This came up in the turn-based strategy games for beginners thread (https://www.gog.com/forum/general/turnbased_strategy_games_for_beginners)

What strategy games are out there that don't focus on war/battling/combat? Try to mention if it's turn-based, real-time, or other things (puzzle-based, more of a simulation/builder, etc).

I'll get us started with a few to list:

* Offworld Trading Company is all the joy of a RTS without the combat. It's got its macro, its micro, its base building.
* Anti-hero (turn-based board-game-style strategy game) has direct conflict, but it's just a figure movement subtracting a pip from the foe and the real goal is to get victory points through any of the means, combat only being one of the axes (and often not the best).
* Republic: The Revolution (sadly no longer on GOG) is mostly about building up the movement, and any violent conflicts are largely abstracted.
* Evil Bank Manager (a grand strategy game) ALMOST counts, since its main conceit is banking, but one of the primary methods of profit is instigating and arming wars. You don't control the war aspects directly, but it is a major part of the game.

Does This is the Police count as a strategy game managing a police station?

Papers Please is more of a document thriller working at a border control station, not a police station, have no control about what measures that are implemented or discontinued, you get orders, not give them.

Hm... Wouldn't games like that be called, I don't know, simulation, managerial or puzzle? Basically anything but a strategy game?

Yeah, I guess.

we all derp.

The RollerCoaster Tycoon series, as well as its spiritual successor, Planet Coaster. They were games that I absolutely adored in my childhood and even now, they hold up extremely well. They're a combination of strategic building gameplay, managerial simulation and business simulation; they're not super in-depth on the business side but the building is some of the best and most intuitive, even nowadays. They're an absolute blast. If you haven't played them yet, definitely go for it.

I'd definitely recommend starting with the first two games, though, and the best way to experience the first two games is through OpenRCT2. It's basically like an unofficial enhanced edition, allowing you to combine both games' scenarios and content along with modern resolutions, some added graphical effects (such as a night-and-day option) and countless QoL fixes. It requires you to own both games, obviously, but it's definitely the definitive way to play the first two games.

Also, they're basically RTwP and with OpenRCT2, you're able to enable building while paused so that you don't have to lose the managerial side while building a ride.

Space Colony HD: A real-time strategy game the involves building a colony and delegating tasks to the colonists.

yes yes we do agree then ... right

you have that bird race game going on of course and other managers such as Railroad Empire , Jurassic Park and Two point hospital... maybe even Aven colony and you could discuss about how ancient builders such as Simcity and the newer Xities are also just that !

most peace loving games do seem to happen in pausable real time though, with again as only exception maybe that bird race game .. or maybe even other board deritives such as quadriva ?

suriving mars,
Kerbal Space Program

Crookz - The Big Heist gave me a lot of enjoyment. Think of it like a Commandos / Desperados style of gameplay (team based, enemy view cones, etc), but with a focus on stealth instead of combat and a funky 1970's theme & soundtrack. It's more of a real-time with pause + waypoint based commands than turn based but is implemented well.

Although I haven't played it, Sigma Theory: Global Cold War sounds like this - it has some (very abstracted) combat, but is more focussed on politics and espionage.

Digital board games are about strategy, but often (especially cooperative ones) without war/combat at least among the players. For example:

Ticket to Ride

Carcassonne

Neo Scavenger

Combat exists, but for a good portion of the game (and for most builds in most cases) its not a good idea - unless you're maybe hunting a deer. Combat is also abstracted into turn-based "moves".

Equally the game is a roguelike RPG, but strategy is at the forefront of this survival game - right down to the loot you pick, and that you leave.

https://www.gog.com/game/neo_scavenger