The best MMOs that don't require combat

Summary

• Star Stable: Collect horses, customize your 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 cozy open world adventure without combat, a great story and an active community.

MMOs can be intimidating spaces for new players. When combat enters the equation, it can raise the pressure even higher: who hasn't seen clips of crazy overreactions to missed shots or insufficient healing? Some gamers are looking for social experiences that focus on something other than killing bad guys—after all, video games provide an escape. Sometimes people are looking for a quiet place to escape to.

A lot of single player games cater to this audience. The rise of the farming simulator after the popularity of indie RPGs 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 ruled the MMO scene for years. Still, there are a few titles that pioneer the cozy, non-combat genre.

5 Star stable

Horse girls rejoice

• Release date: September 25, 2011
• Platforms: PC, Mobile
• Developer: Star Stable Entertainment AB
• Collect horses
• Customize the slider
• Open world

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

While this game uses a subscription service, it allows players to test the waters in a small trial area. There are also plenty of items that can be purchased with real currency. Either way, this is a primo horse girl game (other than Red Dead Redemption 2of course) and will require no weapons or fists.

4 A Story In The Desert

Live a normal life in ancient Egypt

• Release date: February 15, 2003
• Platforms: PC
• Developer: Desert Nomad Studios
• Resource management
• Craftsmanship
• Graphics from 2003

While the graphics are pretty clunky, this animal breeding, crafting, and tech-upgrading MMO has a lot of heart. Players can choose a faction and work together with their community to build a utopian society. The game focuses on long-term progress and teamwork and runs on an 18-month cycle. The closest thing players will get to combat is a card game called “Rite of Command” that determines discipline.

The game features fishing, bug breeding, fireworks making, and an environment that gives players a glimpse into the history and people of ancient Egypt. There's a reason it's maintained an active player base since its launch in 2003.

3 Fae Farm

Fairy friends

• A fight that can be avoided
• Agriculture
• Build and modify a homestead

As if Stardew Valley was an MMO, Fae Farm offers much more than combat. The art style and world design are beautiful and the community is alive and well. While players may choose to enter dungeons, they can be avoided using invisibility potions.

Farmers, catch bugs and go fishing instead of fighting monsters – there's plenty of work in this game that doesn't require a gun. Plus, this game is available through a one-time purchase, so there's no chance of anyone surprising you or forgetting your subscription.

2 Paley

Cozy open world adventure

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

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

The game does a great job of allowing players to interact with each other – certain resources require more than one player to obtain. 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 creators Way, this beautiful and award-winning multiplayer puzzle game is the perfect relaxing experience without the struggle. Explore an open world with smooth animation and calm sound design and solve puzzles with friends. Players can customize their avatar, participate in seasonal activities, play music, and gracefully glide through seven kingdoms of content.

Heaven: Children of Light it also has a unique approach to character interactions – players communicate exclusively through gestures (so you don't have to worry about any verbal combat in this game either). This leads to player interaction that requires creative interpretation and problem solving, which only adds to the fun of the puzzle game.