What are 5 games you would get a newb to play

[Torrasque]

<spoiler=Quick disclaimer about newbs>Ninja'd from Urban Dictionary

Newb: Some one new to some kind of game, sport, hobby, etc. and sucks at it.
Noob: Contrary to the belief of many, a noob/n00b and a newbie/newb are not the same thing. Newbs are those who are new to some task and are very beginner at it, possibly a little overconfident about it, but they are willing to learn and fix their errors to move out of that stage. n00bs, on the other hand, know little and have no will to learn any more. They expect people to do the work for them and then expect to get praised about it, and make up a unique species of their own.Lets say you meet someone that has never played a video game in their life. No flash games, no games on their phone, not even mine sweeper. For some reason, this person has never been around a video games, seen them, or talked with people about them. They haven't been avoiding them or living in a place that they don't exist, they just haven't been exposed to video games.

As unlikely as this situation is in our world of advertisements and media saturation, it has happened. A friend or lover or family member hears you talking about a video game (lets just imagine its the last game you played) and is suddenly interested in trying video games (doesn't have to be the last game you played).

What 5 games would you get them to play? What are 5 games they have to play?

For me, I would get them to try a bit of everything as well as some of my favorite games:
Ocarina of Time
Fez
Halo: Combat Evolved
Okami (Wii)
Starcraft

I picked those games because they have a nice learning curve, are nice to new players, and are very good good gateway games. All of these games can also be used as support for the argument, "games can be art", which I consider important, but is more or less irrelevant for this thread.

Well, what 5 games would you get them to play and why?

 

[The_Lost_King]

Dragon Age: Origins : I chose this one because it is one of my favorite games ever. Great story, great characters and s/he hasn't played videogames they won't feel the combat is bland(I don't feel it is bland but some might)

Mass Effect: Yes another Bioware game. This one has great combat, a maginificent story and the best characters ever(Garrus > Allistair and Leliana == Liara). I love these games and have been thinking about playing them again. I actually got one of my friends into the series. It is also pretty easy to learn. All you have to do is point your gun and shoot at things and maybe use some powers if you are a biotic/techie.

Warcraft 3: This is one of the games that got me into gaming. I can't tell you how many countless hours me and my friend put into this game. It is also very easy to learn(for most, I swear my brother is the most incompetent gamer that ever lived). Though now that I think about it, I usually used cheats, huh. Well it is still a fun game and there are so many awesome custom game maps and the editor is awesome.

Minecraft: It is so easy to learn and such a simple concept and so fun to play. I regret sharing this with my brother though(He is always Skyping with his friends playing it and he talks really loud). It is also a good game to get settled into

I don't know what else. I would say World of Warcraft but I don't want to ruin their lives. You never really escape unharmed.

 

[ohnoitsabear]

You have to factor in the fact that 3D games, especially first person ones, can be very difficult to get accustomed to if you've never played them before. This is why I would never recommend, say, Portal, to somebody that has never played a video game.

As for what I would do, it would have to be Super Mario Brothers. It's really easy to figure out, it starts out relatively easy, and it's just plain fun. Of course, I would move them onto other games relatively quickly, but I think Mario would be just a great way to get started.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

Spoiler: In no particular order

Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Tales of Symphonia
Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
Dragon Age: Origins

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

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

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

 

[StylinBones]

Super Mario World
Ocarina of Time
Final Fantasy X
NIER
Dead Space 2

 

[Torrasque]

*snip*

Good choices. I wouldn't include Dragon Age: Origins because I thought it was pretty boring, but they may enjoy it. They may enjoy it much more than I did because I am used to much faster paced games and stories?

I considered adding Warcraft 3 to my list, but I think Starcraft is better. Warcraft 3 has a bit of back story (that is easily caught up) whereas Starcraft is it's own story. Warcraft 3 is still a very good game and one of my favorite RTS.

Minecraft would be a very good game to include, same as Mass Effect.
lol @ your WoW comment.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

Persona 4 five times in a row.

....

What? Okay fine.

For reals this time:
1. Persona 4
2. Portal 2
3. Fallout 3
4. Kingdom Hearts 2
5. Roller Coaster Tycoon 2.

I'm serious about Roller Coaster Tycoon 2.

 

[PoolCleaningRobot]

Portal
Fallout 3 (if they can get into it)
Majora's mask
Rocket Knight Adentures (goin' old school over here)

and most importanly...

GTA San Andreas

I'm serious about San Andreas. That was THE one game I went into thinking "here's nothing but horible violence with a B movie story" and at the end I was left dramatically staring out a window reflecting on what happened and what I learned

 

[Judgement101]

Battle Realms, just an amazing RTS that NEEDS to be experienced
Fallout 3, because it's AMAZINGGGGGGGGG
Perimeter, again, awesome RTS that is just amazing
Planescape Torment, if I need to explain this, I am going to reach through your monitor and slap you
AAAAANNNNNDDDDD
Deus Ex, the birth of FPS/RPG that is truly a FPS/RPG

 

[floppylobster]

Angry Birds - Simple easy introduction. Anyone can play.
Pacman - Simple, yet addictive. Focused and challenging.
Super Mario 64 - An introduction to 3D. Non-threatening at first and fun just to wander around.
Professor Layton - Easy to follow, introduces the basic game structure of seek, find, payoff, reward, repeat.
Then something good like Shadow of the Colossus, Chronotrigger or Panzer Dragoon Saga. If they only wanted to play stuff like Angry Birds after that then I'd just accept that they'll never be more than a casual gamer.

 

[GTwander]

There is only one game that any monkey can play, and is still universally awesome:

Katamari Damacy

I've used it to convert many a monkey.

 

[Ginger768]

Depends on who i'm introducing it to.

If i don't know who i'm introducing it to:
1.Super Mario galaxy
2.Plants vs Zombies
3.Mass effect 2
4.Left 4 dead 2
5.Portal 2

I think that would cover most bases. Mario galaxy is simple to play with great music,visuals, and familiar to people who are not gamers(Everyone knows mario). Plant vs Zombies is meh to me, but pretty popular among casuals for the simple but satisfying strategy and cute art style. Worth a shot. MAss effect 2 doesn't have too many RPG elements to confuse and scare off people but still retains a strong but easy to follow story with emphasis on characterization. So an interactive movie where you make choices. Portal 2 is A puzzle game with a Female lead. Left 4 dead 2 is something they can play with a group of friends and i have a hard time imagining anyone who wouldn't like it unless they are opposed to violence in Vidya games

 

[MMSouthpawVIII]

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

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

I think you meant "If I hate them/ want them to give up forever"

OT: Pokemon, Burnout, Halo: CE, Grand Theft Auto... I'm drawing a blank on anything else. I'll just say most nintendo games and leave it at that. That's where I started

 

[Vegosiux]

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

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

I think you meant "If I hate them/ want them to give up forever"

Zork would most definitely have to be on that list then. Just let the grues do their job.

 

[Arakasi]

1. Pokemon R/B/Y/S/G
2. Minecraft
3. Worms 2 or Armageddeon or World Party
4. Age of Mythology
5. TF2

I pick a wide range, so they can see what they enjoy, and move from there.

 

[Melondrupe]

Theme Hospital
Timesplitters 3 - Figure this might be a fun introduction to FPS, and due to its two-player co-op, I could play along with them and maybe ease the burden a little. While I prefer 2, I think the AI partners in 3 would also help if they play the game solo.

Seiken Densetsu 3
Banjo-Kazooie
Chrono Cross

Probably in the order of: Theme, Banjo, Chrono, Seiken and Time.

Although, If I was recommending games, I'd prefer to do it five games per genre and sub-genre in order to show not just different types of games, but variation within each. While I think Seiken Densetsu 3 would be a good introduction to Action RPGs, and either Sword of Mana or Secret of Mana as well; Mount&Blade, Star Ocean 2, Tales of Symphonia and Dragon's Dogma could also help in the learning experience. Plus its probably better to introduce many genres as they may only find a specific genre appealing. Twenty different shooters of both third and first perspective probably won't mean much to them if only vehicle sims and managerial games peak their interest.

 

[MrHide-Patten]

2 off the top of my head (because they have proven to work) LittleBigPlanet (one or two) and Slender.

So easy to grasp my sisters actually played them, and they're the noobiest noobs that ever noobed the world with their noobery.

 

[excalipoor]

Nothing 3D, especially on modern consoles. Those two sticks man, they boggle the mind.

 

[Starik20X6]

Trying to cover as many bases as possible...

1- LittleBigPlanet 2
2- Mario Kart Wii
3- Link's Awakening DX
4- Metroid Prime Trilogy [footnote]As in, the single disk released on Wii; the controls are fantastic.[/footnote]
5- Animal Crossing: Jump Out[footnote]I know it's not out yet, but if the trailers are anything to go by it's going to be the best one yet.[/footnote]

 

[Ninjat_126]

In no particular order...

- Pokemon. My first was Fire Red (a month ago). Nicely simple, with plenty of depth.
- Okami, or a Legend of Zelda game. Beautiful environments and simple mechanics.
- Age of Mythology. A great introduction to RTS games, complete with Vikings!
- Portal. Good primer for FPS controls with a smooth learning curve and great humor.
- Minecraft- Creative Mode. No danger, just creation.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Extra Credit:

- Minecraft- Survival Mode. Danger and creation combined.
- Dark Souls. An incredibly deep and customisable action-RPG.
- Red Dead Redemption. Wide-open sandbox for Western fans.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. A nicely-developed action-movie style story and good mechanics.
- Spelunky. A roguelike/platformer hybrid with permadeath. A must play, and free too!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Nothing 3D, especially on modern consoles. Those two sticks man, they boggle the mind.

If analogue or WASD+Mouse controls are an issue...

- Resident Evil 4. You can't move and shoot at the same time.
- Metroid. Super, Zero Mission, Fusion, whatever.
- Tekken or a similar fighting game. Simple punches, kicks and throws, and only 1 health bar.
- Mario, Sonic, some 2D platformer.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Web games edition!

- Sonny and Sonny 2. Great turn-based RPGs with humour and customisation.
- Final Ninja. Awesome 2D puzzle/action platformer with bonus pixel art.
- The Last Stand. Barricade defence mixed with time management. And zombies.
- The Last Stand: Union City. Basically, a 2D version of Fallout 3. With zombies.
- Amorphous+. An arena-survival game, with achievements galore and giant swords.