Games are violent, immoral tools - capable of transforming young children into cold-blooded murderers. At least, this is the general consensus.

And yes, a lot of games are extremely violent, gore-fests. But, believe it or not, there are some games out there that don't need gratuitous violence to impress.

While the 'Killzones' and 'Gears of Wars' of the gaming world continue to ignite the sales charts, it's refreshing to know that there are games out there that don't need violence to be fun.

We take a look at some of the best of these.

1. Portal (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

Stemming from a project by a bunch of MIT students, 'Portal' sees you traverse levels and solving puzzles using… well… portals. With multiple game of the year awards (including iafrica.com's 2007 game of the year), 'Portal' is one of the most unique games we've seen in ages.

2. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

Nintendo's Wii is a haven for casual gamers and children, but it's particularly Mario that has remained a Nintendo stalwart over the years. The latest iteration in a series that has spanned almost 25 years, 'Super Mario Galaxy' sees you control the moustachioed plumber in outer space. Galaxy is currently ranked as the third best game ever on review aggregate site Gamerankings.com.

3. Skate series (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii)

There have been many pretenders to the skating throne that belongs to Tony Hawk but only one has succeeded in unseating the series - 'Skate'. Using the innovative 'Flickit' analogue control scheme, the game delivers a realistic yet immersive experience - a radical departure from the arcadey, convoluted gameplay of the Tony Hawk series.

4. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS)

Combining the Star Wars universe and Lego blocks may seem like a haphazard idea but, as unlikely as it sounds, it works. With the ability to mix and match pieces to create your own character (Darth Leia anyone?) and drop-in/out cooperative gameplay, 'Lego Star Wars' has something for everyone.

5. Guitar Hero series (PS2, DS, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii)

The game responsible for creating a whole new generation of wannabe guitarists, Guitar Hero's simple yet challenging gameplay and classic songs struck a chord with even hard-core gamers. Pity about the dodgy imagery and symbols so prevalent in this series though.

6. Little Big Planet (PS3)

'Little Big Planet' is a technical and creative masterpiece for the PS3. Charged with creating levels and tools that utilise real-life physics, 'LBP' is one of the most original games released in quite some time. Ever wanted to create the opening level of 'Super Mario Bros'? It's possible in here. With a thriving community constantly working on new levels, 'Little Big Planet' is worth every little big penny.

7. Virtua Tennis 3/2009 (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii)

The 'Virtua Tennis' series, with its roots in the Sega Dreamcast and in the arcades, is a perfect example of a game that sticks to the "easy to play, hard to master" formula. Featuring many top male and female players beautifully recreated, 'Virtua Tennis' is simply smashing.

» More games on page 2!

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