The 12 best games that aren't about killing stuff

If you really, really want to play a game that's as stripped down as they come, check out "Desert Golfing."

As our own Ben Gilbert put it, it's just "infinite golf." You flick your finger across the screen, sending a teeny white golf ball across a randomly generated stage.

There's no losing. There's no scary trolls. Just some peaceful physics-based puzzles to take your mind off the cruel realities of the real world.

Platforms: Mobile devices

"Flower" isn't a traditional video game in any sense of the word. You press buttons and move around a little joystick, but it's more of a meditative experience than anything. An interactive poem, maybe. "Flower" is one of those games that's hard to describe, but incredible to experience first hand. And it probably goes without saying that it's amazing to look at.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita

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"Minecraft" is the digital equivalent of having some nice, quiet playtime with a pile of Lego.

Aside from its basic survival mechanics, there's no way to really "lose" in "Minecraft." You can die, sure, but it's not really that big of a deal.

The goal is just to play, to build, to experiment, to try something new. Players have created some amazing things so far, including Frank Lloyd Wright's iconic "Falling Water" house and King's Landing from "Game of Thrones."

We're not saying you'll be the next "Minecraft" mastermind, but there's always a chance.

Platforms: Consoles, mobile devices, PC/Mac/Linux

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"Fez," the independently-developed platformer, is the perfect game to throw in when you just need to chill out.

That's because "Fez" is much more about the act of exploring, finding secrets, and taking in the scenery within its massive world than it is about killing or racking up combos.

Its lovingly crafted levels, combined with its retro aesthetic and stellar soundtrack, make "Fez" an absolute delight to play.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PC/Mac/Linux

Superlatives and hyperbole get thrown around a lot, but "Journey" is simply one of the most beautiful games ever made. You play an entirely silent protagonist, exploring a vast desert, and interacting with the various creatures and structures you come across.

Since the magic "Journey" lies in experiencing it firsthand, describing how the game unfolds will only do a disservice to the experience of playing it for yourself. But there's no doubt that "Journey" is one of the best PlayStation games you can get your hands on.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3

Buy it here!

"Hohokum" is a whimsical and visually inventive sidescrolling puzzle game. What "Hohokum" lacks in realism, it more than makes up for in innovation and sheer artistic brilliance. You play as a thin, flying, snake creature, exploring the world's many hidden secrets, and interacting with its goofy inhabitants.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita

Buy it here!

In "Animal Crossing," you play as the mayor of a quaint little town populated by anthropomorphic dogs, raccoons, anteaters, and all sorts of other cute little critters.

Don't think of "Animal Crossing" like a video game in the traditional sense of the term. Instead, thinking of it as more of a nice place to visit when you need a break from the real world.

This isn't to say that "Animal Crossing" is boring. On the contrary, its quirky sense of humor and charming art style are weirdly captivating.

Platform: Nintendo 3DS

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Don't you miss the old days when you would plant your own corn, milk your own cows, and just live off the land? No?

Well, "Stardew Valley" will make you nostalgic for the good ol' days, even if you've never stepped foot on a farm in your life.

You can do basically whatever you want in this unepectedly popular farming role-playing game. You can chop down some trees, explore a cave, make maple syrup, cook a meal, go on a date with another farmer, and pet a cat.

The stakes are lower than low but it's just so dang charming.

Platform: PC (Console versions and a Mac OS version are coming later this year.)

"The Witness" is probably the most controversial choice on this list, only because it will utterly consume some people's lives while it will send an equal amount of people running in the opposite direction.

Essentially, it's an open-world puzzle game where you're the sole inhabitant of an otherwise abandoned island, exploring its eerily quiet buildings and beautiful landscapes. Every puzzle in the game is a sort of line-based maze puzzle, but the way "The Witness" slowly introduces new rules for these puzzles over the course of the game makes it feel like you're learning a whole new language.

If that in any way sounds like your jam, "The Witness" will completely captivate you for weeks. It is in no way an exaggeration to say that "The Witness" is simultaneously one of the most challenging and also one of the most peaceful games I've ever played.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC

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Mobile games often get a bad rap for being downright obnoxious, and for good reason: All too often, they're packed with intrusive ads and overly-persistent Facebook integrations.

One mobile game stands out from the pack as something truly marvelous: "Lara Croft GO," the challenging yet unusually relaxing puzzle game based on the "Tomb Raider" series.

Think of "Lara Croft GO" like a turn-based board game. As you move Lara across the game's tiled stages, your enemies will move, too. The beautiful art style and addictive gameplay make "Lara Croft GO" the perfect choice for when you need to play something a bit more cerebral.

Platforms: Mobile devices

"Firewatch" is one of the best games of the year, partly because its art direction is breathtaking, but mostly because it tells an incredibly moving story in just a few short hours.

You play a man named Henry working in the Shoshone National Forest as a forest fire lookout. You'll explore the wilderness, unravel mysteries about the area, and grow closer with Delilah, a co-worker who you interact with exclusively via walkie-talkie.

The Hitchcock-style mystery at its heart will tinge that beauty with a healthy dose of paranoia, but the act of exploring this gorgeous rendition of the wilderness is completely transfixing.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC/Mac/Linux