Summary
- Many strategy games encourage combat and domination, but some allow players to take a more passive approach.
- Titles like Star Traders let players avoid conflict to focus on trading and customization aspects.
- Games like Griftlands offer negotiation systems, allowing players to navigate conflicts without resorting to violence.
Strategy games are typically oriented around warfare, especially older titles and classic real-time strategy games. While some often feature options for diplomacy, particularly in the 4X genre, many of them encourage frequent combat and domination as their core gameplay mechanics.
Some strategy titles, however, allow players to take a more passive or even peaceful approach. These titles don't necessarily facilitate conflict-free experiences. However, each of them gives players frequent opportunities to avoid conflict, be it the negotiation system in Griftlands, or the passive victory conditions in Dune: Spice Wars. Here are some of the best strategy games for players who prefer diplomatic solutions.
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7 Star Traders: Frontiers
A Sci-Fi Sandbox That Allows For Mercantile Play
Star Traders: Frontiers
- Released
- November 14, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Star Traders: Frontiers is a sandbox RPG that features two distinctive combat systems: one for ground, and another for spaceship battles. However, conflict can often be avoided in Star Traders, allowing players more freedom to pursue the trading aspect of the game.
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Furthermore, Star Traders features a great deal of customization that allows players to specialize their ship and crew. For players that enjoy space exploration and trading mechanics, Star Traders is worth a shot. Still, combat is not entirely avoidable, so bear that in mind when diving in.
6 For The King
An RPG That Lets Players Avoid Unnecessary Combat
For The King
- Released
- April 19, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
For The King is a strategy RPG with a roguelike structure that excels with its simple dungeon-crawling and overworld exploration. It's this overworld gameplay that helps For The King to stand out, offering a tabletop-like puzzle that encourages players to find the optimal path.
Primary combat encounters are not avoidable in For The King, but avoiding enemies in the overworld can be integral to success. Being worn down by minor encounters en route to an important dungeon can be severely detrimental, and this puts an emphasis on careful exploration and planning to avoid unnecessary fights.
5 Kenshi
A Sandbox RPG With Myriad Systems
Kenshi
- Released
- December 6, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- nr
- Developer(s)
- Lo-Fi Games
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Open-World, Survival
Kenshi is an RPG that emphasizes sandbox play with an open world and a focus on player agency. It accomplishes this via a hands-off approach to design that allows players to set their own goals, rather than being funneled through scripted sequences or a preset narrative.
Supporting this is a variety of interlocking systems that facilitate emergent gameplay, resulting in a living, breathing world for players to explore. There are many opportunities for conflict in Kenshi's harsh and hostile world, and sometimes the situation is simply not avoidable. However, the agency that players are afforded ensures that, for the most part, they're able to carve their own path.
4 Balatro
A Deck-Builder That Lets Players Skip Encounters
Balatro
- Released
- February 20, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Gambling Themes
- Developer(s)
- LocalThunk
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Digital Card Game, Roguelike
Though somewhat abstracted by its casino theme, Balatro's string of score-attack encounters provide a great deal of conflict throughout each run. However, this deck-builder allows players to skip past these encounters — though they do so at their own risk.
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Skipping a blind in Balatro grants players a special boon called a 'tag,' which can provide useful enhancements. However, doing so robs players of the ability to purchase new cards and Jokers, as they're only able to visit the shop after completing a blind. This adds an extra layer of strategy to an already strategic game, elevating the overall experience by allowing players to weigh their options and choose whether to avoid conflict.
3 Dune: Imperium
A Diverse Deck-Builder With A Unique Conflict System
Dune: Imperium
- Released
- March 13, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Dire Wolf Digital
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Deckbuilding, Board Game
Dune: Imperium combines worker-placement and deck-building for a unique tabletop experience, expertly adapted to a digital environment by Dire Wolf. With its myriad board spaces and diverse selection of cards and characters, Dune: Imperium provides a dense and strategic sandbox.
Elevating this is a unique system for conflict, which offers up a series of rewards for competing in battle. Competing in these conflicts, however, is entirely optional. While it would be hard to win a game of Dune: Imperium by avoiding every conflict, there remain other methods of scoring points.
2 Griftlands
A Unique System For Negotiation
Griftlands
- Released
- July 11, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Klei Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Indie Games, Adventure, Strategy
Griftlands is a distinctive roguelike deck-builder that stands out with its RPG elements and, more specifically, its dual combat system. These two systems facilitate both violence and pacifism within the game, allowing players to negotiate with their enemies rather than killing them.
Though players may not be able to avoid conflict in the truest sense of the word, violence is frequently avoidable. As a result, Griftlands is able to provide an experience that's both diverse and immersive, and particularly unique for a roguelike deck-builder.
1 Dune: Spice Wars
An RTS With Multiple Victory Conditions
Dune: Spice Wars
- Released
- September 14, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Teen // Fantasy Violence, Drug Reference
- Developer(s)
- Shiro Games
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
Dune: Spice Wars is a distinctive combination of 4X and real-time strategy that excels with its multitude of victory conditions. From outright domination to economic victory, there are many paths to success in the sandbox of Arrakis, especially given the diversity of playable factions.
Best of all, Dune: Spice Wars features an intuitive system for politics and intrigue, allowing players to pursue political victories or supplement their current goals with powerful boons. All of this can be done without fighting one another, and peace treaties can often be beneficial for everyone. However, conflict can become unavoidable if a stronger player chooses to declare war.
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