Board 8 > Best games for non-gamers?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I feel like someone here has to have tried to convert a non gamer friend to games before so Im curious about the best way to do so

I just dont know if the direction to take is co-op/competitive multiplayer, unique games, or just damn good games
---

what is a non gamer
---

Maybe something like Life is Strange or Until Dawn where the main focus is choice-based narrative?
---

Call of Duty, Guitar Hero/Rock Band, Telltale games, Sports, Uncharted, Mario/Sonic
---

tetris
wii sports
nintendogs
candy crush
---

Stuff that appears here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/collection/topgrossing

And Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nintendo.zaca
---

Stardew Valley
---

Jackbox
---

Usually the key is to focus on the individual and gear recommendations towards their interests. My partner only played a few games briefly when we started dating, but we started watching Giant Bomb videos together and she basically forced me to buy NSMB Wii after watching their Quick Look of it. From there she played more Nintendo games - Kirby's Epic Yarn, Disgaea and SimCity on the DS, Metroid Prime Trilogy etc - and her interest grew from there. She mostly plays games on her 3DS, but we usually play narrative adventure games or single-player AAA games together so she can keep up with conversations on the Bombcast and Beastcast.
---

Hey, actually made a video on the subject. Not to self promote but just it'll save me going over it in like fourteen paragraphs and is easier to click through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DvjBCW26sU

In my experience and to tl;dr it, anything that lets them play at their own pace is generally the best. Feeling rushed in a game will make you feel overwhelmed, so being able to take it at your own pace is usually better, and teaches them how to learn more easily. From there, it's also down to their tastes in aesthetics, setting, etc. For instance, if you're going for choice-based narratives, Life is Strange is better than, say, your average Telltale product or Until Dawn just because it doesn't have timed events with permanent consequence - you have all the time you want to make decisions.
---

Mario Kart
---

Journey maybe, although that might be TOO chill even for some people.
---

The two Ive tried so far that have worked have been Mario Kart 8 and Journey, fwiw.

Everything else has been a bit more hit or miss though I obviously havent tried everything
---

Wii Sports was my first thought.
---

Try games that have very unique and simple control schemes that don't require years of prior knowledge with analog sticks and WASD and 12 face buttons and such to play. Puzzle games like The Witness or adventure games work. Basically any mobile touch game. Simple platformers like Super Meat Boy also.

It's really the control schemes that non-gamers have trouble with. Actual in-game difficulty and complexity isn't as big of a deal.
---

Mario
---

portal / portal 2
---

LEGO games. It is how I started with my wife.
---

My answer will always be Peggle
---

Depends on the person.

My older sister pretty much only plays two types of games: Call of Duty, and anything with Mario in it.

Got my wife into Harvest Moon and Smash Brothers. She'll play pretty much anything now. Even RPG's when she has time.

Mario's usually a pretty good bet though. I mean it's what most people start with anymore. My middle two children have started playing Mario Odyssey and they're really into it. Can't go wrong with Mario. I mean you can pick the wrong Mario game. Like I wouldn't recommend Sunshine. But Mario related is usually a good bet.
---