Recommendations for non-gamers
Sometimes when you've played video games for a while, you forget that not everyone likes video games (strange, I know, but there you go).
After a plaintive plea over Twitter indicating that I was struggling to come up with a blog topic for today, fellow Stuff blogger Moata Tamaira (who is a fan of Tetris) suggested a post about recommendations for games for people who consider themselves non-gamers.
I'm not even going to suggest that non-gamers tackle games like Bioshock, Half-Life 2, Modern Warfare 2, or Fallout 4 - I'm talking about casual games that ease a player into the action gently, not scare them off with explosions, flying limbs and horror scenes.
So here we go: some suggestions for video games that non-video gamers might like (some require a console such as an Xbox 360/PlayStation 3/Nintendo Wii, while others are playable on a PC). This is not an exhaustive list, just what I could think of off the top of my head, so please add to it.
* Bejewelled 2/Peggle: PopCap Games is one of the masters of casual games with easily accessible games that non-gamers will like (Mrs Game Junkie doesn't consider herself a gamer but loves playing Bejewelled 2 on her iPod Touch).
* Tetris: - I had to include this, really. How could a non-gamer not like a game where you have to rotate and stack cascading coloured blocks? A staple on many mobile phones.
* The Guitar Hero/Rockband games: with a variety of difficulty levels, music games let non-gamers feel like they're part of a band without realising their playing a video game (parents bought up on the music of The Beatles will feel right at home with The Beatles Rockband).
* Anything with Mario in it for Nintendo Wii: Mario Kart, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Bros Wii.
* Flower (PlayStation 3): Who would have thought that playing as the wind controlling floating flower petals could be so much fun? This downloadable game is well worth the download.
* The Sims (PC)
* Boom Blox (Wii)
* Zuma
* Anything in Singstar series (PlayStation 2/PlayStation 3): a good choice if they like singing.
* Car racing games such as the Burnout series.
OK, that's just a small list that I've come up with. You may agree with it or not - maybe I've completely underestimated what games would suit a non-gamer).
If I've missed something out that you think a non-gamer should try, then post it in the comments. Who knows, one of our suggestions could turn a "non-gamer" into a "gamer".
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Puzzle Quest is a great non-gamer game, easy to get into and play RPG and no punishment if you lose.
Definitely agree with The Sims, and I know from experience that my sister (definite non-gamer) enjoyed Mario-Kart back in the day. Not sure I agree with racing games though (karting aside), it's easy to spot a non-gamer - from experience they attempt to turn the vehicle by leaning/bending left and right instead of using the controller. It's not pretty. And is Tetris still on people's mobiles phones? I don't have it on mine and I miss it :(
You have forgotten the most popular games in the world. Facebook has Farmville, Cafe World, Frontierville. I mean - from a gamer perspective they make me laugh - but they are an intorduction. My wife plays Frontierville while I play Red Dead Redemption.
I agree with burnout, partner (she's not a gamer, plays sims, singstar, GH, I manager to twist her arm in to a game of fifa or nfl now and then) had a day off and by the time i got home half the game had been completed.
mate, games are so mainstream there's no real need to be dishing out recommendations. just go ask your mate at dick smiths. all the titles are highly marketted and in the case of xbox they're there for download so it's not like you're recommending arthouse films or something...
Wii Fit and Wii Sport games are always a hit with my non-gaming family, games like hula hooping, bowling, golf etc.. After the initial, 'nah, I hate gaming' type comments I showed them the Mii creator and they were hooked. After a very enthusiastic Mii creation session, we ended up playing for hours. And my Mum loves card games and tetris. I've found with games like Singstar, Rockband and DDR it takes non-gamers a while to realise that it's not about the quality, it's about hitting the targets still, though watching someone try to use ballroom dancing skills on a DDR mat is highly entertaining. :)
I wouldn't consider Sims for non-gamers, considering the countless dollars and hours that people spend on this game. Not to mention the number of website forums it has spawned. It may not have as many explosions and gunfights but the grim reaper is never far away.
Puzzle Quest Lemmings ...sure I could think of more but gotta run...
Why not leave the non-gamers alone? Perhaps they have better things to do with their lives.
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Wii Sports is great for non-gamers. Had some funny times at christmas with the in laws and Wii.