A Good Game for an Absolute Beginner?

[IRBaboon]

What about the recently HD'ified monkey island games ? simple point and clicks reasonable visuals now and quite a few funny moments which is always a good thing.

On the other hand I would suggest looking at your mothers interests and asking her what she would like to play or heck ask her to sit down infront of steam and have a browse and see what looks interesting and then take it from there.

If on the PC I'd recommend the non HD'd version. The HD versions controls are kind of terrible on the PC

 

[Combustion Kevin]

I recommend "Manhunt" for the PC or PS2.

classic entertainment for the whole family, right up there with monopoly or disney movies.

 

[TrevHead]

If she is totally new to controllers and has bad hand eye coardination i'ld recomemnd puzzlers

Crayon Physics: very relaxing and theres several ways to beat each puzzle.
Any connect 3 puzzler would be good like Sega's Dr Robotniks Mean Bean Machine & Columns (They are both mega drive games but I beleive they are both on steam.)
I highly recommend Might and Magic Clash of Heroes its a very intresting connect 3/ chess/ rpg hybrid. (this is on console and PC and plays very well with a pad)

Also try out simple 2D indies like-

Noitu Love 2 its mouse and keyboard (check out Konjack org for his other freeware games like chalk)
Carpe Fulgur's Reccetear: Its a mix of shop management and simple hack and slash dugeon crawling.
Aquaria: A mix of echo the dophin and a shooter its both mouse and pad also
Lesbian Spider-Queens of Mars: despite its name its actually a good take on Wizards or Wor
Mighty Jill Off
Don't Look Back
Robot Unicorn Attack and Canabalt
Amnesia
Staking

you might need to use xpadder to use a pad with those that are flash games

Sonic 1 (on steam) or any Ninty 1st party games like Mario, Mariokart, Zelda and especially Kirby which is super easy

Try out some co-op with her
Streets of Rage 2 or any other beat em up like Castle Crashers on XBLA
Borderlands
Any Diablo Clone
Dungeon Defenders
Terraria
Jamestown (play on easy and aslong as 1 player is alive they can revive ther other)

EDIT if you are into emulators try out Warsong an easy but enjoyable TRPG, and Jak and Daxter 1

also for semi challenging 2d platformers Love and VVVVVV (super meatboy might be too difficult for a platformer newbie)

For 3d PC Strategy, Company of Heroes, Homeworld or any other Relic Entertainment game will do

 

[WaysideMaze]

Go for the most basic of platformers.

Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, Kirby, that sort of stuff.

Simple mechanics, but good gameplay.

They could buy the latest indie bundle and get her playing Super Meat Boy and Braid.

Those are platformers

 

[SuperSuperSuperGuy]

I actually got into gaming through Pokémon, so I'd recommend that, starting with first gen. As the series went on, it got more complicated, so it'd be best to start off with something simple.

Portal's also great due to the fact that it requires thinking skills rather than gaming experience.

Kirby is excellent due to overall low difficulty and attractive art style.

Old platformers like Mario and Sonic are alright because of their simplicity, though I'm not a big fan of them.

Mario Party seems to be good for introducing others to games; it's a social experience with a bunch of simple mini-games with good variety.

Or you could try something with a good story. Think of what she likes and then go from there. Just try not to pick out anything too difficult; Persona 4, for example, may have a good story, but it can be a bit difficult at times *cough*ShadowYukiko*cough*.

The problem with my suggestions is that none, except Portal, are PC games. Pokémon's easy to emulate, but y'know, who does that? If you must use a controller, I'd recommend things that require little from one's reaction time or knowledge of a controller. Once again, Pokémon's great like that.

 

[yman15]

How about Civilization 5? It doesn't require expert timing and the tutorial on it is pretty good. It's a pretty laid back game.
And if you need something free try Brawl Busters. Simple in terms of both gameplay and controls. As long as she doesn't have problems with third person it should be easy enough.

 

[Isalan]

Hello! I am an avid gamer, as well as most of my family, but my mother is the only one who doesn't game. We are trying to get her into gaming to cut down on her smoking, hoping that it will distract her from the urge to smoke a cigerette.

SO, the real question is, how should we get her started? We perferably want to start with a free game with not too much action and not too many confusing controls. I do own Basion and Solar 2, which I was thinking of starting her out on. But I don't know if that would be a good place to start!!

Does anyone have any suggestions?

P.S. She played Ghost Recon 2 on the xbox, which made her hate gaming after she fell in a trench and couldn't figure out how to get out. Those controls were too confusing for her. Also, she is much better with a mouse and keyboard than a controller. So try and stick with PC games.

Portal is a good call if she's alright with mouselook and keyboard movement.

I tried my dad on Portal, but he couldn't get round the analog sticks. So a month or so later I downloaded Trials Evo for him. This bought on the famous "laughed-until-nearly-coughed-up-a-lung" incident when me, him, stepmum and uncle decided to play multiplayer with a few beers onboard.

 

[Desaari]

I'm thinking turn-based strats (eg: Total War, Civilization), so she can take as much time as she likes on her turns, or step away from the PC if necessary with no problems.

 

[Russirishican]

EDIT: Quite hard since most of my games have a fair amount of action in :/

However, I think Portal(+ Portal 2) is a fun puzzle game that is not too challenging, it's just an absolute joy to play the game(s).

Oh and ofcourse the Nintendo platformers :3

Honestly if your mother is good at puzzles start her off on Portal and Portal 2. Especially if she thinks video game are beneath her like many adults I know. They're fairly simple and GLaDOS even explains some of the more difficult mechanics. Not to mention it is a really engaging game, so she'll be too busy thinking with portals to think with nicotine.

 

[omega 616]

Hello! I am an avid gamer, as well as most of my family, but my mother is the only one who doesn't game. We are trying to get her into gaming to cut down on her smoking, hoping that it will distract her from the urge to smoke a cigerette.

SO, the real question is, how should we get her started? We perferably want to start with a free game with not too much action and not too many confusing controls. I do own Basion and Solar 2, which I was thinking of starting her out on. But I don't know if that would be a good place to start!!

Does anyone have any suggestions?

P.S. She played Ghost Recon 2 on the xbox, which made her hate gaming after she fell in a trench and couldn't figure out how to get out. Those controls were too confusing for her. Also, she is much better with a mouse and keyboard than a controller. So try and stick with PC games.

Portal 1 & 2 ... funny dialogue, pretty, unique gameplay and it gets you thinking, what better combination do you need to take your mind off the smokes?

 

[Skeggers]

Tetris. Always Tetris. Tetris is good.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

Minecraft? Depends if she has a creative spark on that one.

Or maybe a point and click sort of game, if she doesn't mind violence then Diablo could be fun. If she doesn't like violence then maybe some point and click adventure games.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

Hello! I am an avid gamer, as well as most of my family, but my mother is the only one who doesn't game. We are trying to get her into gaming to cut down on her smoking, hoping that it will distract her from the urge to smoke a cigerette.

SO, the real question is, how should we get her started? We perferably want to start with a free game with not too much action and not too many confusing controls. I do own Basion and Solar 2, which I was thinking of starting her out on. But I don't know if that would be a good place to start!!

Does anyone have any suggestions?

P.S. She played Ghost Recon 2 on the xbox, which made her hate gaming after she fell in a trench and couldn't figure out how to get out. Those controls were too confusing for her. Also, she is much better with a mouse and keyboard than a controller. So try and stick with PC games.

Portal 1 & 2 ... funny dialogue, pretty, unique gameplay and it gets you thinking, what better combination do you need to take your mind off the smokes?

Beer, beer and more beer.

Captcha: in the box

No you fool in a glass!

 

[Ekit]

Kirby's Epic Yarn. The controls are simple, the presentation is nice, the gameplay is varied and you can't die.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

42 All time classics (DS)

I actually bought this game for my mum a year or so ago for her birthday, she would play it non stop for about 3 months.

 

[BENZOOKA]

Plants vs. Zombies. I've played that a lot more than I ever would've imagined beforehand.

Bastion should work really well too.

Something like Bejeweled?

Sims 3?

 

[Section Crow]

i would just toss some flash games her way, with varying concepts just to spice things up a bit and keep it interesting

if your asking for a specific game, i remember a turn-based game called Monsters' Den Chronicles which was relatively simple with quite engaging gameplay (in my opinion at least), that could probably be used by a beginner.

 

[triggrhappy94]

Viva fucking Pinata.

But seriously, it's a really easy game that everyone can enjoy.
The textures, colors, and accessability make it seem like the game was ment for people on heavy hallucinagens

 

[Tomany2]

Thanks for all the support!! I didn't think I would get this much help!!! She is still very wary, im trying to talk her into portal and basion, as well as PvZ on my ipod! any more suggestions?