar, participate in seasonal activities, listen to music, and glide gracefully through seven kingdoms of content.


Heaven: Children of Light it also has a unique approach to character interactions – players only communicate through gestures (and so there's no verbal combat to fear from this game). This leads to player interactions that require creative interpretation and problem solving, which only adds to the fun of the puzzle game.

2:26 a.m

More

6 Best Games for Stress Relief

Discover the best stress relief games that help you relax and unwind by offering soothing gameplay, soothing visuals and immersive experiences.

Leave a Comment