The best story-driven RPG with minimal combat

summation

  • cRPGs have evolved from combat-focused games to storytelling, giving players the option to avoid violent encounters.

  • Torment: Tides of Numenera and Age of Decadence prioritize diplomacy over combat, providing players with a rich narrative experience.

  • Games like The Council, Outer Worlds, and Fallout: New Vegas emphasize player freedom and offer compelling stories with dialogue-based gameplay.

Computer-based role-playing games have their origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games, an offshoot of tactical war games played using dice, models, and battle boards. It's no surprise that most cRPGs have these combat elements in their DNA.

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That is, just like tabletop games such as dungeons and dragons Gradually, games moved away from pure combat experiences and games played using keyboard and mouse shifted from hack and slash to more story-oriented. Especially in some games, story beats, dialogue, and plot distort the main game loop.

Torment: Tides of Numenera

Use diplomacy and wit to win



released

February 28, 2017

Open Criticism Evaluation

strong

There are a lot of fights in Pain: Tides of NumeneaHowever, the game is designed so that those who use covert language can avoid most combat encounters. Completing quests awards experience points, so players who want to play the game for the story rather than testing their tactical finesse won't be left behind.

The effectiveness with which combat can be avoided or resolved through wordplay rather than swordplay depends on the player's physique. There are advantages to taking a “nano” class in this area, but for those who want to enjoy a good story, the best bet is to “jack” with “compelling” explanations and focus on “persuasion” and “perception” skills. .

era of decadence

Buy a detour into lies and wealth



platform

microsoft windows

released

October 14, 2015

but era of decadence Because it is set against a fictional backdrop, there is a strong emphasis on realism. Players explore a Romanesque empire filled with danger and mistrust, and unlike other cRPGs, fighting multiple enemies can mean “game over.”

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However, it is entirely possible to overcome the following challenges: era of decadence By taking a diplomatic approach, i.e. taking a well-spoken “trickster” or trade-savvy “merchant” background, focusing on the “Charisma” stat, and focusing heavily on “Disguise”, “Etiquette”, and “Persuasion”, “Distance” and “Trade” civic skills.

council

Solving problems with technology of a more enlightened era



The Council – Episode 1: The Mad Ones

system

PlayStation-1 Xbox-1

released

March 13, 2018

developer

big bad wolf

Open Criticism Evaluation

strong

Not every dangerous situation involves a weapon, and not every monster has glowing red eyes or vicious claws. council Players are placed under the watchful eye of Louis de Richet, a member of a secret society who must investigate his mother's disappearance on a private island filled with powerful historical figures.

While threats of violence loom over the story. council Player creation involves making Louis a detective, diplomat, or mystic, each bringing their own strengths and weaknesses to the investigation, so there's no way to fight the monsters that linger on the island from the start (even if you deserve it). .

outside world

world of possibilities



released

October 25, 2019

Open Criticism Evaluation

strong

Upon release, some critics commented: outside world Scores low for length. But what it lacks in longevity it more than makes up for in player freedom. There's plenty of violence in Colony for those who seek it out (there's even an ending that's premised on the player killing every NPC in the game).

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Conversely, if players are interested in an experience based on dialogue and a well-written story, they only need to invest points in speaking skills and stealth. That way, players can find more interpersonal information about NPCs and companions and experience the world without bashing skulls or melting too many creatures into red and gray goo.

Planescape: Torment

Considered one of the earliest storytelling achievements of cRPGs



Planescape: Torment

released

December 12, 1999

developer

black isle studios

Open Criticism Evaluation

huge

In discussions about good storytelling in video games, the following possibilities exist: Planescape: Torment It will come up. Although enemies such as guards and bandits are still prevalent throughout the map, it is possible to alleviate the tension with high charisma, intelligence, and wisdom stats.

Failing that, sneaking in or running away is often a viable play. Come to think of it, Plainscape It is still a product of its time, and there will come a time when fighting is the only option. That said, most of the times combat is mandatory comes from optional areas and quests.

game deck

Solving virtual crime rather than causing it



system

Super grayscale 8-bit logo PlayStation-1

released

September 16, 2021

developer

Anshar Studio

In a world dominated by virtual worlds, players take on the role of a “gamedec”, a cross between a detective and a problem-solving software engineer. The virtual world is not as safe as the real world, so getting to the bottom of things can mean the difference between fun and fatal for its inhabitants.

You won't encounter any enemies in Gamedec, but the story likes to go down to deep, dark places. Depending on the player's reasoning abilities (or lack thereof), game deck You can experience a fate worse than a violent death.

Fallout: New Vegas

Silver tongue, gold rush, and platinum chip



system

PlayStation-1 Xbox-1

released

October 19, 2010

Obsidian is known for upping the ante on writing in their games, and unlike Bethesda's vision, fallout series, Fallout: New Vegas Provides players with the most violent methods road warrior-You're either a wannabe or the most peace-loving person in the post-apocalyptic Mojave Desert, depending on your ability to remain unnoticed or charmed by greasy con artists, anachronistic gangsters, psychotic slavers and other trappings of dark Americana.

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new vegas It's famous for players being able to complete the game without leaving a single corpse on the ground, including the final boss (if they play their cards right and have the right skills ready before the encounter). Additionally, the expertly crafted story is one of the best in RPG history. That means slippery pacifist types have a lot to chew on as they try to avoid a world of excessive violence.

Disco Elysium

Cops who ask questions first and have existential crises later.



released

October 15, 2019

developer

JA/UM

Open Criticism Evaluation

huge

It literally uses a series of novels as the background of the world (although it is only one novel), sacred and terrible airever written), Disco Elysium It wants nothing more than to give players the feel of a new world, and it does this by eschewing regular combat encounters in favor of long, beautiful, complex dialogue trees with over a million words in the script and a responsive world.

With over a million lines of dialogue, there's little room for a combat system, but there are moments of violence (at least twice) in addition to the ever-present economic violence inflicted by capital owners on the workers of Elysium. It is considered a “final test” style boss battle, but is handled somewhat differently than in games with a combat system.

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