Not too violent two player games for Mac or iPhone
June 29, 2022 1:05 PM Subscribe
Looking for non-violent (Minecraft level is fine) video games that are either collaborative or competitive that I (parent) can play with my teenager. Could be realistic graphics, or could be abstract shapes-- I'm open to anything as long as we can play it actively together. We both have Mac laptops and iPhones so either would work.
Recently found "A Short Hike" which has a great vibe but is only single player. We've also played Minecraft (of course) and Stardew.
Recently found "A Short Hike" which has a great vibe but is only single player. We've also played Minecraft (of course) and Stardew.
Two Spies is a great little game for two people using two iPhones. You can play it sitting next to each other, or through the day, because it's turn-based. It's different than the aesthetic of the other games you've mentioned, but I've found a wide variety of people to enjoy it, so am mentioning it.
posted by michaelh at 1:27 PM on June 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by michaelh at 1:27 PM on June 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
On the laptop side,
some options that are violent in the "swing a sword, enemy takes damage" sense but not the "swing a sword, blood appears on screen" sense (which is I think what minecraft level is?):
Wildermyth
Gloomhaven
some deckbuilding card games:
Dominion (which is also free!*)
Wingspan
Finally, if you liked Minecraft, you may enjoy its estranged 2D half-sibling, Terraria.
* There's also a web client available at https://dominion.games/. Basically, you can buy DLC (the electronic versions of the physical game's expansions) to keep via Steam, or rent them on a subscriber model via the web client. The subscription prices are pretty cheap IIRC, so unless you plan on playing for years or see a decent Steam sale, I feel like that's the way to go.
posted by the tartare yolk at 1:31 PM on June 29, 2022
some options that are violent in the "swing a sword, enemy takes damage" sense but not the "swing a sword, blood appears on screen" sense (which is I think what minecraft level is?):
Wildermyth
Gloomhaven
some deckbuilding card games:
Dominion (which is also free!*)
Wingspan
Finally, if you liked Minecraft, you may enjoy its estranged 2D half-sibling, Terraria.
* There's also a web client available at https://dominion.games/. Basically, you can buy DLC (the electronic versions of the physical game's expansions) to keep via Steam, or rent them on a subscriber model via the web client. The subscription prices are pretty cheap IIRC, so unless you plan on playing for years or see a decent Steam sale, I feel like that's the way to go.
posted by the tartare yolk at 1:31 PM on June 29, 2022
Response by poster: Yes, to be clear: I'm looking for games to play side by side at the same time.
posted by O Time, Thy Pyramids at 1:34 PM on June 29, 2022
posted by O Time, Thy Pyramids at 1:34 PM on June 29, 2022
Torchlight 2. It's an older game but a nice and chillaxed take on the ARPG genre. Your characters even have pets that carry your loot for you and will go back to sell your gear and buy potions and scrolls in town while you continue to battle in the dungeons. The graphics are cartoony and handpainted, so they've aged pretty well. Developed by a now-defunct studio that fractured from Blizzard after making Diablos I & II.
posted by MagnificentVacuum at 1:57 PM on June 29, 2022
posted by MagnificentVacuum at 1:57 PM on June 29, 2022
Portal 2 is currently on sale at Steam, and has a co-op mode. You can also play the singleplayer campaign by alternating puzzles, so you may as well buy Portal 1 also. They both run on Mac, and are not graphically intensive so should be able to run on almost all of them.
posted by meowzilla at 2:24 PM on June 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by meowzilla at 2:24 PM on June 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
It's better for multiple players because it's more insane, but still fun for two - SPACETEAM
Note: this is not remotely violent but it's not mellow - to play it right it involves a lot of (silly) yelling.
posted by Mchelly at 2:27 PM on June 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Note: this is not remotely violent but it's not mellow - to play it right it involves a lot of (silly) yelling.
posted by Mchelly at 2:27 PM on June 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
+1 for both Terraria and Portal 2, and yes, both will run on older Macs, if that is a concern. Terraria in particular still has a vibrant community, although content updates for it are basically done. Terraria have an iPhone app but honestly I don't think you'll have a very good time with it on there.
SPACETEAM was fun although we didn't end up playing it for very long.
I really like Unrailed, and it's actually on sale right now. You run around mining trees and rocks to build rails to extend your rail line before your train derails. Along the way you purchase additional cars that make things easier (like additional storage, a light that's useful at night, and auto-pickup cars).
Factorio is a game I've spent hundreds of hours playing with my husband. You crash land on a planet and have to build everything, starting from basically nothing, to eventually launch a rocket. You can play with or without enemy bugs that are drawn to the pollution you cause from your factories and power plants.
Mindustry is kind of a cross between Factorio and a tower defense game. It's on Steam or you can get a free version that has multiplayer but is more cumbersome to set up.
Creativerse is most closely related to Minecraft--voxel-based building and cartoony violence. You can get blueprints in game or from Steam Workshop to help you build very complicated buildings and locations, or do it all yourself. There is a fairly large amount of pay-for additional content available (new block types and so on), although there is a fair amount of that in Minecraft these days, too.
posted by tubedogg at 2:46 PM on June 29, 2022
SPACETEAM was fun although we didn't end up playing it for very long.
I really like Unrailed, and it's actually on sale right now. You run around mining trees and rocks to build rails to extend your rail line before your train derails. Along the way you purchase additional cars that make things easier (like additional storage, a light that's useful at night, and auto-pickup cars).
Factorio is a game I've spent hundreds of hours playing with my husband. You crash land on a planet and have to build everything, starting from basically nothing, to eventually launch a rocket. You can play with or without enemy bugs that are drawn to the pollution you cause from your factories and power plants.
Mindustry is kind of a cross between Factorio and a tower defense game. It's on Steam or you can get a free version that has multiplayer but is more cumbersome to set up.
Creativerse is most closely related to Minecraft--voxel-based building and cartoony violence. You can get blueprints in game or from Steam Workshop to help you build very complicated buildings and locations, or do it all yourself. There is a fairly large amount of pay-for additional content available (new block types and so on), although there is a fair amount of that in Minecraft these days, too.
posted by tubedogg at 2:46 PM on June 29, 2022
I love Polytopia - perfect for very short turn based phone gaming. I got too good though and now my partner don't play with me lol.
posted by socky_puppy at 3:15 PM on June 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by socky_puppy at 3:15 PM on June 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Untitled Goose Game is delightfully silly and has a co-op mode. If you want to play on separate Macs, I think you'll need to buy it on Steam and use the "Remote Play Together" function on that platform; check the FAQ on the above site.
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:42 AM on June 30, 2022
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:42 AM on June 30, 2022
Cuphead- "Cuphead is a classic run and gun action game heavily focused on boss battles. Inspired by cartoons of the 1930s, the visuals and audio are painstakingly created with the same techniques of the era, i.e. traditional hand drawn cel animation, watercolor backgrounds, and original jazz recordings."
Overcooked! - cooperation is key in this chaotic fast paced cooking game
Core Keeper - This is in early access on steam but its fun farmin/crafting/mining pixel graphics (like stardew) game
For The King - "For The King is a strategic RPG that blends tabletop and roguelike elements in a challenging adventure that spans the realms. Set off on a single player experience or play cooperatively both online and locally."
Ultimate Chicken Horse is a party platformer game where you build the level as you play, placing traps and hazards to screw your friends over, but trying not to screw yourself.
posted by ljesse at 6:55 AM on June 30, 2022
Overcooked! - cooperation is key in this chaotic fast paced cooking game
Core Keeper - This is in early access on steam but its fun farmin/crafting/mining pixel graphics (like stardew) game
For The King - "For The King is a strategic RPG that blends tabletop and roguelike elements in a challenging adventure that spans the realms. Set off on a single player experience or play cooperatively both online and locally."
Ultimate Chicken Horse is a party platformer game where you build the level as you play, placing traps and hazards to screw your friends over, but trying not to screw yourself.
posted by ljesse at 6:55 AM on June 30, 2022
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posted by cmm at 1:10 PM on June 29, 2022