Starfield pacifist run: Can you complete game without killing?

Starfield is a Bethesda RPG through and through, meaning players have plenty of options for tackling the game’s many quests. But can you make it through the game without killing a single character? Here’s everything we know about a pacifist run in Starfield.

After the likes of Skyrim and the Fallout series made Bethesda a household name, Starfield is set to be their biggest game to date. The ambitious RPG drops players into a huge galaxy, packed with planets to explore and quirky characters to meet.

Choice is at the heart of Starfield, from how you build your character to the way you approach each mission. But just like the original Fallout games or RPGs like The Outer Worlds, fans are wondering if you can roll the credits on Starfield without killing, also known as a pacifist run.

Here’s everything you need to know about a pacifist run in Starfield.

Can you complete Starfield without killing?

No, a pacifist run isn’t an option in Starfield. As confirmed by the devs, there is no way to make it through the game without killing a single enemy, as lethal combat is required to complete a number of missions that players will discover.

During a Bethesda Q&A on Discord, compiled by ResetEra user vixolus, Starfield Design Director, Emil Pagliarulo, explained that the idea did come up during development, but: “We realized that, for various reasons, that wasn’t totally feasible.”

Starfield’s Lead Quest Designer, Will Shen, mentioned that while a pacifist run isn’t possible, there are features that let players skip certain combat situations.

“I can’t guarantee every mission can be completed in pacifist mode, but we do have a couple of systems that will help,” he said. “One system is our Speech Challenge game, where you can persuade someone to do something like not fight you. The speech challenge game is added in specific scripted moments, and we try to add one into most quests where important characters confront you.”

Emil Pagliarulo also mentioned there are non-lethal weapons that can take an enemy out of action without killing them, giving fans the chance to reduce the number of casualties they rack up.

He added: “Those can be used in certain situations, honestly a lot of situations, though I couldn’t comfortably say you can complete the entire game without any killing whatsoever.”

So, although players will likely have to kill certain enemies during Starfield’s campaign, there are plenty of ways to keep the violence to a minimum.

For more on Starfield, be sure to check out our other guides:

Starfield Outposts explained | Starfield start screen controversy explained | Will Starfield be on Xbox Game Pass for PC & console? | Will Starfield have multiplayer or co-op? | How to preload Starfield: File size, PC details, and more | Will Starfield have mod support at launch? | Will Starfield have New Game Plus? | Will Starfield be on Steam Deck? | Will Starfield have DLC & story expansions?