Recommend games for non-gamers

daveharnett · 10-08-2010 2:28pm #1

My OH has gotten deeply engrossed in Heavy Rain in the last few days, the first game she has taken any notice of since mario brothers. Can anybody recommend any other games she might enjoy? I think it would have to be something with a really strong story, not too punishing of mistakes/weaker skills, and ideally available on ps3/pc.

Adventure games would seem a logical progression, but I think some of them could be too frustrating, particularly given that she is unaware of the videogame clichés, tropes and tricks that we have all unconsciously learned?

Retr0gamer · 10-08-2010 2:30pm

Peggle.
Puzzle Bobble
Bubble Bobble

SeantheMan · 10-08-2010 2:38pm

Not much story in the above 3 at all, none in fact.

Fahrenheit would be similar to Heavy Rain I suppose, or I'd say go with Braid

Zeouterlimits · 10-08-2010 2:49pm

Braid
Tales of Monkey Island (or the remakes)
Sam & Max

Tales of Vesperia (My GF was a "non-gamer", lent her my Xbox & a few titles, she latched on to this and plays this for hours every night).
She also likes some level of customisation/make your own character, for that reason she picked up Mass Effect 2 and fought the learning difficulty in controlling it (being new to controllers, shooters are some of hardest to get used to). Came to love it, the customisation, control of her party, dialogue choices, etc.
PS3 wise.. maybe Eternal Sonata or FFXIII? Valkyria Chronicles?

Skerries · 10-08-2010 3:16pm

The Longest Journey is supposed to be a good one and features a female lead

Nevyn · 10-08-2010 3:20pm

Bring her into a games shop and let her look and read and choose herself.
There is no magical game aimed at women who don't tend to play games (yes I will shank anyone who says the sims :P ).

There will always be a learning curve no matter what game she starts with but there had to be something which interests her to be enough of a hook to keep her going and that will vary person to person.

Otacon · 10-08-2010 3:27pm

Try Flower. Its a PSN title by thatgamecompany. Its a simple enough game, with what can only be described as a 'subtle' story. Lots of fun, but it doesn't require a whole load of skill to complete.

Agricola · 10-08-2010 4:25pm

Tell her its good practise!

rizzla · 10-08-2010 4:46pm

Uncharted and Uncharted 2 for a great cinematic story. Knock the difficulty down to the lowest and it shouldn't be that hard for a non gamer. The hardest part for a non gamer to get over is camera control, but it will become second nature eventually.

Funky · 10-08-2010 5:00pm

World of Goo

ShiverinEskimo · 10-08-2010 5:00pm

The missus loved Machinarium on the PC. She put it on her netbook and played away.

She likes all the Wii games too like just dance etc. for a laugh when there's a few round and she plays poker online the odd time.

Otherwise it's all DS: Boggle, Zelda, Mario Bros, Partners in Time, Bowsers Inside Story.

and iPhone games: Angry Birds, Doodle Jump, Plants vs Zombies.

PaddyBomb · 10-08-2010 5:08pm

LittleBigPlanet - Girls love dressing up their sackgirls. Plus, you can use your sackboy to smack her and dont tell her how to do it.

ShiverinEskimo · 10-08-2010 5:13pm

The thread title should have been the more sexist, but accurate "Recommend games for girls".

rizzla · 10-08-2010 5:27pm

ShiverinEskimo wrote: »

The thread title should have been the more sexist, but accurate "Recommend games for girls".

Not really, if you read the OP he's looking for story heavy games for his OH as she is currently liking Heavy Rain (not considered a girly game really)

Most games mentioned have little or no story though.

jaykhunter · 10-08-2010 6:59pm

Rock Band 2! Peripherals have gotten real cheap since they're not very popular any more

maybe Broken Sword

played that for the first time last month and enjoyed it..

landsleaving · 10-08-2010 9:01pm

PaddyBomb wrote: »

LittleBigPlanet - Girls love dressing up their sackgirls. Plus, you can use your sackboy to smack her and dont tell her how to do it.

On 2 player you can sort of lead her along until she learns how to play. I'd second broken sword, wonderful story, great to play, nicely slow paced.

Maybe some of the older Final Fantasies as well.

Monotype · 10-08-2010 9:43pm

What about something like fallout 3 or oblivion? Maybe not fantastic main storylines for either, but some excellent side stories that can really suck you in. Both can be customised with a difficulty slider to make them far easier and if you get PC versions, you have a vast variety of mods to pick from.

Otherwise, on a different note, I'd recommend Aquaria. Highly engaging storyline puzzle/exploration type game with great music. There's a demo for this here. You can buy on their website or steam.

ShiverinEskimo · 10-08-2010 10:03pm

rizzla wrote: »

Not really, if you read the OP he's looking for story heavy games for his OH as she is currently liking Heavy Rain (not considered a girly game really)

Most games mentioned have little or no story though.

My point was that most replies seemed to have included the words missus/OH/GF.

Everyone's replies instantly refer to the women in their life. I don't believe there is such a thing as a girly game since I like to play most of them as much as the missus does. I was just referring to the fact that most people's first idea of a non-gamer as the OP asked about was their missus.

PogMoThoin · 10-08-2010 10:11pm

My missis loved oblivion, spent all her time wandering about though

johnny_ultimate · 10-08-2010 10:55pm

I'd +1 the likes of The Monkey Island and Sam & Max games if you're looking for something along the general lines of Heavy Rain, or story heavy / not punishing gameplay. They're downloadable on PSN and PC. If you have a DS that would also be recommended, as there are a lot of 'interactive novel' type games (Phoenix Wright series being some of the best: get the first one so you aren't lost in the increasingly convoluted story :pac:) and puzzle games like Professor Layton. Again, narrative led and more relaxed interaction that don't punish the player as often as others.

calex71 · 10-08-2010 11:06pm

jaykhunter wrote: »

Rock Band 2

Was about to suggest this too, great fun to play with company.

The Orange Box perhaps. I guarantee she'll get kicks out of portal at the very least.

Fallout 3 would be a good one for her I think moral choices etc though the last girl I saw play this chose to be a bad ass to the point where I was in fear

. I would suggest giving her a list of suggestions and setting her loose on google and youtube herself then to research. Then try the demo's if available.

Was going to suggest Alan Wake for her but not sure if it's out on PC, I know it's not on ps3

ShiverinEskimo · 10-08-2010 11:54pm

Not sure if Braid has been mentioned.

Fantastic puzzle/platform based around time manipulation with a sweet love story-esque backdrop. Should be on the playstation network for fairly cheap.

aperture_nuig · 11-08-2010 12:05am

calex71 wrote: »

The Orange Box perhaps. I guarantee she'll get kicks out of portal at the very least.

My GF is very much a non gamer, but LOVED portal because it was more about thinking than actually being a "good gamer"

just my 2c...

jaykhunter · 11-08-2010 12:54am

aperture_nuig wrote: »

My GF is very much a non gamer, but LOVED portal because it was more about thinking than actually being a "good gamer"

just my 2c...

This was a triumph. I'm making a note here.