Games to get friends into gaming

[MindFragged]

I've got a few friends, mostly female, who have expressed a desire to get into gaming and I imagine a lot of you have too. What three games would you give them to show them what it's all about, in what order, and why?

For me, most of those friends are people who like deep entertainment, so I'm going the cerebral route.

1. Dear Esther
Reasons: Firstly, getting it through steam introduces anyone with a half decent laptop or PC to PC gaming, which is the most accessible for anyone who doesn't already have a console in the house. Steam is also a very easy way to get new games, what with the sales and large catalogue. Playing Dear Esther will also challenge anyone's idea of what a 'video game' can be. Its not 'fun' exactly, but short, sweet, and interesting. By the end of it you'll have picked up how to use a mouse and keyboard to navigate a 3D space.

2. The Stanley Parable
Reasons: Mainly because it shows how funny games can be. Like Dear Esther, it's not very challenging, but it adds in a few new features like interacting with objects and climbing ladders. On top of that, its an intelligent premise well executed.

3. Portal
Reasons: After the last two games, most people would be comfortable using a mouse and keyboard to game. With those skills, they will be able to pick up Portal fairly easily, and have their minds blown.

Total cost:
£14
Time probably spent learning the ropes: 13-18 hours.

 

[Amakusa]

Hmm three games eh

1)Journey (PS3): it's journey, not sure what else i need to add but it's a nice game.


2)Knights of the old Republic 2 (PC): This was a good game for its time. Had an interesting story and Kreia was an interesting character. She made me think alot about my choices. She was really good. Also there is a mod out now i think that restores content cut from the original version and fixes bugs.


3) Vampire:The Masquerade - Bloodlines (PC): I like this game when i played it years ago. It had an interesting story and RPG mechanics. It was also well written and i found it quite immersive. It was buggy though but i think there are mods that fix that now.

 

[lRookiel]

Dark Souls, good easy fun for everyone!

haha good one tizzy. :3

OT: Well Baldur's gate got me into gaming, not sure that would work nowadays. What with the crippling difficulty (First enemies outside the tutorial area can and will 1 hit kill you) and outdated yet still appealing graphics.

Erm... How about arcadey games like Castle crashers. fun fun fun especially with friends if you can get a coop going.

 

[lRookiel]

Dark Souls, good easy fun for everyone!

haha good one tizzy. :3

Erm... How about arcadey games like Castle crashers. fun fun fun especially with friends if you can get a coop going.

Aw yeah! Nothing like an intense game of Castle Crashers! Best played with 4 people, so you can argue and kill each other over food, gold and princess kisses!

I'm so far Undefeated, I have played alot of castle crashers and I ALWAYS get the kiss :3

 

[scorptatious]

Well Journey would be a good place to start. The game's pretty easy, but at the same time, it's absolutely stunning and fun to play.

Then, I'd probably suggest LittleBigPlanet. 2 specifically. It's a fun platformer in itself, and gives players the ability to create their very own levels and games. So it would probably be a good way to show off games that have user-created content.

Finally, I'd suggest Shadow of the Colossus. Words can't describe this game's magnificence. It's just a great game that I'd think any gamer can enjoy.

OT: I would recommend Kirby's Epic Yarn (No deaths) But I got my ex-girlfriend to play it with me an she found it "too stressful"

...she is not a gamer, as you could probably tell...

Ah, Kirby's Epic Yarn. Such an underrated game.

 

[Twyce]

I don't know why, but Dragon Age Origins seems to be the magic game for my friends. Just recently, I got our German exchange student into it - a girl who has only seen games played by her brother at home (FPSs) and she LOVES it. She beat the game last night and instantly restarted because, "I want to romance Zevran now." Before her, my friend from high school tried it out and instantly fell in love as well (and she was someone who specifically expressed dislike for games). Another mentionable was a friend from work who only played COD, after playing it at my place he went out and bought himself a copy.

 

[Nonomori]

The Walking Dead and Portal. Simple controls, emotionally engaging right from the start. But The Walking Dead isn't the most gamey of games, and 3D can be confusing, especially when you are trying to think with portals.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii, I saw it work, non-gamers can't resist. You die all the time (because people keep killing each other), you laugh, it's stupid, pure fun.

 

[Gladion]

snip

With the possible exception of Portal, I don't think your choices are good. I liked all three of those, but they don't represent what the majority of games is like. They are games to play when you've had enough of "conventional" games and

I'd go especially for local multiplayer games, preferably 2D in the beginning (easier to control). First something like Rayman Origins or New Mario Bros, then a fighting/party game (Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter 4, Mario Party, whatever) and then maybe Uncharted 2 or Assassin's Creed 2 or something story-driven. Should be engaging and technologically fairly advanced to show off what the hardware is capable of.

Possibly controversial option with especially that last point in mind: Heavy Rain.

 

[CityofTreez]

1: The Walking Dead

Story driven, easy to get into game play.

2: Portal 2

Fun co-op, fun mechanics, witty.

3: Bioshock/Metro 2033/Dishonored

For the FPS preferred gamer.

Honorable mentions:

Uncharted, Battlefield, Assassin's Creed, Torchlight

 

[Lugbzurg]

I can remember somehow winding up finding my mom playing my copy of Pac-Man: Adventures in Time (a dang good Pac-Man game, by the way). A couple years ago, I got Plants vs. Zombies: Game of the Year Limited Edition, and my mom got into it (as well as my sister). In fact, she recently bought it again for her kindlefire (it's a tablet-type device), along with a puzzle game called "Trainyard" (which I'm surprised wasn't called "Railcraft" instead). At this point, I'm trying to get her and my sister interested in trying out Portal and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

 

[BiggyShackleton]

Games like Assassin's Creed/Uncharted. Games that let you do visually cool things with a small margin for error and keep the pace up. People saying things like Journey, yes it's a good game in its own right and very simple but that isn't something that's gonna draw the average person in, they're gonna get bored.

Maybe when they've had their fill of explosions and jumping, they might be looking for something more niche such as Journey/SOTC.

 

[Baralak]

I think you've got some good choices, since, like you said, they want deep entertainment. If you wanted to show them plenty of explosions and gore, you already have tons of obvious options.

That said, I would, perhaps add Assassin's Creed and Shadow of the Colossus to the mix. If you have a PS3, Flower is also fantastic.

 

[Beautiful End]

I would recommend Kirby's Epic Yarn (No deaths) But I got my ex-girlfriend to play it with me an she found it "too stressful"

...she is not a gamer, as you could probably tell...

Or! Kirby's Return to Dreamland. It has a nice difficulty curve and it's just plain ol' classic fun.

And of course, I'd recommend my favorit--

I don't know why, but Dragon Age Origins seems to be the magic game for my friends. Just recently, I got our German exchange student into it - a girl who has only seen games played by her brother at home (FPSs) and she LOVES it. She beat the game last night and instantly restarted because, "I want to romance Zevran now." Before her, my friend from high school tried it out and instantly fell in love as well (and she was someone who specifically expressed dislike for games). Another mentionable was a friend from work who only played COD, after playing it at my place he went out and bought himself a copy.

Aw, come on! HOW? How did someone think about it first?! D:<

*Sigh* But it's true nonetheless. I played it because a friend of mine recommended it to me, so I bought it not knowing a thing about it (I like RPGs, though, but more like Final Fantasy RPGs) and I fell in love with it right away. From the character customization to the different stories you can choose to the way you can interact with your companions to the way you'll affect the main plot with your actions; it's just perfect.
I'm a girl and I approve of that suggestion *Thumbs up*

 

[Starik20X6]

LittleBigPlanet 2 has never failed to draw people in. Between the wonderfully disarming charm of the aesthetics to Stephen Fry's voiceovers to the hat that shoots missiles, there really is something for everyone in there.

The LEGO games are also great fun, with low-risk gameplay and fantastic variety in playable characters (Batman 2 in particular) they make for great stress-free play.

Depending on the person, I'm going to put in a vote for Animal Crossing. It's not for everyone, but those who do like it tend to love it.

And I'll join the chorus of Kirby.

 

[Shymer]

I think trying to find three games to express what gaming is all about is similar to trying to find three films that tell you what seeing films is all about. You can think about high quality films, landmark films, genre-defining films, but this might not satisfy a newcomer to film because the best films are not necessarily "easy access".

The answer is to find out more about your friends and what they might like before selecting games to show them. You have clearly done that here - identifying cerebral elements, depth and complexity as appealing to your friends. However, other people's mileage may vary.

The idea of introducing my wife to gaming by getting her to play Dear Esther leaves me cold. You say yourself, it's not a normal game - it's not particularly fun and, although it challenges preconceived ideas of what a computer game is - I wouldn't want to challenge that first - unless someone was speficially dismissive of a stereotypical shallow game.

I think the first choice should be a game that links with something familiar to the other person and is fun. The next two might explore other control methods or game genres, but might just riff on a theme.

For my own part, I would try and pick, first, a game setting that might appeal - and then look at high quality/critical acclaim, and then the game genre, and then aspects of ease of control/simplicity/clarity.

Some games I have found easily accessible to people unfamiliar with computer gaming: Plants versus Zombies, Peggle, Zuma, Lego: [insert favoured setting], Puzzlequest, Civilisation II, Blur (racing game)

In my experience, many FPS games can be difficult for new gamers because of trouble with control and operating in a virtual 3D environment. Disorientation is a barrier to access and enjoyment. Portal works here because you can take your time - or a game like Thief, or Half-life, which have slow build-up and strong and interesting narrative.

 

[SonicWaffle]

I've got a few friends, mostly female, who have expressed a desire to get into gaming and I imagine a lot of you have too.

Ha, what? You imagine I have friends? Friends who are women?!

You're adorable.

OT: Why not just tell them about as many games as you can think of that might appeal to them, and let them decide whether they like the sound of something? Tell them where they can download game demos, let them try things for themselves. I don't think picking a game for them is a good idea, because you're basically saying "I expect you to enjoy this, it is tailored to you", and then if they don't enjoy it I imagine it could have a negative effect on their perception. "If that's the game he thought was best for me," they'll think, "and I didn't like it, that must mean I don't really like games"