Suggestions on non-dystopian games?

It seems like everything that I've been playing recently has been dark and/or dystopian - everything's a crapsack world, and everybody's nasty or broken. Fallout, Borderlands, Darksiders, DMC, Remember Me, the Witcher (any of them), Serious Sam...

I get that conflict is what drives the stories in many games and other media, but sometimes it's a bit much.

Any suggestions on some games with a bit lighter tone?

Almost anything Nintendo with a few exceptions?

Along those lines, I was thinking the other day how nice it would be to play a futuristic game that wasn't all doom and gloom. Sort of like the equivalent of Tomorrowland, the Disney area not the movie. I'd totally play that game. Is it so hard to imagine life will get better in the future?

Anyone of the TT Lego games are delightfully lighthearted and fun. Lots to unlock, good puzzles and fun gameplay. Most can be bought on the cheap now.

I particularly recommend Lego Harry Potter 1-4 which is A LOT of game in one box but any one of them are good to lift your gaming spirits.

You could look into Life is Strange. A pretty far leap from the games you mentioned in terms of story and setting.

I also think the Lego Harry Potter games are worth a look at. Definitely a bit more lighthearted and wholesome.

Rayman Origins/Legends will make you smile non-stop with how upbeat and cheerful it is. And it's so colourful!

I can't think of any truely utopian setting games outside of sims and puzzle games with little to no story. Even the lighthearted games, like most of Nintendo's, have some kind of conflict and imperfect world in them. It's just necessary for the typical narriative.

I've been enjoying the p&c adventure Lumino City on Steam over the the past couple days. The environments are real-world hand crafted and very light-hearted, whimsical in tone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHc5...

You can get it for as little as $1 during the current Humble Weekly sale, along with Trine 2 and Hack 'n' Slash at that first tier price.

Vita-specific, but I've been enjoying the game Metrico lately. Very colorful and abstracted world.

EA Sports games. Where even the Cleveland Browns can win a Super Bowl.

If that's not the most optimistic thing possible, I don't know what is.

Kerbal Space Program? You're out exploring space. Pushing further and further into the unknown and doing science along the way. No conflict and no weapons and Kerbin is peaceful and well-off enough that they can devote their resources to exploration.

Cities: Skylines would be good... Crusader Kings 2, for the stories you can build... Quadriga, chariot racing in Rome... Craft the World... Any of the usual puzzle games, like Big Pharma or SpaceChem... Regency Solitaire (yes, it's fun!)... Goat Simulator... Oh, and Robocraft as well as Minecraft.

The Jet Set Radio games both have fun in the future. Also: Bit Trip Runner 2. It has a rainbow shining from your characters butt.

Another vote for TT Lego games. The Dark Souls of non-dystopian gaming. Yes, I went there, and yes I am serious.

Running Man wrote:

Along those lines, I was thinking the other day how nice it would be to play a futuristic game that wasn't all doom and gloom. ... Is it so hard to imagine life will get better in the future?

For many years, science fiction seemed to go dark on everything. It seems to be slowly coming back around to more hopeful stories in some of the short collections I read. We stopped going to the moon, and everybody gave up?

And of course, we all know where fantasy has gone... Game of Horrible People being horribly horrible to each other, I'm looking at you...

Hmmm... maybe we need a non-dystopian book thread someplace as well...

concentric wrote:

Another vote for TT Lego games. .

The Lego Star Wars Saga was on for $22, it's now in the Steam pile. Now to get the kid to stop chopping me into pieces every 3 minutes...

Used to like building type games (Cities, Simcity, etc), don't seem to have the time or patience for them now. Tried the Kerbal demo a while back; sucked horribly at it...

Looks like I may need to break down and get a WiiU one day soon.

Baredil wrote:

And of course, we all know where fantasy has gone... Game of Horrible People being horribly horrible to each other, I'm looking at you...

I think I know what you're talking about. After the only actor I cared about got his head chopped off, I checked out of that series. Its been dead to me since then, and I haven't missed it.

Come to think of it, Sword of Shannara would be a great Netlflix series.

So I'll have to agree Lego Star Wars is pretty good - was thinking it might be too 'cute' for me, but it's pretty fun and monster1 only cuts me into small pieces every 10 minutes now.

Of course, now Lego Marvel Super Heroes is on Steam for $7 CDN...