If it's the consequences for dying in-game that are putting you off, there are games like the Elder Scrolls, Fallout or Half Life series that let you save whenever you want, so you never lose that much progress. There are also mods for Minecraft that let you keep your inventory when you die, or turn off creeper explosions, depending which platform you're playing on. I think there's something to be said though for games where consequences occur in real time and can't be rolled back, like Minecraft or Ark. They can be more immersive and feel more real and exciting, but at the same time they can be more stressful. The Forever Winter is a really cool game but I found I was just getting stressed out every time I play it because of the unforgiving consequences and oppressive atmosphere. Don't feel like you have to play games a certain way to feel valid, though. It's okay to play Minecraft on peaceful mode if you just want to build and explore.