Sometimes, you just want to explore and hang out instead of fight. Traditionally, most open-world games include quite a bit of combat. You can’t progress unless you embrace the sword (or gun). However, there is a growing number of rich exploration games without any fighting at all. These are typically about discovery and problem-solving, not fighting.
These titles invite players to explore huge landscapes, unraveling mysteries and interacting with the world without wielding a weapon. For those interested in vast adventures without the need to worry about combat, they can be an exciting experience.
Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is a relaxing adventure game set on the island of Gamea. You’ll explore eight distinct biomes, ranging from sunlit tropical beaches to hardly-passable mountains. Each one has tons of plants and animals, bringing the setting to life. Your goal is to dispel the darkness that has fallen over the island by seeking out Sprites.
The game emphasizes exploration and gives players a lot of different tasks to take part in. For instance, you can farm, fish, and craft on top of the suggested exploration. There is plenty to do and lots of beautiful landscapes to get lost in.
Flower lets you take flight, literally. You’ll take control of the wind in a vibrant, ever-changing world, where your primary job is to guide a cluster of petals through sprawling fields and dynamic landscapes. With each gust, you’ll turn barren vistas into lush, colorful meadows.
There is no combat and no conflict, only you, transforming the scenery and enjoying the music. It’s a meditative game that doesn’t require much thinking but is very easy to get sucked into.
A Short Hike is a charming exploration game where players guide Claire, a young bird, on her journey to the summit of Hawk Peak Provincial Park. The game is a relaxing experience without any combat or fast-paced mechanics. You’ll spend time exploring at your own pace as you make your way up the mountain, meeting fellow hikers along the way and potentially uncovering treasure.
This gentle game can be aptly described as “cozy.” It’s relatively short if you speed run through it, but it’s recommended to take your time and really take in your surroundings.
Eastshade is a peaceful, open-world exploration game where you’ll take on the role of a traveling painter. Your goal is to visit the island of Eastshade and capture its natural beauty on your canvas. It’s a game that emphasizes slowing down and taking in your surroundings. However, you’ll also spend quite a bit of timeinteracting with the island’s inhabitants, who will give you quests.
The narrative unfolds based on your choices. There is absolutely no combat involved. Instead, you’ll be able to explore the island at your own pace and get to know its peaceful world.
Outer Wilds is an open-world mystery about a solar system trapped in an endless time loop. You’ll spend your time exploring all the different plants, each with its own environment and secrets you need to uncover. You’re trying to uncover the cause of the time loop.
There are no enemies in the game. Instead, you’ll be focusing on exploration and curiosity to figure out what exactly is going on in this solar system. Outer Wilds is very innovative and offers players a unique experience, especially for those interested in a more peaceful experience.
At first glance, most notice the unique art style of Sable, which is inspired by French artist Moebius. You’ll play as Sable, who is a young girl embarking on a rite of passage called the Gliding. This rite involves tranversing the vast desert and exploring ancient ruins.
The game focuses on exploration, puzzle-solving, andnarrative, with no combat elements. It’s exceptionally peaceful and focused on atmospheric world-building. Many players describe it as a meditative and introspective experience.
Sky: Children of the Light is a social adventure game. It’s a multiplayer MMO that emphasizes community without any aggressive mechanics. Players are encouraged to assist each other as everyone explores seven different realms to uncover secrets and spread light. You’ll need to cooperate with other players to get the most out of the game.
The visuals are beautiful, and the soundtrack is very relaxing. It’s one of the few multiplayer games that doesn’t involvePvP combat. It’s great to play if you have gamer friends, but it’s completely accessible to those without friends, too. The game is designed to be peaceful and cooperative, even if you don’t know the other players.
The Witness is a first-personpuzzle gameset on a mysterious island full of puzzles. You’ll need to explore the island to uncover its secrets. With over 500 puzzles, this game is quite a bit longer than others on this list. The puzzles can be quite difficult, and some have very surprising outcomes!
The open-world design allows you to explore non-linearly. Instead of just doing the next thing, you’ll need to think critically about where to go next and what you want to explore.
