Weird, gentle, story-type games on Steam
November 27, 2017 8:37 AM Subscribe
Non-gamer looking for recommendations for interesting, non-violent games on Steam. I like visual novels, dating sims, queer/trans stuff, gentle animal games, and mildly spooky stories. List inside of what I've already ordered!
I just upgraded my computer from a Chromebook and am excited to be able to play games on Steam!
So far, I've bought Dream Daddy, Kentucky Route Zero, and We Know the Devil, and Hatoful Boyfriend (all of which I have played part of with friends before and loved), plus a couple of re-releases of nostalgic Lucasarts games from my childhood.
In my wishlist: Stardew Valley, Night in the Woods, Gone Home, and Firewatch.
Also, if you have similar taste in games, feel free to MeMail me if you wanna be pals on Steam!
I just upgraded my computer from a Chromebook and am excited to be able to play games on Steam!
So far, I've bought Dream Daddy, Kentucky Route Zero, and We Know the Devil, and Hatoful Boyfriend (all of which I have played part of with friends before and loved), plus a couple of re-releases of nostalgic Lucasarts games from my childhood.
In my wishlist: Stardew Valley, Night in the Woods, Gone Home, and Firewatch.
Also, if you have similar taste in games, feel free to MeMail me if you wanna be pals on Steam!
Response by poster: (I also did see this thread, which has lots of good recommends along the lines I'm looking for!)
posted by ITheCosmos at 8:41 AM on November 27, 2017
posted by ITheCosmos at 8:41 AM on November 27, 2017
Oxenfree is great and ticks many of your boxes. Also a bargain at $4.99.
posted by cosmicbandito at 8:53 AM on November 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by cosmicbandito at 8:53 AM on November 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
You might like Everybody's Gone To The Rapture.
posted by parm at 9:04 AM on November 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by parm at 9:04 AM on November 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
Maybe Racettear. It's a game where you run an item shop out of your house for a fairy named Tear. There are dungeons but they aren't "violent."
posted by xyzzy at 9:28 AM on November 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by xyzzy at 9:28 AM on November 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
I have played neither, but possibly Life is Strange and its prequel, Before the Storm may appeal to you.
(These are on my list to play, but I'm still working on Tacoma & Out of the Woods.)
I will always also recommend Oxenfree (mentioned in the previous thread) and it's currently $5. It's well worth it -- I've played it through twice (and started a third time). It's short, though, but that's what I enjoyed about it.
posted by darksong at 9:49 AM on November 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
(These are on my list to play, but I'm still working on Tacoma & Out of the Woods.)
I will always also recommend Oxenfree (mentioned in the previous thread) and it's currently $5. It's well worth it -- I've played it through twice (and started a third time). It's short, though, but that's what I enjoyed about it.
posted by darksong at 9:49 AM on November 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
I literally just posted about this on Mefightclub (a metafilter gaming spinoff).
80 days: postcolonial, social justice-y reimagining of Around the World in 80 Days.
The Beginner's Guide/The Stanley Parable.
Islands: Non-Places (vignettes of places that cannot exist).
What Remains of Edith Finch.
Tacoma.
Her Story.
Emily is Away.
Most Christine Love works (Digital: A Love Story, Analogue: A Hate Story, Hate Plus, Ladykiller in a Bind). Queer (lesbian-focused with trans narratives, esp. in Ladykiller).
Blendo Games' Thirty Flights of Loving & Gravity Bone
Robert Yang focuses on VERY NSFW queer alt-games (think 'dickpics for Grindr' simulator, '1950s bathroom cruising under threat of homophobic police action' simulator/criticism of how sexuality is policed online, a BDSM consent game). Queer (gay dude focused).
Try Ahnayro: the dream world and The Black Watchmen if you like weird puzzles to boot.
What Remains of Edith Finch.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 10:04 AM on November 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
80 days: postcolonial, social justice-y reimagining of Around the World in 80 Days.
The Beginner's Guide/The Stanley Parable.
Islands: Non-Places (vignettes of places that cannot exist).
What Remains of Edith Finch.
Tacoma.
Her Story.
Emily is Away.
Most Christine Love works (Digital: A Love Story, Analogue: A Hate Story, Hate Plus, Ladykiller in a Bind). Queer (lesbian-focused with trans narratives, esp. in Ladykiller).
Blendo Games' Thirty Flights of Loving & Gravity Bone
Robert Yang focuses on VERY NSFW queer alt-games (think 'dickpics for Grindr' simulator, '1950s bathroom cruising under threat of homophobic police action' simulator/criticism of how sexuality is policed online, a BDSM consent game). Queer (gay dude focused).
Try Ahnayro: the dream world and The Black Watchmen if you like weird puzzles to boot.
What Remains of Edith Finch.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 10:04 AM on November 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
Doki-Doki Literature Club is a dating sim that gets real spooky; impossible to discuss in any detail at all without spoilers, but message me for content warnings if you are concerned about disturbing subject matter.
posted by waffleriot at 10:09 AM on November 27, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by waffleriot at 10:09 AM on November 27, 2017 [4 favorites]
Note: Christine Love's games are often sad or feature depressing/triggering backstories. So... be aware.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 10:09 AM on November 27, 2017
posted by flibbertigibbet at 10:09 AM on November 27, 2017
Seconding Doki Doki Literature Club. Also seconding that it's best to go in with as little knowledge as possible.
posted by ejs at 10:32 AM on November 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ejs at 10:32 AM on November 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
My brain has temporarily departed for $reasons, but:
Uh that stunningly beautiful puzzle game with the beautiful story... Paper or something? Moon something? It was magical.
And the game MeFi loved with the person in the wilderness camp, quite recent.
posted by DarlingBri at 11:23 AM on November 27, 2017
Uh that stunningly beautiful puzzle game with the beautiful story... Paper or something? Moon something? It was magical.
And the game MeFi loved with the person in the wilderness camp, quite recent.
posted by DarlingBri at 11:23 AM on November 27, 2017
I believe DarlingBri is referring to To the Moon, which is generally quite well regarded.
posted by sinfony at 12:16 PM on November 27, 2017
posted by sinfony at 12:16 PM on November 27, 2017
And the game MeFi loved with the person in the wilderness camp, quite recent.
Firewatch?
posted by flibbertigibbet at 12:24 PM on November 27, 2017
Firewatch?
posted by flibbertigibbet at 12:24 PM on November 27, 2017
I am so sorry. Drawn* (I really can't emphasise how beautiful this was to play) and Firewatch were what was in my brain. To the Moon looks interesting though, thank you!
*Apparently, Drawn = Paper right now.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:44 PM on November 27, 2017
*Apparently, Drawn = Paper right now.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:44 PM on November 27, 2017
In the queer (male) dating sim front, you could try "Coming Out on Top" which is hilarious, well-written and sexy.
posted by Pfardentrott at 2:09 PM on November 27, 2017
posted by Pfardentrott at 2:09 PM on November 27, 2017
Haven't played it myself, but Life Is Strange: Before The Storm is a storytelling game where there can be a gay storyline if you choose that option.
posted by AppleTurnover at 4:29 PM on November 27, 2017
posted by AppleTurnover at 4:29 PM on November 27, 2017
I really, really enjoyed Seasons After Fall (currently on sale) and The Swapper
posted by lesser weasel at 6:40 PM on November 27, 2017
posted by lesser weasel at 6:40 PM on November 27, 2017
Oh. Super Flight and ABZU are both extremely calming (or, Super Flight can be; it's procedurally generated and some levels are more intense).
posted by flibbertigibbet at 6:49 PM on November 27, 2017
posted by flibbertigibbet at 6:49 PM on November 27, 2017
Never Alone is really beautiful game based on an Iñupiat tale, and was produced by a Native Alaskan partnership.
posted by happyroach at 8:34 PM on November 27, 2017
posted by happyroach at 8:34 PM on November 27, 2017
I don't have as much experience with visual novels/dating sims, but I do love me some exploration-focused, non/less violent games. To that end, here's my list of suggestions:
posted by Aleyn at 10:00 PM on November 27, 2017
- To the Moon (Nth-ing)
- Seasons After Fall (Nth-ing)
- OneShot
- Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles
- RiME
- Never Alone (Nth-ing)
- The Stanley Parable (Nth-ing)
- Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People - if you like LucasArts adventures, you'll probably like this
- Dr. Langeskov, The Tiger, and the Terribly Cursed Emerald: A Whirlwind Heist
- Undertale - Not completely non-violent, try the demo first.
- The Myst Series: Myst and Riven; there's also Myst III: Exile (not officially downloadable, but Amazon has physical copies), Myst IV: Revelation (ditto), and Myst V: End of Ages, which I enjoyed but are usually regarded less well than the first two entries.
- Obduction - Done by the same folks as the Myst games, and has a similar feel
- Portal & Portal 2 - definitely more towards the action/puzzler side of things, and not completely non-violent, but violence isn't a central focus.
posted by Aleyn at 10:00 PM on November 27, 2017
You can go old skool with Sam & Max Hit the Road and Grim Fandango.
posted by zompist at 3:07 AM on November 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zompist at 3:07 AM on November 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
In addition to everything recommended above, One Night Stand is a sweet little visual novel.
posted by pharm at 3:13 AM on November 28, 2017
posted by pharm at 3:13 AM on November 28, 2017
If you've got a friend or three to play it with, I'd recommend The Yawhg. You can certainly play it on your own but it works much better with at least one other person.
Plus everything else mentioned here!
posted by curious nu at 5:45 AM on November 28, 2017
Plus everything else mentioned here!
posted by curious nu at 5:45 AM on November 28, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by crush at 8:39 AM on November 27, 2017 [1 favorite]