A guide to nonviolent video games

Non-violent video games are proving popular as an antidote to world events. Here are options.

Transport Fever, one of many popular non-violent video games.

News headlines at the moment are, unsurprisingly, dominated by the war in Ukraine and the flood disasters in NSW and Queensland. That’s not to mention soaring petrol prices, the skyrocketing cost of living, and the outrage du jour on your favourite social media platform.

Video games have long been an escape from everyday life for millions of people, and that is even more true today, as countless gamers look for some respite from it all, with nonviolent games proving particularly popular as an antidote to world event exposure.

With that in mind, here are some suggestions for games which do not involve violence or killing, opting instead to provide a rewarding and peace-embracing – but definitely far from dull – experience instead.

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Wylde Flowers (Studio Drydock; iOS)

Wylde Flowers

This “Cozy magical life simulator” from Melbourne-based Studio Drydock is a charming, delightful adventure about a young woman named Tara Wylde who moves to the island of Fairhaven to look after her sick grandmother. It turns out Tara and her grandmother are witches, and Tara soon gets caught up in the various events in town, as well as managing a farm in the process. It’s a wonderful game with incredible voice acting and pleasant, warm vibes throughout. It’s also surprisingly long and involved, with more than 50 hours of gameplay, complemented by an engaging story too.

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Gran Turismo 7 (Polyphony; PlayStation)

Gran Turismo 7

If you are really into cars, and have a PlayStation 5, then you’ll want to climb into the driver’s seat of Gran Turismo 7. A detailed racing game and love-letter to all things car related, the game looks incredible and is sure to keep even the most ardent car enthusiast occupied. The game takes full advantage of the console’s capabilities to offer a top-rate virtual driving experience, both in single-player and multiplayer modes, although the lead time between beginning the game and getting to drive the cars you want, not to mention having to pass ‘licence tests’ to unlock certain tracks, does gear it more towards enthusiasts than casual gamers.

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Microsoft Flight Simulator (Microsoft; Xbox/PC)

Microsoft Flight Simulator

There aren’t many games which can boast the entire world as the playground, but Microsoft Flight Simulator absolutely can. You take to the skies in a photorealistic world in a range of aircraft, from biplanes through to modern jetliners. You can explore the world at your own pace, going anywhere you like, flight seeing some of the natural (and man-made) wonders of the world, and set the difficulty to be as realistic as you like too. Even better, it recently received a significant Australia update, adding high-definition landmarks and airports to visit.

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Forza Horizon 5 (Microsoft; Xbox/PC)

Forza Horizon 5

Where Gran Turismo 7 is the serious enthusiast car-racing game, Forza Horizon 5 is about having a good time in cars, in this case, with a fun-filled Mexican backdrop. It’s 100 per cent fun with cars, whether you’re rally driving, going on a jungle adventure or powersliding through city streets. Regardless of your level of car enthusiasm, it offers an accessible automotive adventure with a mind-boggling garage of cars, along with multiplayer races and events.

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Cities: Skylines (Colossal Order; PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch)

Cities Skylines

Quite possibly the ultimate city-building simulator, Cities: Skylines follows in the tradition of the SimCity games and puts you in charge of constructing an entire city. From laying out roads and water pipes to organising public transport, building hospitals and zoning areas, it’s incredibly detailed and immensely rewarding, with almost limitless potential for the urban planner in you.

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Transport Fever 2 (Urban Games; PC/Mac)

Transport Fever

If you’ve been stuck on a train or bus thinking you could do better at managing your city’s transport infrastructure, this is definitely the game for you. The sandbox game covers trains, vehicles, aeroplanes and ships from the 19th to 21st centuries. You can recreate pretty much any time period you like, from the golden age of steam trains to modern commuter rail systems and more. Think of it as a detailed virtual model train set, that also includes buses, trams, and aircraft. This game can keep you entertained for a long time.

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Moving Out (SMG; PC/Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch)

Moving Out

Moving house can be one of the most stressful activities you can undertake in real life. However, the game Moving Out turns it into a fun, retro-90s co-op game where you and up to three friends try and get all the furniture out of a client’s house and into a truck. Anything goes when it comes to how you accomplish it. You can throw sofas out the window, drag TVs though bushes, or play catch with lamps. It’s a lot of fun for gamers young and old, as well as something you can play as a family.

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Planet Coaster (Frontier; PC/Mac, Xbox, PlayStation)

Planet Coaster

Everyone loves going to theme parks, and Planet Coaster lets you go even further: building and managing theme parks. Whether it’s designing and constructing roller coasters, making sure the theme for an area is just right, deciding which souvenirs will be in the gift shop, or creating the ultimate family day out, Planet Coaster has a lot to offer, especially if you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at being a roller coaster designer.

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Riders Republic (Ubisoft; PC, PlayStation, Xbox)

Riders Republic

Not all adrenaline rushes come from shooting things or making them explode, and for those wanting an Extreme Sports experience on their gaming system, Rider’s Republic is just the ticket. Whether it’s snowboarding, mountain bike racing, wingsuit flying, parapenting, or pulling off insane stunts in an open world, there’s plenty to do here. If you want some company, the game has a multiplayer component involving events with more than 50 players.

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Mini Metro (Dinosaur Polo Club; iOS, Android, PC, Mac, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch)

Non violent video games by Royce Wilson

This deceptively simple game involves connecting different stations on a stylised public transport map. It manages to be calming and challenging at the same time, especially as new stations need to be added to the network, travel times get longer, and suddenly different passenger types plan to go to different stations. The geography of each level is based on real cities, including Melbourne.