I play the offline ones so I can download mods that remove those things and focus on building the city and watching it grow.
You might like the old Settlers games. Settlers 1 and 2 especially. You can have peaceful games where you just build your kingdom up. Plus, it was always endearing to see your little people working their jobs, complete with animations, seeing them haul stuff, having some peeps waiting at flags for things to haul. Ah, Settlers 2, you were an awesome marvel. Shame you were VERY slow in campaign mode.
Don't be misled by the dark avvies. It's because I like dark beauty. I often think the evil ones are beautiful. I get rather attached to my Sims and am careful not to let them get hurt.
You know that high-level boss in a game that's a girl who looks really beautiful and she has amazing clothes and massive gorgeous wings but she'll rip your soul out, consume it for breakfast, and wash it down with your blood without lifting a finger? Yeah. Her. Dark beauty.
Also, think gothic.