What are 5 games you would get a newb to play

[Vuliev]

I feel like saying this

Spoiler: Should they want to take it a step further?

Demon's Souls
Dark Souls
Dragon's Dogma
Devil May Cry
Ninja Gaiden

when the previous step was this

Spoiler: Perhaps if they felt more comfortable and wanted to ramp it up, I'd include games such as

Fallout: New Vegas
Tales of Graces f
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
White Knight Chronicles
God of War

is like hiking in the Appalachians with a buddy, and then the buddy says "hey, let's go summit K2 after this."


OT: These seem like good starting points to me:
Bastion (No Sweat Mode)
Fez
Portal
Halo 1 (easy/normal)
Audiosurf

You have to have some decent challenge to provide incentive to improve, but nothing too frustrating or unintuitive or it'll just put them off. The five I chose all have excellently paced difficulty curves, and aside from Fez, those curves can be changed on the fly to suit their demands for challenge. I also tried to get as broad a base of experience as possible in order to have a wide library of games to progress to in the next steps.

Hmm, maybe I should make a flow diagram of my progression system. Easier to explain that way.

EDIT: After brief reflection, changed Skyrim to Audiosurf. Skyrim, while not quite as involved as other RPGs, still involves a lot of manual stat manipulation that is going to be a fairly large hurdle to players unfamiliar with those kinds of systems. Bastion covers the entry-level RPG elements that I was looking for anyway, and I realized that I needed a game that has a rock-solid difficulty curve that also develops fine-motor skills and visual acuity, as those are incredibly important in developing confidence to tackle more complex challenges.

 

[pilouuuu]

Portal 2
Machinarium
Sid Meier's Pirates
Plant Vs. Zombies
The Sims 3

 

[00slash00]

lego anything (frankly im surprised this hasnt been on everyones list)
starcraft
the longest journey
super mario 64
majoras mask

 

[trooper6]

There have been a couple of people who have said: It depends on the person...and that is 100% true.

Take two different people I have introduced to gaming:
Person A) He was a huge Star Wars/Stark Trek fan. So what did I recommend to him?
*Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. (Really that was all I needed to do, but as a followup, knowing him as I do, I steered him towards RPGs and Adventure games, so...)
*Still Life
*Everything Bioware
*Indigo Prophecy
*Fable

He is hooked forever.

Person B) A really thinky sort of atr-y type:
*Digital: A Love Story
*Eldar Sign: Omen
*Every Day a Different Dream
*Trauma
*The Room

She is also now hooked.

I think really good recommendations are not about what *I* like the best, or what I think are the most important games...but really knowing the other person and figuring out what would attract them.

Silent Hill 2 is a great game, but I wouldn't recommend it to everyone.
I love Morrowind...but I'd recommend that to some people but not others.
Trauma is one of my favorite games right now...but I don't recommend that to everyone either.

 

[Olas]

I just bought my cousin the orange box for his birthday. Does that answer the question?

 

[Rblade]

-rts probably age of empires 2. Awesome tutorial and the history is a great out of game appeal.

-Portal, slow build up in difficulty and pretty funny and non violent

-mario bros 3

-one of the old Medal of honors. No shiny graphics and wall hug mechanics to bog down the point at it and shoot part, and who wouldn't like shooting up some nazis.

RPG is a tough one. maby Kotor if he/she could get into starwars. pretty uncomplicated and not to many stats.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

Snip

I assume you're referring to the Demon's/Dark Souls portion of the list. Neither of which are devilishly difficult games. They're in the final list for those that want to ramp it up even further, for a reason. They aren't something I would give to a newcomer, but I'd recommend them to someone who wants just a little bit more from their games.

Snip MkII

I never did play Zork. :x I just can't get into text based games.

 

[Torrasque]

-Starcraft-

-nice learning curve, are nice to new players-

Yes, Starcraft has a nice learning curve and is nice to new players. Totally. 100% legit. Go on, try it, the community will love you.

Mwahaha.

I said the game itself has a nice learning curve -_-
As for the community, all community has douchebags, I know for a fact though that Starcraft has a great contingency of players that are ready and willing to help you out. You just have to know where to look.

 

[Bazaalmon]

If they have never played games before EVER, then you need easy to learn yet fun games to bring them into the fold so to speak. My top 5 choices would be:
Plants vs. Zombies
Bastion
Portal (1 or 2)
Borderlands (1 or 2)
Psychonauts
I have actually used these games to introduce newbies to gaming, and now they love video games.

 

[skywolfblue]

it will be a PS3. ... Alan Wake

Alan Wake is only for Xbox 360 or PC last I heard.

 

[HellsingerAngel]

I'm really surprised to see a lot of people putting in first-person and 3D platforming games. You guys do realize that navigating a three dimensional space that you do not encompass is an incredibly jarring and difficult experience for most? Not to mention the complex motor skills needed to even just navigate a room by moving two control sticks/keyboard and mouse for people who aren't twenty-eight and younger?

OT: I'd let them pick. Why should I decide what sort of game they should play? I don't know why they want to get into video games or what piqued their interest. I also ultimately wouldn't know what sort of games they would enjoy playing the most. This is where you'd need to ask questions like "What got you thinking about starting to play games?" or "what sorts of games do you think you'd like to play?" and make suggestions based upon the answers. By distilling their initial interest, you might find they aren't really interested in the games themselves but the people that play them so multiplayer - especially party games - are going to be a larger factor. If someone got interested into gaming by seeing someone pull off a sweet sniper kill in Modern Warfare 3 but is only interested in the display of skill rather than the actual game I might gear them towards games with an easy learning curve but difficult challenges or has a good foundation for speed runs. Ultimately, getting someone into gaming is about finding the right accessibility to difficulty ratio for the person at hand.

If I had to create a short list?

Spoiler: Top Five Games For Newbs

1. New Super Mario Bros/Kirby's Epic Yarn

Why? - I'm torn here, mostly because I don't know hat type of person I'm dealing with here. If this person was 100% open to new experiences or loved cute dialed to 11, Kirby's Epic Yarn is THE best introduction game in the history of mankind. The difficulty is completely self-imposed from "get to the end" to "collect all the beads and never get hit". It has a completely unique style to it with oodles of ridiculousness that almost anyone can enjoy if they give it a chance. That being the only drawback, I put New Super Mario Bros because it's not as emasculating but still retains most of that beautiful simplicity of "run and jump". Best of all, both are co-op so you can support your new gamer while they take their first few steps.

2. Wii Sports/Wii Sports Resort

Why? - There's a reason Wii Sports alone bridged the gap between non-gamers and gamers this generation from everyone ages seven to seventy. Wii Sports is just fun and with the motion controls you're one step away from just mimicking the motions to actually play the sport in question, giving it a super easy learning curve. Once again, this is a game you can play with everyone so your fledgling gamer has a chance to still be under your wing if they get lost. The only downside is the competition aspect which could be a downside if you're a Wii Sports master as our gamer might feel inferior and imaging an insurmountable skill gap. Then again, I'm the experienced gamer in my house and I lose to most of my family at Wii Sports and that's a testament to the learning curve in and of itself.

3. Mario Party X

Why? - At first I was just going to put Mario Party 8 or 9 on there because, again, the simplicity of the Wii-mote and nunchuck combination gives an edge in the functionality of the mini-games. Then again, the change in how Mario Party is played leaves a sour taste in my mouth that makes me miss the older titles where mini-games came at you much more frequently and board mechanics were simpler. If your new gamer feels comfortable with a controller in hand then move back onto earlier Mario Party games. If not, then stick to the new generation ones where difficulty is more lax and it plays more like a board game.

4. Tetris/Bejeweled

Why? - I know I've belaboured this point, but they're both simple and fun. Again, torn because they play on similar concepts but the style are very contrasting. If a guy can stand blowing up jewels all day or a woman finds bedazzled combos repulsive then you have an alternative that gets to the same premise. The best part is that both of these games have been re-skinned into dozens of forms which means your gamer can branch off into other games with expanded mechanics without feeling too lost.

5. World of WarCraft

DEAR GOD WHY!? - Say what you will about the MMO behemoth, but it's a behemoth for a reason. It's a good introduction to both RPGs and MMOs with an expertly crafted difficulty curve for new gamers. But the most important part? Not only can your gamer group with you can have a good time but they can meet other gamers! Like it or not, WoW is the social media of gaming at this point in time. This is the community your gamer will either grow to love or hate during their fantastic journey and will probably be the deciding factor as to how far they want to involve themselves in it. Overall, this game must come last as it's the true barometer of interest in the gaming culture. Not to say that a negative response is bad but it certainly will shape your new gamer's opinions on multiplayer in the online scene, becoming a member of forums and attending conventions/tournaments. It is a crucial step forward in defining their tastes and where they should head next in their hobby.

I'm also interested that no one brought up the topic of if your new gamer is an avid game watcher or back seat gamer. As such, I've also made a list of five games I'd have someoone watch me play if I wanted to get them passionate about gaming.

Spoiler: Top Five Games I'd Play For Someone

1. The Legend of Zelda - Twilight Princess

Why? - I know TP isn't the most well received Zelda game in the franchise, but for me it came down to the fact that it brought up the most memories for me. It's not that there are an excessive amount of memorable moments in the game itself but rather that it borrows from so many other Zelda games for puzzles that I remember the puzzle from the game it's taken from. This means that while I'm going through the dungeons I can talk about all my experiences with the series and show my true passion for gaming, from the first time I picked up a controller to play The Legend of Zelda to the first time I traded a game away to get Link's Awakening to all the amazing moments in A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time and Major's Mask. I spent hours just regaling my adventures with Link to anyone who was watching me play and eventually I got a pretty big crowd at my dorm in university because of it. It also spawned on of the best gaming related quotes I've ever had with my friends: "Oh my God! Andrew! You need to catch goats at him[Ganon]!

2. BioShock

Why? - It's a gaming masterpiece. It takes what we all took for granted in first-person shooters - and as gamers in general - and flipped it on its head with us feeling like we'd been tricked into destroying ourselves. The story of Jack is an amazing one, backed by one of the most captivating and fantastic locations a person could imagine. BioShock is the stuff of classic literature come to life in a video game and it's too beautiful an artwork to let someone not experience it.

3. Chrono Trigger

Why? - While not Shakespeare like BioShock could be, Chrono Trigger is a compelling drama for the ages. It follows seven very different people from across time to come together ans save their very existence from destruction. While other RPGs of the era are certainly filled with emotion and sometimes are lauded above Chrono Trigger, I've always felt that it and it alone found the sweet spot between sweet joy and bitter depression. The game is an emotional roller-coaster with one of the best twists a game could throw at you: the death of the protagonist! All in all, it's the complete package for a dramatic game.

4. Journey

Why? - Some journeys are ones of solitude. Some journeys are with friends. Some are with friends met along their journey, and some yet still are with friends made along your own. This is why Journey is on this list and for that reason alone.

5. The Prince of Persia Trilogy

Why? - Ok, so I'm cheating, but it doesn't make sense unless you play all three! An amazing narrative with probably the most memorable quote and ending of any game series I have ever played. High action, great mechanics, just difficult enough puzzles and a story that could rival the tale of Ali Baba. Truly an underrated masterpiece of gaming.

 

[Lugbzurg]

I guess it would depend on the type of person. (And seriously, guys, I'm seeing a lot of games here that a newb would be unable to play, such as Portal, Fallout, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The latter would be more of a way to introduce someone to the series, not videogames in general. Someone who's never played a videogame would have no idea what they're doing in games like these. Such franchises would completely set them off right from the get-go. You might as well throw in Metroid while you're at it. Seriously, I've played videogames since childhood, and these titles have left me clueless. Not so much Portal, but the rest of them? Oh, heck yes.)

Anyway, let's get on with it. I suppose I could show them...

A Mario game. (Either Super Mario Bros., Super Mario World, or Super Mario Galaxy. Maybe even Super Mario 3D Land or one of the New Super Mario Bros. titles. There's already three of them, with a 4th on the way for the Wii U.)
Sonic the Hedgehog. (The 1991 game on the Sega Genesis, not the X-Box 360 and PlayStation 3 game from 2006.)
Plants vs. Zombies. (It's already worked very well at creating a bridge between the so-called "Casual" and "Hardcore" types of "Gamers".)
Some sort of arcade game. (Like Frogger, Break-Out, or Pac-Man.)
Doom. (That is, once they're ready to try something darker. And of course, I'd make sure it was set to the easiest skill level.)

I really wanted to say "Banjo-Kazooie", but considering all the moves, items, and exploration that must be taken into account, I had to keep that one out. So that means I also had to leave out Super Mario 64. Super Mario Galaxy however, is a lot simpler, and much easier to wrap your head around.

 

[Westaway]

1. Deus Ex
2. Planescape Torment
3. System Shock 2
4. Chrono Trigger
5. Mother 3

There, I just gave you the five best games ever made.

 

[Lugbzurg]

1. Deus Ex
2. Planescape Torment
3. System Shock 2
4. Chrono Trigger
5. Mother 3

There, I just gave you the five best games ever made.

We're looking for games that would be good to introduce someone to videogames. Not nececarilly the best ones. I can't imagine a first-timer playing something as complex as Deus Ex. Seriously, to them, it would be like getting thrown into the cockpit of a jumbo jet and being expected to fly it across the country.

 

[Hemlet]

Speaking from mild experience (my dad went through a point where he wanted to get into video games too):

-Mario Kart/Star Wars Pod Racer
-Super Mario Bros
-Legend Of Zelda
-Metroid
-Kirby

I grew up in a Nintendo house, can you tell?

Basically, for someone who hasn't touched a game before in their life, you want to start with games that are very very simple. If the game is fast paced, then it needs to have a clear and unchanging goal. If the game doesn't mind if you take your time, then it STILL needs to have a clear and unchanging goal. Simple controls are also a must. If you throw a newbie into an FPS, RTS, or anything where goals can change or complications can arise unexpectedly, all you'll end up with is the newbie flailing for help before dying. (Mild experience again, my mom's friends got drunk and wanted to prove a point, many lolz were had on my end)

Now when I say simple controls are a must, I mean simple controls. WASD+mouse controls to an outsider are absolutely baffling (again, mild experience, dad), and twin-joystick controls are only a fast road to frustration. Going much further than a Dpad and the A and B buttons can (and has in my case) lead to the newbie not being able to control the game outright.

In short, you want to start really slow, and work your way up to things that most gamers would consider easy and/or basic.

 

[prophecy2514]

Item 1: Super Mario World
Item 2: LoZ OoT or Majoras Mask or Super Mario 64
Item 3: Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
Item 4: Halo 1 or Fallout NV
Item 5: Red Dead Redemption

None of these games are too hard, and very easy to get into in their different genres

 

[kingthrall]

MYTH
MYTH II
MYTH III
WITCHER I
BALDURS GATE 1

If you don't mind me asking...Myth? Why?

1. Develops your micro skills, no other game requires the amount of micro management with limited heals. You in most cases have to utilise the army you have agaist a larger foe, and there are no reinforcements. Starcraft really is a bad joke when it comes to micro, there are no resources just pure tactics involved, army positioning, terrain.

2. Excellent storyline and the online games have 16 players in one host, so the games are absolutely chock full of action and teaches team work.

3. the coop can be played online also with other players, so in turn you can work together with a friend unlike most games to date this is one feature that stands out from other games.

4. If you can beat legendary on myth then you can pretty much wipe the floor with 90% of other games made today, ive yet to see a game as difficult or as awe inspiring where even pro's that have been playing for twelve years have bad luck such as their dwarf bottles do not explode against a rushing melle and end up losing to a new player.