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As most entertainment mediums focus and revolve around conflict, it can be extremely refreshing to experience sci-fi settings and premises that are not in decline or are tainted by corruption, but are instead peaceful and instill a sense of hope. The medium of video games does this exceptionally well and can allow players to immerse themselves in atmospheric, conflict-free worlds and sci-fi utopias.
6 VA-11 Hall-A
VA-11 Hall-A (or Valhalla) is not set in a utopian world at all. It’s quite the opposite. The game is set in a cyberpunk future where the majority of people are oppressed, corporations reign supreme, and fearsome ‘white knights’ enforce the laws. However, the game isn’t about that and instead focuses on a small downtown bar called Va-11 Hall-A.
In Va-11 Hall-A, players take on the role of a bartender who meets a cast of colorful characters and gets to experience multiple branching narratives. Players will mix and serve drinks whilst slowly getting to know the frequent patrons. The game’s makers wanted to tell stories that came from unusual points of view and give players a chance to experience the stories of NPCs from sci-fi universes. Much like real life, the world can be overwhelming and tiresome but everyone should have a little place they can find solace, even if it is a small bar on the edge of a futuristic metropolis.
5 Surviving Mars
A city-building simulation game that takes place on (of course) Mars, Surviving Mars has players take on the role of an overseer who must build a successful colony on the red planet and ensure that its colonists live sustainably.
What sets this game apart from other sci-fi city-building games is that Surviving Mars is modeled after real Martian data. Whilst the game does offer challenges and events that will help or hinder the player’s efforts, Surviving Mars is an exciting strategic experience that allows players to envision what establishing a Martian colony can entail and what our collective next step into space can look like.
4 Outer Wilds
Though not quite a utopia and somewhat of a nightmare, Outer Wilds is an awe-inspiring sci-fi game about unraveling the mysteries of a fictional solar system and witnessing its magic. Focusing on exploration and rogue-like elements, players will journey beyond as an astronaut of an alien species and attempt to stop the 22-minute time loop.
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Though players must unravel this strange phenomenon, the universe and alien society are largely at peace. Combined with awe-inspiring yet unconventional visuals and an atmospheric soundtrack, Outer Wilds is a moving experience that allows its players to freely explore around at their leisure.
3 Heaven’s Vault
Heaven’s Vault is a sci-fi saga that will allow everyone to live out their inner archaeologist. Playing as Aliya Elasra, gamers will ‘sail’ through several moons to track down a missing roboticist. Along the way, players will attempt to decipher an ancient language as they visit ruins, find ancient artifacts, and exchange information with in-game colleagues.
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The developers claim that the game features over 1000 ‘words’ or glyphs that were inspired by the Ancient Egyptian and Chinese writing systems. The game is devoid of conflict and focuses solely on the evolving story surrounding the mysterious language. No doubt, players will be racking their brains as they go further down this linguistic rabbit hole.
2 Before We Leave
Another city-building game but this time encompassing elements from 4X gameplay, Before we leave is a charming and beautiful game about rebuilding. After an unknown apocalypse has wiped out a previous civilization, a group of people known as the ‘Peeps’ emerge from the bunkers and reclaim the surface.
The game will have echoes of other city-building games where players must acquire enough resources to reach space (minus conflict and warfare). Although players will have to contend with space whales, players can truly leave their game for 10-15 minutes and come back to a civilization that’s still intact. 10/10 build-and-chill.
1 Abzu
Relaxing, beautiful, and truly atmospheric, Abzu is like Subnautica fused with Journey. Players take on the role of a mysterious diver who must swim deeper into this mysterious underwater world. The game features various biomes and areas for the player to explore combined with speedy segments to change up the pace, and even allows players to swim next to whales. Whales!
Although several segments can cause the player to die, the game world itself is largely peaceful, self-contained, and magnificent to behold. Abzu is also very short and can be completed in around 2 hours but players can be assured that it’s worth every minute.
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