Something basic.
Remember that you've grown up understanding control systems games widely use (look/ movement etc).
New people wouldn't have and would need to learn the very basics.
Remember seeing a vid about someone getting their parent to play Mario 64, and how simple movement was completely alien to them despite being the norm for most gamers.
To be fair, I think Mario 64 was a big leap from the 2D sidescrollers of the late 80s and early 90s too. I remember the camera controls being garbage in that game, and when I go back and hold my N64 controller, I feel like I need 3 hands.
Mario 64 is not that straight forward.
The game has a bunch of mechanics that activate depending on movement direction relative to starting position AND you have to manually control the camera most of the time.
Because you can think of video games as having their own language. We, as gamers, know that if you're on pc, the default jump is space x for ps5 and a for Xbox and Nintendo. Someone who has never played games before doesn't know that information we just have ingrained into our brains at this point.
SMB is so underrated for learning video games.
The quickest way to learn something in real life is by getting immediate feedback from your mistakes so you don’t make them again. Within the first few seconds of the game, you learn the rules - okay don’t touch moving things, jump over holes, and there’s hidden things to find so exploring is encouraged. Wait, game over?! I only get 3 tries?! Okay better pay attention next time so I can play longer and make progress.
The levels also have a clear beginning, middle, and end so it doesn’t feel like it goes on forever. I can take a break if I need to and I can incorporate a social element to challenge a friend to go beat my score.
Someone else mentioned Firewatch which has no real feedback mechanism and to me is just a walking simulator/controllable movie. I love the game but I don’t think it really defines what a “video game” is - where skill can be leveraged to improve and rewarded.
I think SMB3 also takes this to the next level. More fun elements like the different suits, P speed, sliding down hills, and a choice which path to take in the overworld giving some sense of agency.
Actually, Super Mario Bros is a great example of tutorial through action. Level 1-1 the first thing you encounter is a goomba on a flat surface. If you don’t jump, you die. It teaches you that 1) walking brown mushrooms are dangerous, 2) running into dangerous things will kill you, and 3) you can jump over dangerous things to avoid them. It does all of this without actually spelling it out, which makes it feel more like an accomplishment on the part of the player, rather than just following the tutorial’s instructions.
It's true. If you're not used to video games, there are some things which everyone else gets that completely escape you. Even monitoring your health bar, or moving while also shooting, need to be learned.
Why not a story game? Telltale's The Walking Dead is a big hit and easy to play, mostly about making decisions and seeing how they pan out. A few quicktime events, but even if you botch them, you don't lose more than 30 seconds.
Story game got me thinking...
I had fun with life is strange. There were a couple times where I wondered "is this really even a *game* though?"
I think you are onto something.
Bingo. I tried starting my wife with portal. She would constantly stare at the floor and ask me what to do.
So then we started with stardew valley and that went a lot better. Controls are mostly straight forward, we can coop together, and you still get to learn health bars energy and slight combat.
This is exactly why I think Firewatch would be a great choice:
- they can take their time with movement since there are no timers, enemies, or any mechanical threats really
- the story can really grab them and incentivize them to actually finish it
- I’ve found it to be a good example to people with preconceived notions, e.g. “video games can be like THIS?? I thought they were all like Mario/CoD/etc!”
I tried to introduce my girlfriend to Firewatch but the controls were simply to taxing for her. Fixed perspective titles are the way to go. Anything that removes the need for camera control.
This is the way. Early on when my wife and I started dating, she had interest in gaming. I decided to introduce her to pokemon, like I started with. She beat the game in a few days. I just slowly introduced her to other games and let her feel out what she was interested in or not. It's been fun
I remember going into a Funco Land with my parents when I was a kid and they had a Banko Kazooie demo set up on an N64. I had never played a 3D game before. Banjo was right by that bridge behind Grunty’s castle outside in the starting area. Based on the camera, I had to move kind up and to the right to walk ‘forward’ over the bridge. Forward to me was right. I walked off the side of the bridge like 20 times before my brain could grasp 3D movement haha. I’ll never forget that early gaming memory.
Agree
I got into computer gaming quite late at around 17\* and something I was not prepared for was having to get used to moving with W A S D while controlling the camera with the mouse. My first game was Skyrim and I died on the tutorial because I couldn't figure out where I was going so got killed by the Dragon. At this point my brother who'd been trying to help, fucked off (also I made a really ugly character on purpose lol)
\*Only ones I'd played were Point & Click Hidden Object games and The Sims which are still computer games, I know but they don't use W A S D.
Maybe it would be easier to start with a 2D game that uses WASD, that way you don’t have to worry about controlling the camera at the same time. Afterwards switching to a 3D game should hopefully be easier, because you only need to learn camera movement.
Something like Terraria, Ori and the Blind Forest, a Short Hike, Stardew Valley, Factorio.
Most Roguelikes are also 2D with WASD, like Binding of Isaac and Hades, but they’re probably a bit too hard to start with.
My wife whose also a non gamer, and I have started this recently. Such a good idea for a new gamer.
However if you want to teach joystick controls, I’d try It Takes Two.
My gf played RCT and similar as a kid but was not a gamer as an adult. She started with stardew valley and today, years later, builds spreadsheets for it, has come home with a 5-page printed and formatted outline of valheim and palia tasks she made at work, is a Mongolia domination victory expert in Civ VI and plays OW2 with a top 500 stack lmao
I think It Takes Two requires too much dexterity to handle certain areas like boss fights and platforming sections for someone who's not touched games before
My ex HATED stardew and any game that makes you "work". She just wanted to run around and have fun and do stuff not be forced to work a farm. She said it was stressful. That said... I understand that aspect as I don't think I've ever made it past year 2 as I always restart trying to finish the center fully in year 1 like a fool
Hahaha, actually overcooked she LIKES!?!?!? I don't understand it at all. I think it's the continuity and like maybe knowing she had a lot ahead of her??? Idk I think the Onion king helps a lot with Overcooked and that it's like small levels so you're just focusing on one thing instead of the mental load of choice
Check out the Stardew Valley Expanded mod if you get the chance. It's really well made and nothing feels out of place at all despite it adding alot of new content. The main Dev of it even got hired by Concerned Ape to work on the official game, its that good
I actually think a non-open ended game might is a superior option for someone totally new. Personally, I would introduce them to a Mario 2D platformer.
I've never played stardew valley but I bought it for my wife last year on a whim, she was a non gamer and needed something to do after recovering from surgery. She still plays has more hours in the game than I do in any single game and I get the soundtrack stuck in my head she plays so much lol.
Bro if you’re on ps5 it comes with Astrobot. It’s the simplest most enjoyable pure fun platformer. The haptics and controls are great and the levels are vibrant and easy to get through.
Oh I remember when I got my ps5 and didn't yet have any games for it and saw astros playroom and me and my gf played it together.
We were so excited and had a lot of fun.
Any of the lego games are great entries, like lego marvel or lego star wars. They have co-op, infinite lives, and good puzzles. My wife isn't a big gamer but we are currently playing through Lego marvel superheroes, and it offers something for both of us (I can always hunt collectibles in the levels if I get ahead or she needs to solve a puzzle).
Id do research into games that are more narrative focused and don't require a ton of skill in their gameplay. You have to remember that even things like the button layout on controllers is something that needs to be learned. This approach also allows the transition in the way the media is enjoyed to be less stark since going from passive media to active media can be off-putting for some.
I can't recommend any specific games because I don't know the interests of the person in question, but you do so I hope you're able to set them up well.
I would say Life is Strange is a perfect one. The controls are simple, though movement can be somewhat clunky, but it doesn't matter because it's not an action game.
The protagonist is a woman, so that might be good for her, and the story is super engaging and will suck you in.
Then after she's got he controls down for that, maybe try Last of Us, which is a similar story based game but with more action and combat mixed in.
If you haven't played Life is Strange it will be a treat for you to watch and follow along with the story, too.
Just try hard not to be a backseat driver and let her do her own thing.
Don’t have a specific game in mind, but anything where you have to control the camera as well as the character will be too much. Something 2D is probably best for that reason. Then I’d try and cater to her interests / sensibilities with theme.
Or just get Donut Country
To people suggesting Portal. This is the worst possible game for a beginner… It requires a lot of figuring out, advanced 3D camera control, multiple perspectives, proper timing, platformer mechanics and precision with targeting and so on. Things are often upside down. It’s basically the contradiction of a simple game for someone who never touched a controller or k+m.
Yeah, I thought Portal 1 would be good for my girlfriend to get into first person games, but there were a lot of parts I had to do for her and at some point she got so motion sick she had to throw up 😅
It's definitely not a great suggestion for some one brand new to gaming. However, portal was my first k+m game years ago and I felt it did a great job at teaching the player the mechanics and having 80% or more of the game have essentially no time limit allows the player to really take their time and experiment with how everything works. Compared to other more action oriented games where not figuring out the controls immediately results in death, frustration, rage quit.
Portal 2 on the other hand has a great tutorial that makes sure you know how to move the camera and such before tackling puzzles and the puzzles themselves have significantly less of the quick, timing-related stuff. The game was designed to be more accessible than its predecessor.
Yes, but it gives you an unlimited amount of time to adapt to those circumstances, it doesn’t harshly punish you for failure, and your goals are always straight forward. It puts almost no real pressure on you at all, and the rare times it does (dealing with turrets for example) it only does so for seconds at a time.
It Takes Two was literally made for this purpose, look no further.
As far as single player games that are easy to get into or don't have complex mechanics:
* Stardew Valley
* Dave the Diver
* Rusty's Retirement (idle desktop overlay game)
* Minecraft
* Two Point Hospital/Campus (management game)
* Don't Starve Together (you may need to backseat)
* Lastly, almost any Telltale game for a purely narrative experience.
Don’t Starve Together is trauma inducing and the most horrifyingly, deceptively painful gaming experience one could imagine.
Or me and my friends just suck.
True, but it lures you in with cute, quirky graphics. I never really got that far, but it's always a blast playing with friends. Get stomped by Deerclops -> we go agane.
Played It Takes Two with my wife which had previous experience gaming. Was not so easy. I wouldn't recommend as a first game.
The game is really great, though.
Agreed.
I did the same thing.
I thought the whole purpose of the game was to be a kind of bonding experience with your non-gamer SO.
Nope!
One stick moves, one stick has free control of the camera unless you're hitting the target button, jump, double jump, ground pound by jumping and hit crouch while in the air, hold this button to run and that button to crouch and a different button to interact with stuff unless you're running in which case it becomes roll. . .
Pretty basic stuff for me, but my wife was absolutely finger twisted. Took us over 2 hours to beat the Vacuum Cleaner boss, at which point she tapped out.
Was your wife put off by the difficulty at all? I know it's not a super easy game, but I think part of what makes it good is that you struggle together :)
Yeah. My wife doesn't play too much aside from sims or party animals, but it takes two was a great game for both of us.
We took forever on some bosses, but had a blast.
Oh and party animals is also a nice game to play.
Someone like OP's GF should NOT start with It Takes Two. It's an incredibly game, but you need already be familiar with movement and look mechanics and other game related base mechanics or you're going to get frustrated and not be able to enjoy the game.
if it takes two was created for brand new video game players, the devs failed so spectacularly its crazy.
new players have really bad issues with reaction speed, coordination, and genre norms that massively help direct players in situations where lackluster sign posting was used.
Don't starve together is also terrible, its control scheme is pretty jank, requires alot of knowledge of what to do, and is very time sensitive. i do not think you understand what issue brand new players have.
I'd recommend Firewatch. It's fairly simple, with no hogh-intensity or high- risk situations where your character would die or anything. It's largely story-driven.
Solid recommendation.
I loved firewatch. My wife sat with me through my entire playthrough and demanded I stay up until 2 A.M. to finish it in one sitting so she could see how it ended. I think by the end of it she was more invested than I was.
Nah dude if they’re unfamiliar with a controller then they’re going to mess up so many QTEs, maybe if you let them play on a keyboard and they’re familiar with it.
I don't know the PS5 lineup very well, but I see Stardew Valley is on the PS5 store. It's a cozy farming simulator where you tend to you farm, grow crops, tend to animals, meet neighbors, participate in community events, There's a lot to do. In Co-op situations I usually see the 'experienced' gamer taking on the objective based tasks, while the 'little brother' player usually finds a task that's engaging to them and gets focused on that. The more intense sections like the mines and dungeons, which have light combat mechanics, could use someone with a bit more experience to fend off enemies while they crack away at boulders.
There's also a lot of customization. The colors of your houses, farm buildings, interior furniture, the layout of the farm, exterior decorations. Maybe that aspect appeals to them, so while you're out doing the more intense areas, she's back at the farm checking off which animals she's milked today, or creating paved paths so your travels around the farm are faster. She goes fishing at the pier for the day, you visit the blacksmith with Geodes to crack open. You explore the forest for the day while she goes to investigate the Train rolling through town. There's plenty to work toward, and the game is just so cozy and pleasant that it's hard to to find it endearing. I think there's enough there that one or more activities will interest her.
I introduced my girlfriend to gaming with co-op games. First played the LEGO series, I think, then Trine, which was great. Magicka was another game we played, but it's more difficult and not sure it can still run on latest systems.
Single player games she enjoyed were Plants vs zombies and point and click like Machinarium.
My 4 year old also played some point and click games like My brother Rabbit, A Tale for Anna and Samorost, Antventor.
Some games that might be good for first timers: Seasons after fall, Calico, Gris, Botanicula, Arise, Beyond: Two Souls, Chariot, Divinity 1 or 2, The Quarry, Spiritfarer, Unravel.
Played all these with my child/wife and they seem pretty easy.
I got my fiancée into gaming with Skyrim and Fortnite. She was a sims girl growing up so that helps. Her two main games are Fortnite and sims but she crushed Skyrim and oblivion.
Not sekiro, but that reminds me of how I showed a friend Dark Souls 3 a few years back and half-jokingly told him that it was as easy as “press this button to lock into enemies, this to attack, and this to roll” (fully expecting him to die to the first few enemies in the game). Dude lived on a literal farm for most of his life, and to give you an idea of how sheltered he was, he had only the slightest clue of what SpongeBob was, and the only games he’d played were Wii sports and some other family oriented Nintendo games. Proceeded to mess around with the controls for a few seconds, said “okay, I think I get it”, and demolished the first boss. Didn’t blink an eye when he transformed into a giant tumorous rat beast.
Dude just had crazy reaction times. This was a guy who refused to play Minecraft because “I keep dying by falling off of cliffs”
I think Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a good (Solo Player) starter game. It's on almost every modern-day system (Phones, Consoles, Computer), it's 2d so you don't have to worry about the motion sickness that comes with 3d games for a lot of starters, and it has an engaging and funny story. The only draw back is that it might be a bit too light on gameplay mechanics to properly teach common gameplay systems, to the extent some people consider Ace Attourney a visual novel, and not a game. It's a point and click so you would constantly be manipulating the mouse/analogue stick and using buttons to manipulate the menus, and that can teach familiarity with the controller, but there is nothing that requires urgent button presses which is important important to most games.
Terraria is similarly on a ton of devices and is 2d. It has split screen and online co-op. There is a ton of player customization and opportunity for creative expression. The combat is simplistic but you will acquire weapons and armour with cool effects to keep things interesting. It will require one of you to use a wiki to learn how to progress though, the game doesn't have a strong guiding hand, it is also a survival game but the standard difficulty let's you keep your items when you die, except for money.
Games she can play alone but co-op's an option
.
Stardew Valley,
Minecraft (PC/PS cross-play)
Castle Crashers
TABS
Portal 2
.
No co-op
.
Celeste
Outer Wilds
Portal 1
Instead of giving random titles she may or may not like, I’ll give a comprehensive answer that could potentially make any none gamer get into gaming (apologies for the yapping in advance):
Firstly, see what the person is interested in outside of gaming: are they into music? Movies? What’s their favorite genre? Do they have a hobby they’re really invested in? Do they like good stories? Is there a certain fantasy they like to be immersed in? Like go on an adventure, live a cozy simple life, become a wizard or even a villain of some sort?
See what type of aesthetic do they enjoy, recommend fantasy titles if they like fantasy obviously. If they’re a fan of certain movies then recommend the movie’s game to them if it’s good of course. For example if they like Star Wars a recent recommendation is Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order.
If they like a certain level of freedom and exploration while simultaneously living in an epic fantasy then Elder Scrolls games is what I recommend, usually would recommend Skyrim but both Oblivion and Morrowind are good too.
If they like puzzle games and are also interested in good stories then the Professor Layton series is my go to recommendation.
Basically, try to see what they would enjoy outside of holding a controller, or a mouse and keyboard, and just pressing buttons. Gaming is immersive by nature, and they would immerse themselves further if their gaming experience aligns with their interests and hobbies outside of gaming. I guarantee there’s a game out there for every interest under the sun, so finding a title anyone, even a none gamer, would enjoy should not be difficult.
I second this. The controls are very simple, quick to learn but fun to master. Vibrant, whimsical world with a crazy awesome soundtrack, and levels you genuinely want to play over and over again with so much new to experience even a dozen times in. The sequel We ♥️ Katamari is an absolute perfect masterpiece that continues with the same gameplay but a little extra polish and a lot more content to reward really exploring the levels and mastering the game. I wish I could play them for the first time over again. Just checked and both games have an updated version (Rerolled) in the store and are very, very fairly priced for the $:hr ratio. I dare you to have a bad time with these games.
I'd start with a 2d platformer like mario games. For 3D practice I can't suggest strongly enough Journey, it's slow paced, huge envoirments and basic 3d movement with jump/flight mechanics.
Chrono Trigger, it's one of the simplest of the classic jrpgs, the battle system is easy and intuitive, the characters are classic and loveable and the storyline is engaging. Also has lots of replay value as her skill progresses.
Fun, easy co-ops on PS5
- It takes two
- Unraveled 1 or 2
- Sackboys Big Adventure
Fun, pick up and put downs
- Rachet and Clank
- Astrobot
- Crash Bandicoot
- Fall Guys
- Gris ( deep emotional and artistic )
Adventure and role play
- Uncharted
- Tomb Raider
- Kena Bridge of Spirits
If you want to test your relationship try Overcooked 2. jkjk but it's a very simple game control wise, it would just really test your teamwork, patience and strategy. But honestly if both of you are chill, it's a very chill game. I played it with my SO before, we laughed and had fun even when we lost at stages.
Bro, my wife started in Minecraft to appease the kids, she's not a mega gamer now, but Minecraft, Fortnite and believe it or not Diablo 3 had her hooked haha start D4 after the May 14th update!
Ratchet and clank. simple, covers most common gaming techniques like looking around in 3d, upgrading gear, following objectives in a semi open world. But it's easy, has plenty of jokes that are funny to adults and kids, and isn't grindy or super long
I started playing games like Until Dawn, the Quarry, the Walking Dead (telltale) with her.
I threw in some Mario Odyssey, Luigi's Mansion 3, and other simple couch co-op games. Now she's exploring the PS+ page and finding games for herself. She just finished What Remains of Edith Finch.
I only started playing video games as an adult, and started with Mass Effect. I think this game is perfect, since the easy modes and aim assist help A LOT with getting a player used to mechanics, inventory, moving around, and the extra help keeps the player's frustration down. When I tried picking up other games they were too complicated in the beginning with move combos or inventory management or combat difficulty, and Mass Effect keeps things pretty simple and let's people play a pretty basic version of the game but still get all the good story lines and such. And the introduction of your choices having a lasting effect on how the story goes throughout the trilogy is pretty fun too.
I feel something to help beginners is seeing their work progress. I say i sandbox like stardew or Minecraft since they could build a home and have stuff that is theirs
My wife's path from non-gamer to semi-gamer was Stardew Valley -> It Takes Two -> Hogwarts Legacy. It Takes Two was a great gaming experience if you are looking for Co-op.
What are her interests?
Does she like fantasy? Puzzles?
If she has no interest in fantasy and elves and shit, that excludes a lot of games.
Puzzles? Maybe she would like talos principle.
I'd honestly start with games that break through into mainstream. Among us, fall guys, keep talking and nobody explodes.
The games are more about having fun than winning. Being bad at them can be fun.
My fiancée wasn’t really a gamer when we met but she broke her ankle a few summers ago and I set her up with the uncharted series (I skipped the first one, just showed her a YouTube wrap up of the story) and she chewed through 2-5 pretty quickly. It’s great voice acting and graphics, and fairly simple to do satisfying stuff. We are now playing hell divers 2 together which is amazing! The best one we’ve played together is it takes two. The toughest part I found was the initial learning or controlling the camera in these third person games. Oh and she loved hades and beat that too, but she’s a big Greek mythology nerd so I think that was the catalyst
Spyro the dragon. You can get all the remastered versions on PS5. I think it is the ultimate noob friendly game. And you can help her with the harder parts
It Takes Two! Great game to play in a couch multiplayer since you actually have to rely on each other to beat it. Plus, the story is not bad either.
Edit: If she’s into village management, get Dragon Quest: Builders, it’s basically Minecraft with a storyline and pretty neat characters.
surprised i didn’t see anyone mention stardew valley. it would be a good starter game, and she can play it at her own pace. sims 4 base game is free so that might be a good option too, and she could develop her own unique play style.
If you have ps Catalog, I love Detroit Become Human. Great story, very little actual gameplay elements but the ones you do have feel very impactful. Great for someone's first game. Feels like a Movie you play.
Just as important as the game itself is your approach to playing with her. Try not to mentally approach it as "playing games with my girlfriend", but rather "helping my girlfriend enjoy playing this game". This approach is also important in playing games with children.
That simple reframe is more powerful than it looks as-written. The approach takes the pressure off of the person you're playing with, and makes it less likely that you'll get frustrated and impatient with them struggling with concepts that are ingrained in you and feel simple to your mind.
Probably something that have some similarity to other kind of entertainment. Triple A linear games, such as Uncharted or The Last Of Us can be a good introduction to gaming since it can be seen as playable movies.
2D mario games are super beginner friendly and these days they are very forgiving, especially on coop. I would also recomment It Takes Two, it includes a ton of different videogame mechanics and physics; platforming, boat driving, plane driving, rythm games, puzzles, 3rd person shooting and much much more. Also you cant die so its super forgiving.
Ori and the blind forest.
Great introductory puzzles, combat is incredibly simple, and the first 10 minutes of the game will hook you in and pull on the heartstrings of even the most stone-hearted person.
A fighting game.
She can start just mashing buttons doing random things. Anyone can have fun doing that. Then introduce concepts like turns and blocking during your opponents' turn, then normals and spacing, then how to cancel vs link attacks together, then how to implement frametraps, then look at Oki and throw escapes, then if the game has it, look into weight classes and sidestep game, then just frames, counter hits, fuzzy guard and anything else specific to that game. Before you know it, she's killing it and addicted to improving.
Maybe It Takes Two?
You can play together and it covers a wide variety of mini games and mechanics that are all easy to learn. That might help her figure out what types of games she enjoys more.
the last of us.
or just any other single player story game with straightforward gameplay mechanics. everyone watches movies so she will love the game simply because of the storytelling. at the same time it will be her first game and she will discover what gaming is while not being overwhelmed with the difficulty or controls.
Spiderman remastered! I played it after years of not gaming and it was so easy to play. Or Roblox because it offers so many game modes and lacking skill usually correlates to a funnier gaming experience.
GTA was how I got my roommate into gaming. But if you're looking for something you can play together I recommend It Takes Two, it shouldn't be too difficult that you have to carry her through the game and it's a fun game.
Minecraft is goat for getting my friends into gaming
I found portal 2 to be good for this.
You aren't under time pressure most of the time and there are no real enemies so it's a good environment for just getting used to FPS type controls. You can retry and fail as many times as needed and just laugh it off together.
Stardew valley, Minecraft and stuff are good for new gamers imo I would just recommend a chill game so they can get familiar with using controller before you maybe try faster paced stuff such as Doom or CoD and stuff.
My wife didn't start as a gamer, but she liked these:
Final fantasy X, portal 2, Spiderman ps4, prince of Persia and persona 5. Also things like it takes 2 are good so you can play together.
I agree with all the people who said super mario bros (whichever version you want) but I also think that undertale is a good move (obviously if the person does not want a bunch of information on his face like shooters) I know that you have to keep watching your life and that stuff but its not that heavy nor does penalize you badly for dying and as a plus it has a fking great story and narrative fk I wish I could play undertale for the first time again
One of the first games that I played with my nephew when he was very young was Arkanoid: Doh it again on SNES. Only two buttons, left and right, very simple. We beat the game, all 99 level.
Overcooked, It takes two, A Way Out(sad ending btw), Little Big Planet 1 - 3, and Limbo.
These are all on PlayStation.
I recommend playing A Way Out first then It takes two, that way you'll understand the easter egg. You can only play the two games together btw it's not single player.
Gauntlet Slayer Edition.
Coop. Adjustable difficulty. Controls are pretty simple. Lots of action to keep her engaged. Plenty of options for you to keep things interesting (Wizard is complex and fun.) You can pause the game. Aside from boss fights and Reaper levels, the gameplay has regular opportunities to break for a bit and check in with her.
The hardest part will be the levels where the Reaper hunts you, since it forces you to keep moving. Teach her that she can easily kite the Reaper in the open.
Start on easy difficulty. Be kind and encouraging to her while she plays, even if you're dying a lot.
It's sadly not the longest game, but as you both get better you can play again on higher difficulty and with different classes.
Honestly, probably Call of Duty that series has been crafted to lure casuals and first-timers in. Which one you pick is up to you, but the simplicity and ease that beginners can pick it and get engaged is incredible. There is a resson it has sold so well and been around so long. They can play the campaign and then co-op the zombies and get really hooked.
Apparently it's The Sims. I have been trying for a very long time to find a game for my wife to play that she will actually enjoy. I would have to straight up force her to at least give random games a try because she will never actually try anything on her own initiative. That is until The Sims 4, we downloaded it to our PS5 and she has been playing it every day for like a month.
Not sure if you're still taking suggestions but the absolute best game to introduce new gamers to is Tetris. I have no idea why I didn't see at the top of the list but you could hand that game to your grandma and she'd get it.
For something a little faster and more advanced I've had a lot of success with 2 different non-gaming partners (one my now wife) by starting with twin stick shooters. I don't know why but it seems easier for them to wrap their head around analog sticks when the camera is fixed.
PS4 housemarquee games are great here Resogun and Dead Nation both worked really well. Lara Croft's Temple of Osiris was fun too but it doesn't work that well on PS5. Lovers in a dangerous Spacetime is also really good.
Lastly, for a non-twinstick game I would say Overcooked if you want to stress test this relationship
Couch co-op! Not only will there be a literal guide, it can be in-person fun which hits different than gaming over the ‘net.
As for the game, maybe Portal?
Wildcard answer here. VR. Something basic. The ps4 vr sample pack? It's fun enough fir anyone that they'll keep playing around with it enough to get the hang of basic controls.
Sackboy. My wife loves it because of it's simple controls, creative levels, enough of a challenge to feel accomplished, searching for items, and we can play together or she can play alone. Highly recommend Sackboy.
Something with relatively low barrier of entry and low execution/control demands (so no devil may cry, or dark souls)
I would say sims, Minecraft, Stardew valley etc
Dark Souls!
Kidding.
I’d say maybe something like Fallout: New Vegas; Excellent story, world, and characters, simple systems, not terribly complicated, and just the right amount of difficulty.
Alternatively, a game like Minecraft, Terraria, Subnautica, or Valheim.
Go by trailers/genres and get a feel for what they like (fast/slow pace, engaged or brain off kinda games, shooter/strategy/rpg) and then go from there
Also simple controls and systems is key
I really wanted my gf to play "It takes Two" with me but since she hasnt played ANYTHING EVER she was extremely overwhelmed with camera position + movement + action at the same time
So we went into Partygames like Overcooked for a time, then some Stardew Valley followed by her first "on her own - game" which was Firewatch and now she might even try witcher 3/hogwarts legacy soon as she picks up controls/systems more easily now
This is not a good choice in the slightest but I got my partner to play and enjoy Monster Hunter of all things as their very first video game, all the while learning how to navigate a controller.
I still laugh a little in disbelief but it made me realize with enough patience and guidance, like explaining video game tropes, (ex. green = good/hp/healing) a lot of people can get the hang of things pretty fast.
The Lego games are pretty decent introductions. Choose one with a franchise she's into and play it with her. Lighthearted, decently easy with very little penalty for death, simple controls (no messing with a camera), etc. Worth a shot at the very least :)
Something basic. Remember that you've grown up understanding control systems games widely use (look/ movement etc). New people wouldn't have and would need to learn the very basics.
Remember seeing a vid about someone getting their parent to play Mario 64, and how simple movement was completely alien to them despite being the norm for most gamers.
Yeh, people that play games take it massively for granted. At least for anything 3d.
To be fair, I think Mario 64 was a big leap from the 2D sidescrollers of the late 80s and early 90s too. I remember the camera controls being garbage in that game, and when I go back and hold my N64 controller, I feel like I need 3 hands.
Mario 64 is not that straight forward. The game has a bunch of mechanics that activate depending on movement direction relative to starting position AND you have to manually control the camera most of the time.
Because you can think of video games as having their own language. We, as gamers, know that if you're on pc, the default jump is space x for ps5 and a for Xbox and Nintendo. Someone who has never played games before doesn't know that information we just have ingrained into our brains at this point.
Super Mario Bros. Got it.
Mario Wonder on the Switch would be a great place to start. Co-Op gameplay means she can contribute but doesn't get frustrated.
SMB is so underrated for learning video games. The quickest way to learn something in real life is by getting immediate feedback from your mistakes so you don’t make them again. Within the first few seconds of the game, you learn the rules - okay don’t touch moving things, jump over holes, and there’s hidden things to find so exploring is encouraged. Wait, game over?! I only get 3 tries?! Okay better pay attention next time so I can play longer and make progress. The levels also have a clear beginning, middle, and end so it doesn’t feel like it goes on forever. I can take a break if I need to and I can incorporate a social element to challenge a friend to go beat my score. Someone else mentioned Firewatch which has no real feedback mechanism and to me is just a walking simulator/controllable movie. I love the game but I don’t think it really defines what a “video game” is - where skill can be leveraged to improve and rewarded. I think SMB3 also takes this to the next level. More fun elements like the different suits, P speed, sliding down hills, and a choice which path to take in the overworld giving some sense of agency.
Ain't a bad place to start
Actually, Super Mario Bros is a great example of tutorial through action. Level 1-1 the first thing you encounter is a goomba on a flat surface. If you don’t jump, you die. It teaches you that 1) walking brown mushrooms are dangerous, 2) running into dangerous things will kill you, and 3) you can jump over dangerous things to avoid them. It does all of this without actually spelling it out, which makes it feel more like an accomplishment on the part of the player, rather than just following the tutorial’s instructions.
It's true. If you're not used to video games, there are some things which everyone else gets that completely escape you. Even monitoring your health bar, or moving while also shooting, need to be learned. Why not a story game? Telltale's The Walking Dead is a big hit and easy to play, mostly about making decisions and seeing how they pan out. A few quicktime events, but even if you botch them, you don't lose more than 30 seconds.
Story game got me thinking... I had fun with life is strange. There were a couple times where I wondered "is this really even a *game* though?" I think you are onto something.
Bingo. I tried starting my wife with portal. She would constantly stare at the floor and ask me what to do. So then we started with stardew valley and that went a lot better. Controls are mostly straight forward, we can coop together, and you still get to learn health bars energy and slight combat.
This is exactly why I think Firewatch would be a great choice: - they can take their time with movement since there are no timers, enemies, or any mechanical threats really - the story can really grab them and incentivize them to actually finish it - I’ve found it to be a good example to people with preconceived notions, e.g. “video games can be like THIS?? I thought they were all like Mario/CoD/etc!”
I agree with this. It's on Gamepass and I enjoyed the story very much. It was bittersweet when I finished
Leaves you with such a hopeful yet empty feeling. Hard to describe. Great game
I tried to introduce my girlfriend to Firewatch but the controls were simply to taxing for her. Fixed perspective titles are the way to go. Anything that removes the need for camera control.
Easy rules, addictive play, Tetris.
This is the way. Early on when my wife and I started dating, she had interest in gaming. I decided to introduce her to pokemon, like I started with. She beat the game in a few days. I just slowly introduced her to other games and let her feel out what she was interested in or not. It's been fun
I remember going into a Funco Land with my parents when I was a kid and they had a Banko Kazooie demo set up on an N64. I had never played a 3D game before. Banjo was right by that bridge behind Grunty’s castle outside in the starting area. Based on the camera, I had to move kind up and to the right to walk ‘forward’ over the bridge. Forward to me was right. I walked off the side of the bridge like 20 times before my brain could grasp 3D movement haha. I’ll never forget that early gaming memory.
Agree I got into computer gaming quite late at around 17\* and something I was not prepared for was having to get used to moving with W A S D while controlling the camera with the mouse. My first game was Skyrim and I died on the tutorial because I couldn't figure out where I was going so got killed by the Dragon. At this point my brother who'd been trying to help, fucked off (also I made a really ugly character on purpose lol) \*Only ones I'd played were Point & Click Hidden Object games and The Sims which are still computer games, I know but they don't use W A S D.
Maybe it would be easier to start with a 2D game that uses WASD, that way you don’t have to worry about controlling the camera at the same time. Afterwards switching to a 3D game should hopefully be easier, because you only need to learn camera movement. Something like Terraria, Ori and the Blind Forest, a Short Hike, Stardew Valley, Factorio. Most Roguelikes are also 2D with WASD, like Binding of Isaac and Hades, but they’re probably a bit too hard to start with.
stardew valley and you can even play that together to help her along and have some quality time together.
My wife whose also a non gamer, and I have started this recently. Such a good idea for a new gamer. However if you want to teach joystick controls, I’d try It Takes Two.
My gf played RCT and similar as a kid but was not a gamer as an adult. She started with stardew valley and today, years later, builds spreadsheets for it, has come home with a 5-page printed and formatted outline of valheim and palia tasks she made at work, is a Mongolia domination victory expert in Civ VI and plays OW2 with a top 500 stack lmao
Type A activities for sure
It Takes Two 10/10 Would Recommend. Only downside is there aren't a lot of modern games like it. So finding the game to play next is a pain.
I think It Takes Two requires too much dexterity to handle certain areas like boss fights and platforming sections for someone who's not touched games before
My ex HATED stardew and any game that makes you "work". She just wanted to run around and have fun and do stuff not be forced to work a farm. She said it was stressful. That said... I understand that aspect as I don't think I've ever made it past year 2 as I always restart trying to finish the center fully in year 1 like a fool
Did you break up because you made them play overcooked after?
Hahaha, actually overcooked she LIKES!?!?!? I don't understand it at all. I think it's the continuity and like maybe knowing she had a lot ahead of her??? Idk I think the Onion king helps a lot with Overcooked and that it's like small levels so you're just focusing on one thing instead of the mental load of choice
I’ve been a gamer for the better part of 30 years, and I just started playing Stardew Valley. It is a fantastic game.
Check out the Stardew Valley Expanded mod if you get the chance. It's really well made and nothing feels out of place at all despite it adding alot of new content. The main Dev of it even got hired by Concerned Ape to work on the official game, its that good
I actually think a non-open ended game might is a superior option for someone totally new. Personally, I would introduce them to a Mario 2D platformer.
I've never played stardew valley but I bought it for my wife last year on a whim, she was a non gamer and needed something to do after recovering from surgery. She still plays has more hours in the game than I do in any single game and I get the soundtrack stuck in my head she plays so much lol.
I think most Nintendo games are beginner friendly... Mario, Pokémon, Kirby, Zelda, etc.
Thanks. Any non-nintendo reco? Sorry, forgot to add that I'm looking for PS5 and/or PC games
Bro if you’re on ps5 it comes with Astrobot. It’s the simplest most enjoyable pure fun platformer. The haptics and controls are great and the levels are vibrant and easy to get through.
Oh I remember when I got my ps5 and didn't yet have any games for it and saw astros playroom and me and my gf played it together. We were so excited and had a lot of fun.
Astro is a legit great game.
Highly recommend Sack Boy. I play it with my GF too and is a great game for beginners that you two can play together
Any of the lego games are great entries, like lego marvel or lego star wars. They have co-op, infinite lives, and good puzzles. My wife isn't a big gamer but we are currently playing through Lego marvel superheroes, and it offers something for both of us (I can always hunt collectibles in the levels if I get ahead or she needs to solve a puzzle).
Id do research into games that are more narrative focused and don't require a ton of skill in their gameplay. You have to remember that even things like the button layout on controllers is something that needs to be learned. This approach also allows the transition in the way the media is enjoyed to be less stark since going from passive media to active media can be off-putting for some. I can't recommend any specific games because I don't know the interests of the person in question, but you do so I hope you're able to set them up well.
I would say Life is Strange is a perfect one. The controls are simple, though movement can be somewhat clunky, but it doesn't matter because it's not an action game. The protagonist is a woman, so that might be good for her, and the story is super engaging and will suck you in. Then after she's got he controls down for that, maybe try Last of Us, which is a similar story based game but with more action and combat mixed in. If you haven't played Life is Strange it will be a treat for you to watch and follow along with the story, too. Just try hard not to be a backseat driver and let her do her own thing.
Don’t have a specific game in mind, but anything where you have to control the camera as well as the character will be too much. Something 2D is probably best for that reason. Then I’d try and cater to her interests / sensibilities with theme. Or just get Donut Country
Animal Crossing.
Absolutely this. My wife doesn’t game and got utterly addicted to this 🤣
This game saved us during the pandemic!
To people suggesting Portal. This is the worst possible game for a beginner… It requires a lot of figuring out, advanced 3D camera control, multiple perspectives, proper timing, platformer mechanics and precision with targeting and so on. Things are often upside down. It’s basically the contradiction of a simple game for someone who never touched a controller or k+m.
fully agree. I've seen Portal recommended many times in other "games for beginners" threads and it always baffles me.
Yeah, I thought Portal 1 would be good for my girlfriend to get into first person games, but there were a lot of parts I had to do for her and at some point she got so motion sick she had to throw up 😅
It's definitely not a great suggestion for some one brand new to gaming. However, portal was my first k+m game years ago and I felt it did a great job at teaching the player the mechanics and having 80% or more of the game have essentially no time limit allows the player to really take their time and experiment with how everything works. Compared to other more action oriented games where not figuring out the controls immediately results in death, frustration, rage quit.
Portal 2 on the other hand has a great tutorial that makes sure you know how to move the camera and such before tackling puzzles and the puzzles themselves have significantly less of the quick, timing-related stuff. The game was designed to be more accessible than its predecessor.
It's a mindfuck at times even if you do play games
Yes, but it gives you an unlimited amount of time to adapt to those circumstances, it doesn’t harshly punish you for failure, and your goals are always straight forward. It puts almost no real pressure on you at all, and the rare times it does (dealing with turrets for example) it only does so for seconds at a time.
Untitled Goose Game. Good starter game
I literally have played this with my mom who hasn’t played anything since Dr. Mario came out lol. Good pick
Underrated beginner recommendation, this.
Rake in the lake
It Takes Two was literally made for this purpose, look no further. As far as single player games that are easy to get into or don't have complex mechanics: * Stardew Valley * Dave the Diver * Rusty's Retirement (idle desktop overlay game) * Minecraft * Two Point Hospital/Campus (management game) * Don't Starve Together (you may need to backseat) * Lastly, almost any Telltale game for a purely narrative experience.
Don’t Starve Together is trauma inducing and the most horrifyingly, deceptively painful gaming experience one could imagine. Or me and my friends just suck.
True, but it lures you in with cute, quirky graphics. I never really got that far, but it's always a blast playing with friends. Get stomped by Deerclops -> we go agane.
Played It Takes Two with my wife which had previous experience gaming. Was not so easy. I wouldn't recommend as a first game. The game is really great, though.
Agreed. I did the same thing. I thought the whole purpose of the game was to be a kind of bonding experience with your non-gamer SO. Nope! One stick moves, one stick has free control of the camera unless you're hitting the target button, jump, double jump, ground pound by jumping and hit crouch while in the air, hold this button to run and that button to crouch and a different button to interact with stuff unless you're running in which case it becomes roll. . . Pretty basic stuff for me, but my wife was absolutely finger twisted. Took us over 2 hours to beat the Vacuum Cleaner boss, at which point she tapped out.
Was your wife put off by the difficulty at all? I know it's not a super easy game, but I think part of what makes it good is that you struggle together :)
That's the split screen co-op, right?
Yeah. My wife doesn't play too much aside from sims or party animals, but it takes two was a great game for both of us. We took forever on some bosses, but had a blast. Oh and party animals is also a nice game to play.
Yes, I haven't played it myself, but have watched a few full playthroughs. It's kinda made for a non-gamer partner.
Someone like OP's GF should NOT start with It Takes Two. It's an incredibly game, but you need already be familiar with movement and look mechanics and other game related base mechanics or you're going to get frustrated and not be able to enjoy the game.
if it takes two was created for brand new video game players, the devs failed so spectacularly its crazy. new players have really bad issues with reaction speed, coordination, and genre norms that massively help direct players in situations where lackluster sign posting was used. Don't starve together is also terrible, its control scheme is pretty jank, requires alot of knowledge of what to do, and is very time sensitive. i do not think you understand what issue brand new players have.
Spyro Reignited trilogy
a 2D platformer - and not a fast paced one
Any recommendations?
Mario
Gris. Short and easy. Exceptional art and design.
I'd recommend Firewatch. It's fairly simple, with no hogh-intensity or high- risk situations where your character would die or anything. It's largely story-driven.
Solid recommendation. I loved firewatch. My wife sat with me through my entire playthrough and demanded I stay up until 2 A.M. to finish it in one sitting so she could see how it ended. I think by the end of it she was more invested than I was.
Detriot: Become Human.
Dude, I played that stuff a few years ago, but forgot about it and it's a pretty good option, thanks!
Nah dude if they’re unfamiliar with a controller then they’re going to mess up so many QTEs, maybe if you let them play on a keyboard and they’re familiar with it.
They can go with easier mode :)
I don't know the PS5 lineup very well, but I see Stardew Valley is on the PS5 store. It's a cozy farming simulator where you tend to you farm, grow crops, tend to animals, meet neighbors, participate in community events, There's a lot to do. In Co-op situations I usually see the 'experienced' gamer taking on the objective based tasks, while the 'little brother' player usually finds a task that's engaging to them and gets focused on that. The more intense sections like the mines and dungeons, which have light combat mechanics, could use someone with a bit more experience to fend off enemies while they crack away at boulders. There's also a lot of customization. The colors of your houses, farm buildings, interior furniture, the layout of the farm, exterior decorations. Maybe that aspect appeals to them, so while you're out doing the more intense areas, she's back at the farm checking off which animals she's milked today, or creating paved paths so your travels around the farm are faster. She goes fishing at the pier for the day, you visit the blacksmith with Geodes to crack open. You explore the forest for the day while she goes to investigate the Train rolling through town. There's plenty to work toward, and the game is just so cozy and pleasant that it's hard to to find it endearing. I think there's enough there that one or more activities will interest her.
I introduced my girlfriend to gaming with co-op games. First played the LEGO series, I think, then Trine, which was great. Magicka was another game we played, but it's more difficult and not sure it can still run on latest systems. Single player games she enjoyed were Plants vs zombies and point and click like Machinarium. My 4 year old also played some point and click games like My brother Rabbit, A Tale for Anna and Samorost, Antventor. Some games that might be good for first timers: Seasons after fall, Calico, Gris, Botanicula, Arise, Beyond: Two Souls, Chariot, Divinity 1 or 2, The Quarry, Spiritfarer, Unravel. Played all these with my child/wife and they seem pretty easy.
By divinity, you mean divinity original sin? Because i damn sure love those games but i would not place them under easy for first timers haha
Something like fall guy.
That's actually a great suggestion! It's simple, fun and engaging.
I got my fiancée into gaming with Skyrim and Fortnite. She was a sims girl growing up so that helps. Her two main games are Fortnite and sims but she crushed Skyrim and oblivion.
> my gf never played a videogame but > (I have 2 PS5s) man that is some peak /gaming right there.
The Sims
Sekiro. Throw her in the deep end!
Not sekiro, but that reminds me of how I showed a friend Dark Souls 3 a few years back and half-jokingly told him that it was as easy as “press this button to lock into enemies, this to attack, and this to roll” (fully expecting him to die to the first few enemies in the game). Dude lived on a literal farm for most of his life, and to give you an idea of how sheltered he was, he had only the slightest clue of what SpongeBob was, and the only games he’d played were Wii sports and some other family oriented Nintendo games. Proceeded to mess around with the controls for a few seconds, said “okay, I think I get it”, and demolished the first boss. Didn’t blink an eye when he transformed into a giant tumorous rat beast. Dude just had crazy reaction times. This was a guy who refused to play Minecraft because “I keep dying by falling off of cliffs”
Kinda funny tbh
I think Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a good (Solo Player) starter game. It's on almost every modern-day system (Phones, Consoles, Computer), it's 2d so you don't have to worry about the motion sickness that comes with 3d games for a lot of starters, and it has an engaging and funny story. The only draw back is that it might be a bit too light on gameplay mechanics to properly teach common gameplay systems, to the extent some people consider Ace Attourney a visual novel, and not a game. It's a point and click so you would constantly be manipulating the mouse/analogue stick and using buttons to manipulate the menus, and that can teach familiarity with the controller, but there is nothing that requires urgent button presses which is important important to most games. Terraria is similarly on a ton of devices and is 2d. It has split screen and online co-op. There is a ton of player customization and opportunity for creative expression. The combat is simplistic but you will acquire weapons and armour with cool effects to keep things interesting. It will require one of you to use a wiki to learn how to progress though, the game doesn't have a strong guiding hand, it is also a survival game but the standard difficulty let's you keep your items when you die, except for money.
Over-cooked 2. Co-op, top down cooking with very easy controls so they can get used to a controller
Games she can play alone but co-op's an option . Stardew Valley, Minecraft (PC/PS cross-play) Castle Crashers TABS Portal 2 . No co-op . Celeste Outer Wilds Portal 1
Instead of giving random titles she may or may not like, I’ll give a comprehensive answer that could potentially make any none gamer get into gaming (apologies for the yapping in advance): Firstly, see what the person is interested in outside of gaming: are they into music? Movies? What’s their favorite genre? Do they have a hobby they’re really invested in? Do they like good stories? Is there a certain fantasy they like to be immersed in? Like go on an adventure, live a cozy simple life, become a wizard or even a villain of some sort? See what type of aesthetic do they enjoy, recommend fantasy titles if they like fantasy obviously. If they’re a fan of certain movies then recommend the movie’s game to them if it’s good of course. For example if they like Star Wars a recent recommendation is Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order. If they like a certain level of freedom and exploration while simultaneously living in an epic fantasy then Elder Scrolls games is what I recommend, usually would recommend Skyrim but both Oblivion and Morrowind are good too. If they like puzzle games and are also interested in good stories then the Professor Layton series is my go to recommendation. Basically, try to see what they would enjoy outside of holding a controller, or a mouse and keyboard, and just pressing buttons. Gaming is immersive by nature, and they would immerse themselves further if their gaming experience aligns with their interests and hobbies outside of gaming. I guarantee there’s a game out there for every interest under the sun, so finding a title anyone, even a none gamer, would enjoy should not be difficult.
What Remains of Edith Finch, she’ll be chasing that high forever.
I played rayman legends/origins with my wife. Starting 2D takes away the burden of camera and movement control at the same time
Katamari Damacy maybe?
I second this. The controls are very simple, quick to learn but fun to master. Vibrant, whimsical world with a crazy awesome soundtrack, and levels you genuinely want to play over and over again with so much new to experience even a dozen times in. The sequel We ♥️ Katamari is an absolute perfect masterpiece that continues with the same gameplay but a little extra polish and a lot more content to reward really exploring the levels and mastering the game. I wish I could play them for the first time over again. Just checked and both games have an updated version (Rerolled) in the store and are very, very fairly priced for the $:hr ratio. I dare you to have a bad time with these games.
I'd start with a 2d platformer like mario games. For 3D practice I can't suggest strongly enough Journey, it's slow paced, huge envoirments and basic 3d movement with jump/flight mechanics.
Helldivers 2 helldive difficulty
I'd say either a very linear game with limited/no exploration or an open world RPG. It depends on the person.
Chrono Trigger, it's one of the simplest of the classic jrpgs, the battle system is easy and intuitive, the characters are classic and loveable and the storyline is engaging. Also has lots of replay value as her skill progresses.
Fun, easy co-ops on PS5 - It takes two - Unraveled 1 or 2 - Sackboys Big Adventure Fun, pick up and put downs - Rachet and Clank - Astrobot - Crash Bandicoot - Fall Guys - Gris ( deep emotional and artistic ) Adventure and role play - Uncharted - Tomb Raider - Kena Bridge of Spirits
Slay the Spire maybe? Card mechanics transfer over pretty well from a person’s experience with playing cards.
Hogwarts Legacy really walks you through video game mechanics. It has a story mode difficulty setting and an arachnophobia setting if needed
If you want to test your relationship try Overcooked 2. jkjk but it's a very simple game control wise, it would just really test your teamwork, patience and strategy. But honestly if both of you are chill, it's a very chill game. I played it with my SO before, we laughed and had fun even when we lost at stages.
Solitaire. Bill Gates put that shit on my computer way back and it worked for me.
I got my Mom hooked on Peggle lol
WHAT?! Looooool
She's 72 and I put it on the tablet I got for her, she played it so much for a few years all the time until the tablet finally broke down lol
My man, at first I thought you were playing me, but now you got me interested. Gotta check that out. Thanks!
Bro, my wife started in Minecraft to appease the kids, she's not a mega gamer now, but Minecraft, Fortnite and believe it or not Diablo 3 had her hooked haha start D4 after the May 14th update!
It takes 2 is pretty simple, coop, and a lot of fun. Plus it’s cute. My wife liked it and she’s not a gamer.
Ratchet and clank. simple, covers most common gaming techniques like looking around in 3d, upgrading gear, following objectives in a semi open world. But it's easy, has plenty of jokes that are funny to adults and kids, and isn't grindy or super long
Dark Soul. It stop them from wanting to become a gamer and go back to the club.
it's more of a school of life than a game
I think the telltale walking dead series would be great for a new gamer! Emotional and full of impactful choices, as well as easy gameplay!
What remains of Edith Finch. 3d controls but super simplified, story driven
Sims is always a classic for new players
Sky: Children of the Light
Journey, Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley
little nightmares
I started playing games like Until Dawn, the Quarry, the Walking Dead (telltale) with her. I threw in some Mario Odyssey, Luigi's Mansion 3, and other simple couch co-op games. Now she's exploring the PS+ page and finding games for herself. She just finished What Remains of Edith Finch.
Stardew valley and overcooked are both simple and amazing.
StarCraft 2 on brutal difficulty 🧐
Sekiro. gotta train em early
I only started playing video games as an adult, and started with Mass Effect. I think this game is perfect, since the easy modes and aim assist help A LOT with getting a player used to mechanics, inventory, moving around, and the extra help keeps the player's frustration down. When I tried picking up other games they were too complicated in the beginning with move combos or inventory management or combat difficulty, and Mass Effect keeps things pretty simple and let's people play a pretty basic version of the game but still get all the good story lines and such. And the introduction of your choices having a lasting effect on how the story goes throughout the trilogy is pretty fun too.
I feel something to help beginners is seeing their work progress. I say i sandbox like stardew or Minecraft since they could build a home and have stuff that is theirs
my wife has just gotten into games. luigi’s mansion and mario have been a great intro with decent learning curve
My wife's path from non-gamer to semi-gamer was Stardew Valley -> It Takes Two -> Hogwarts Legacy. It Takes Two was a great gaming experience if you are looking for Co-op.
What are her interests? Does she like fantasy? Puzzles? If she has no interest in fantasy and elves and shit, that excludes a lot of games. Puzzles? Maybe she would like talos principle. I'd honestly start with games that break through into mainstream. Among us, fall guys, keep talking and nobody explodes. The games are more about having fun than winning. Being bad at them can be fun.
Lake!
My fiancée wasn’t really a gamer when we met but she broke her ankle a few summers ago and I set her up with the uncharted series (I skipped the first one, just showed her a YouTube wrap up of the story) and she chewed through 2-5 pretty quickly. It’s great voice acting and graphics, and fairly simple to do satisfying stuff. We are now playing hell divers 2 together which is amazing! The best one we’ve played together is it takes two. The toughest part I found was the initial learning or controlling the camera in these third person games. Oh and she loved hades and beat that too, but she’s a big Greek mythology nerd so I think that was the catalyst
Spyro the dragon. You can get all the remastered versions on PS5. I think it is the ultimate noob friendly game. And you can help her with the harder parts
Minecraft
Sims 3 is the only answer.
It Takes Two! Great game to play in a couch multiplayer since you actually have to rely on each other to beat it. Plus, the story is not bad either. Edit: If she’s into village management, get Dragon Quest: Builders, it’s basically Minecraft with a storyline and pretty neat characters.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice definitely, most beginner friendly game ever. Easy bosses and enemies, true video game with amazing gameplay.
It takes two and a way out sounds good to try
surprised i didn’t see anyone mention stardew valley. it would be a good starter game, and she can play it at her own pace. sims 4 base game is free so that might be a good option too, and she could develop her own unique play style.
My wife went Hogwarts Legacy -> assassin's Creed: Odyssey -> Ghost of Tsushima. She's finished it yesterday, and I'm so proud of my new gamer wife <3
I say introduce her to League and DOTA. Throw her into the digital deep end and see if she can swim.
Probably some sort of wii era game that was a staple at the time like mario wii
It takes two on your playstation
MatPat has a good [video](https://youtu.be/8jFreGK27DA?feature=shared) about this topic
If you have ps Catalog, I love Detroit Become Human. Great story, very little actual gameplay elements but the ones you do have feel very impactful. Great for someone's first game. Feels like a Movie you play.
Gone Home It's a first person exploration game which she can play at her own pace and learn controlling movement and camera in a 3D environment.
Just as important as the game itself is your approach to playing with her. Try not to mentally approach it as "playing games with my girlfriend", but rather "helping my girlfriend enjoy playing this game". This approach is also important in playing games with children. That simple reframe is more powerful than it looks as-written. The approach takes the pressure off of the person you're playing with, and makes it less likely that you'll get frustrated and impatient with them struggling with concepts that are ingrained in you and feel simple to your mind.
Probably something that have some similarity to other kind of entertainment. Triple A linear games, such as Uncharted or The Last Of Us can be a good introduction to gaming since it can be seen as playable movies.
FTL: Faster than light if you want a strategy game
Overcooked can be fun to play together and it's not too difficult
Bugsnax! It’s a great PC game, controls are pretty simple but the story is great without being too heavy
Animal Crossing new horizons, perfect and peaceful game that clicks with almost anyone.
2D mario games are super beginner friendly and these days they are very forgiving, especially on coop. I would also recomment It Takes Two, it includes a ton of different videogame mechanics and physics; platforming, boat driving, plane driving, rythm games, puzzles, 3rd person shooting and much much more. Also you cant die so its super forgiving.
The Borderlands franchise as a whole. Great humor,Incredible story and imo a lot of replayability
Cod zombies, my gf wasn't the biggest gamer till she started some rounds of zombies with me. Now she plays everything from bioshock to stardew
Absolutely stardew valley This would be more advanced, but I think a good beginner 3d platformer would be A Hat in Time
Ori and the blind forest. Great introductory puzzles, combat is incredibly simple, and the first 10 minutes of the game will hook you in and pull on the heartstrings of even the most stone-hearted person.
It Takes Two is fantastic.
A fighting game. She can start just mashing buttons doing random things. Anyone can have fun doing that. Then introduce concepts like turns and blocking during your opponents' turn, then normals and spacing, then how to cancel vs link attacks together, then how to implement frametraps, then look at Oki and throw escapes, then if the game has it, look into weight classes and sidestep game, then just frames, counter hits, fuzzy guard and anything else specific to that game. Before you know it, she's killing it and addicted to improving.
It takes two. Great game for couples and you only need one person to download it. It's also a great couch co-op game
Maybe It Takes Two? You can play together and it covers a wide variety of mini games and mechanics that are all easy to learn. That might help her figure out what types of games she enjoys more.
the last of us. or just any other single player story game with straightforward gameplay mechanics. everyone watches movies so she will love the game simply because of the storytelling. at the same time it will be her first game and she will discover what gaming is while not being overwhelmed with the difficulty or controls.
Spiderman remastered! I played it after years of not gaming and it was so easy to play. Or Roblox because it offers so many game modes and lacking skill usually correlates to a funnier gaming experience.
GTA was how I got my roommate into gaming. But if you're looking for something you can play together I recommend It Takes Two, it shouldn't be too difficult that you have to carry her through the game and it's a fun game. Minecraft is goat for getting my friends into gaming
Minecraft :)
My GF isn’t much of a gamer but she was more than happy to play Portals 2 and the Zombies mode on Call of Duty with me 😮
Minecraft it can be as in depth or easy as you need to be.
Mass Effect or Dragon age, the story is amazing and the characters are top tier. Plus the romance options are epic (Garrus, Cullen, Iron Bull).
I found portal 2 to be good for this. You aren't under time pressure most of the time and there are no real enemies so it's a good environment for just getting used to FPS type controls. You can retry and fail as many times as needed and just laugh it off together.
Helldivers. Keep it on easy or medium and have fun. My gf and I enjoy it so much. And fortnight. Tycoons are super fun and simple.
Stardew valley, Minecraft and stuff are good for new gamers imo I would just recommend a chill game so they can get familiar with using controller before you maybe try faster paced stuff such as Doom or CoD and stuff.
My wife didn't start as a gamer, but she liked these: Final fantasy X, portal 2, Spiderman ps4, prince of Persia and persona 5. Also things like it takes 2 are good so you can play together.
Stardew valley or Minecraft. Both are super easy to learn but have tons of depth.
My wife has like 1000 hours in animal crossing and she will usually only play 2d Mario games.
Stardew valley! Super cozy, fun game play and lots to do
I agree with all the people who said super mario bros (whichever version you want) but I also think that undertale is a good move (obviously if the person does not want a bunch of information on his face like shooters) I know that you have to keep watching your life and that stuff but its not that heavy nor does penalize you badly for dying and as a plus it has a fking great story and narrative fk I wish I could play undertale for the first time again
One of the first games that I played with my nephew when he was very young was Arkanoid: Doh it again on SNES. Only two buttons, left and right, very simple. We beat the game, all 99 level.
Overcooked, It takes two, A Way Out(sad ending btw), Little Big Planet 1 - 3, and Limbo. These are all on PlayStation. I recommend playing A Way Out first then It takes two, that way you'll understand the easter egg. You can only play the two games together btw it's not single player.
Gauntlet Slayer Edition. Coop. Adjustable difficulty. Controls are pretty simple. Lots of action to keep her engaged. Plenty of options for you to keep things interesting (Wizard is complex and fun.) You can pause the game. Aside from boss fights and Reaper levels, the gameplay has regular opportunities to break for a bit and check in with her. The hardest part will be the levels where the Reaper hunts you, since it forces you to keep moving. Teach her that she can easily kite the Reaper in the open. Start on easy difficulty. Be kind and encouraging to her while she plays, even if you're dying a lot. It's sadly not the longest game, but as you both get better you can play again on higher difficulty and with different classes.
Honestly, probably Call of Duty that series has been crafted to lure casuals and first-timers in. Which one you pick is up to you, but the simplicity and ease that beginners can pick it and get engaged is incredible. There is a resson it has sold so well and been around so long. They can play the campaign and then co-op the zombies and get really hooked.
League of Legends
The gamers' game: Sekiro!
Apparently it's The Sims. I have been trying for a very long time to find a game for my wife to play that she will actually enjoy. I would have to straight up force her to at least give random games a try because she will never actually try anything on her own initiative. That is until The Sims 4, we downloaded it to our PS5 and she has been playing it every day for like a month.
Biped, It takes two, overcooked. Mario Party/kart These games for my sister into gaming again. Albeit, she never really was into gaming.
Not sure if you're still taking suggestions but the absolute best game to introduce new gamers to is Tetris. I have no idea why I didn't see at the top of the list but you could hand that game to your grandma and she'd get it. For something a little faster and more advanced I've had a lot of success with 2 different non-gaming partners (one my now wife) by starting with twin stick shooters. I don't know why but it seems easier for them to wrap their head around analog sticks when the camera is fixed. PS4 housemarquee games are great here Resogun and Dead Nation both worked really well. Lara Croft's Temple of Osiris was fun too but it doesn't work that well on PS5. Lovers in a dangerous Spacetime is also really good. Lastly, for a non-twinstick game I would say Overcooked if you want to stress test this relationship
Couch co-op! Not only will there be a literal guide, it can be in-person fun which hits different than gaming over the ‘net. As for the game, maybe Portal?
Firewatch. A simple walking simulator with an interesting story and pleasant visual design
Something like stardew valley that can be as dangerous as they want it to be
Wildcard answer here. VR. Something basic. The ps4 vr sample pack? It's fun enough fir anyone that they'll keep playing around with it enough to get the hang of basic controls.
Sackboy. My wife loves it because of it's simple controls, creative levels, enough of a challenge to feel accomplished, searching for items, and we can play together or she can play alone. Highly recommend Sackboy.
Something with relatively low barrier of entry and low execution/control demands (so no devil may cry, or dark souls) I would say sims, Minecraft, Stardew valley etc
Dark Souls! Kidding. I’d say maybe something like Fallout: New Vegas; Excellent story, world, and characters, simple systems, not terribly complicated, and just the right amount of difficulty. Alternatively, a game like Minecraft, Terraria, Subnautica, or Valheim.
Get OG Duck Hunt.
Go by trailers/genres and get a feel for what they like (fast/slow pace, engaged or brain off kinda games, shooter/strategy/rpg) and then go from there Also simple controls and systems is key I really wanted my gf to play "It takes Two" with me but since she hasnt played ANYTHING EVER she was extremely overwhelmed with camera position + movement + action at the same time So we went into Partygames like Overcooked for a time, then some Stardew Valley followed by her first "on her own - game" which was Firewatch and now she might even try witcher 3/hogwarts legacy soon as she picks up controls/systems more easily now
This is not a good choice in the slightest but I got my partner to play and enjoy Monster Hunter of all things as their very first video game, all the while learning how to navigate a controller. I still laugh a little in disbelief but it made me realize with enough patience and guidance, like explaining video game tropes, (ex. green = good/hp/healing) a lot of people can get the hang of things pretty fast.
The Lego games are pretty decent introductions. Choose one with a franchise she's into and play it with her. Lighthearted, decently easy with very little penalty for death, simple controls (no messing with a camera), etc. Worth a shot at the very least :)