I need a girlfriend game

[Phasmal]

More importantly, whatever you pick, make absolutely sure it's something that supports two player co-op. That is by far the most important point.

Really, though? This has been said by a lot of people, but I can't really agree.

Playing with someone much better while you're still trying to figure out the controls must be frustrating.
And dragging along a noob who doesn't know their inventory from their arsehole doesn't sound like much fun either.
Sounds like a recipe for no fun to me.

I agree you should be around, but I don't think playing co-op is a great idea.

 

[happyninja42]

I would suggest Portal and Portal 2. They are fun, relatively simple games, and Portal 2 has the coop aspect with those adorable robots.

Really it depends on what she likes. What are her interests? I mean, if she isn't into things like Jpop or manga and anime, trying some japanese titles and JRPG's might be a bad call you know?

My wife has enjoyed Skyrim a great deal, and has played it almost as much as me. She also enjoys Diablo 2 and 3. Really it depends on her interests

Also, girls love games with a good plot and atmosphere. Chances are she might be drawn to videogaming much more if you show her Deus Ex than if you show her Candy Crush. Then again, she is a sentient human being so I'm sure if you show her some of your videogames and tell them what they're about, SHE will choose what she wants to play....

I would argue that guys love games with good plot and atmosphere too xD That's not a girl exclusive thing.

 

[Colour Scientist]

More importantly, whatever you pick, make absolutely sure it's something that supports two player co-op. That is by far the most important point.

Really, though? This has been said by a lot of people, but I can't really agree.

Playing with someone much better while you're still trying to figure out the controls must be frustrating.
And dragging along a noob who doesn't know their inventory from their arsehole doesn't sound like much fun either.
Sounds like a recipe for no fun to me.

I agree you should be around, but I don't think playing co-op is a great idea.

Yeah, seconded.

Playing directly alongside someone who's been playing games for a while might make a newcomer feel incompetent and that could be off-putting.

It might outright put them off playing because even when you're new, no one likes being made painfully aware of how crap they are. It also might encourage someone to just arse around because they won't want to look like they're doing really badly when they're legitimately trying, as opposed to doing badly because they just aren't taking it seriously in order to save face.

That and you might start doing things for them without realising that you're doing it just because it's second nature to you.

It's like when my ex was playing FFIX (which is my game, it's mine, I know it like the back of my hand) and I had to bite my lip everytime he walked by a treasure chest or didn't do something the way I would because I knew my way was better. If that were a game we were playing together, I would just take over, finding all of the hidden items and using the right moves against the right enemies. Basically, my point is that you don't want a newcomer to be firmly in the passenger seat while you play, going through the motions but not really having any impact on the game itself, it's not going to be very engaging for them.

 

[happyninja42]

More importantly, whatever you pick, make absolutely sure it's something that supports two player co-op. That is by far the most important point.

Really, though? This has been said by a lot of people, but I can't really agree.

Playing with someone much better while you're still trying to figure out the controls must be frustrating.
And dragging along a noob who doesn't know their inventory from their arsehole doesn't sound like much fun either.
Sounds like a recipe for no fun to me.

I agree you should be around, but I don't think playing co-op is a great idea.

It's better than competitive games where the two of you fight each other. Depending on the game, having the two of you work together can be a lot of fun. The trick is like any situation where you are teaching someone something they don't know. Be patient, be helpful, and let them figure it out. Don't get frustrated with them for not understanding it as well as you do, and just have fun with it.

 

[masticina]

Skyrim? Mass Effect?

Don't get me wrong here but at least a few girls I know like reading, stories, reading, writing fan fiction. Not saying that all girls are like that but a good story is worth allot. And it will probably mean you get to enjoy watching her do things her ways. Maybe she even thinks of how her character acts.

Oh yes how easy it is for boys to just enjoy killing a. getting b. selling c. out to slavers. But the girls I know kinda create their own story around things. Hey if it makes them happy right.

Hell one I know is easily suckered into MMO"s.

But yes also shooter fans exist.

So I suggest skyrim, mass effect, let them have their own account and before you know you have to beg for play time for your own games just like you have to beg for... eh. yeah!

 

[Sable Gear]

I really don't know much about introducing new players to games but I'd always recommend Portal because I feel like it's kind of easy to learn how to use a controller with and progresses very naturally. After she has the hang of that then show her the games you have and then let her pick which one sounds most interesting to her.

Overlooking the stereotype- is everything I touch now a `girlfriend game`?

*stares down at hands*

I'm going to touch ALL THE GAMES. None for you guys. All games are for girlfriends.

Portal is my default intro game for Xbox owners. Next on the list would be Portal 2 or Half-Life 2 once a newb is comfortable with the controller and format. If your newb wants some support, maybe something like co-opping L4D/2 could be good. For a non-FPS, I really found the first Assassin's Creed a good start; the sandbox makes it only as complex as you want it to be.

I got my gaming start on the GameCube with Metroid Prime, which I also highly recommend for introducing people to gaming. Even though it's like 12 years old, it's aged well and isn't too aggressive of a shooter overall.

 

[DrOswald]

Kirby's Epic Yarn is a really good one that most people over look. Simple, beautiful, fun.

Don't start her out on any game with a first person perspective, spacial awareness is hard in those games and can easily frustrate a newbie. start 3D games with a 3rd person game. Uncharted, Ratchet and Clank, Super Mario 3D World (but not galaxy.), Mass Effect.

Fun story games and impressive visuals are good to start with. This is one of the big reasons Uncharted is good. Good pacing, fun story, quick pace. Uncharted is a game about beautiful and interesting people and their beautiful and interesting adventures. Great starting point.

Don't make it a game with tons of dialog, especially not if it is text boxes you have to read. Mass Effect is good, but unless your girlfriend is into science fiction world building it is probably not the place to start.

Any game with significant and essentially required inventory management is a bad idea. A new player has none of the knowledge we all have to successfully manage inventory. Inventory management has one hell of a learning curve.

If it is appropriate for your relationship it is a good idea to snuggle while she plays the game, with her laying on top of you as if you were watching a movie together and you wrapping your arms around her. The positive feeling of physical closeness will help offset any initial frustration as she learns the ropes. Also, you are going to have to be very patient as she learns to play. Intimate physical contact with someone you find physically attractive should provide plenty distraction. And no, I don't mean you should feel her up while she plays (unless she's into that.)

 

[Foolery]

Dynasty Warriors. It's the perfect beginner game. You could even go with Gundam spin-offs if you're not into the classic Three Kingdoms tale.

 

[Aesir23]

Find out what she might like. I'm not talking about something like preferring FPS over RPG but something more along the lines of preferring a movie/novel/game/whatever that's darker in theme over something more positive. It might mean that she could prefer Limbo over something like ilomilo, Dead Space over Fable, etc.

Also, I can't say I would recommend a co-op game, not until later. Just let her have the controller and let her play. Do not be a backseat gamer (a bad habit of mine), do not take the controller from her, and only give help when she asks for it.

 

[SacremPyrobolum]

Damnit, I was going to suggest Hoatoful Boyfriend. (Yes it's a boyfriend game but shut up.)

Actually I still recommend it.

 

[Flammablezeus]

I highly recommend you stay away from anything where you move in three dimensions. That can put a lot of people off.

Go with the LEGO games. They're simple, cute, fun and co-op. There's no real penalty for death either. My female friend has been playing a couple of them for her first video games and she's loving them.

 

[FieryTrainwreck]

an Xbox controller is deeply foreign to her.

If you want to introduce a total newbie to the hobby, you do NOT give them games that involve full manipulation of a dual-stick controller or keyboard/mouse combo. Full-stop. They will become frustrated, they will give up, and they will be far less likely to try video games again at a later date.

You also do NOT play cooperative games where your vastly superior motor memory gives you a noticeable performance advantage. You shouldn't try to "compensate" for their lack of ability by "carrying" the two of you through. Your teammate isn't an idiot. They will perceive what is happening, and they will resent it.

My advice? Diablo 3 for Xbox 360. No 3D navigation, single-stick movement. Starts with literally one straight forward attack/ability button and slowly adds more mechanics (and buttons) as you progress. Introduces the concept of "background mechanics" in the form of stats and gear, but nothing overly complex. Highly scale-able difficulty, very little punishment for failure. Also playable cooperatively, and you can "sandbag it" a little without being patronizing. High production values help, too; great graphics and sound, serviceable story, awesome cinematics. I've personally deployed this game as an introduction to the hobby, and it really worked.

Not that I'm necessarily accusing the O.P of this but there's quite a condescending attitude pervading this thread treating women who haven't played games like they're fucking children and recommending stuff that is the gaming equivalent of Fisher Price (it'd be interesting to see if a male "non-gamer" would get this treatment).

My sister is very intelligent and a non-gamer. She loves batman. She loves puzzles. When her boyfriend bought a PS3 for Madden, I gave her Arkham Asylum and Portal 2. Based on her preferences, those games are no-brainer homeruns. She tried them both, immediately became frustrated by the controls, and never touched either game ever again.

Gamers generally take their motor memory and hand dexterity for granted. This obviously doesn't matter when you're playing a non-real-time strategy game or anything with a point-and-click interface (which is why this poster's gf had no trouble with Dragon Age), but when it comes to navigating a three dimensional space or rapidly pressing different buttons in response to on-screen indicators? Lack of experience with relevant input devices is absolutely a deal-breaker.

Now there is a very logical correlation between basic controls and shallow or simplistic content. If you can find a game that is complex/deep/interesting without frustrating a completely new user with input challenges, that's awesome. Unfortunately, with "basic controls" as your predominant criteria, the vast majority of games will be more simplistic/shallow. Recommending such fare doesn't make you prejudiced or sexist or disrespectful. It means you understand the initial limitations of someone attempting a new hobby for the first time, and you're making responsible recommendations with future growth in mind.

 

[JET1971]

I would go with Skyrim or fallout 3/New Vegas on the PC as well as introduce her to the mod side of gaming. That opens a world of possibilities for fixing what she may not exactly like and there are quite a few female mod authors she can talk to. Fun thing is many of the top mod authors for those games are female Like CBBE is from a female or Vilja is, Willow in FNV.

If you think that those games do not have any appeal to female players then you are seriously mistaken.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Skyrim. That kind of thing. Now, of course, these games are not particularly dark or complex by our standards, but to my girlfriend I am fairly certain it would be different.
Thanks in advance.

You have the answer: Skyrim.

If you're worried about complexity or difficulty, have her start on Casual and work up difficulties as she gets used to the game.

For a non-gamer, Skyrim is very open and inviting. She will never be forced to follow the main quest and can instead follow whatever quests or side plots interest her. With the ability to adjust difficulty, there won't be any artificial skill walls to overcome.

 

[Ihateregistering1]

Recently, my girlfriend started inquire a bit more about my gaming hobby. In fact to the point where she is starting to want to play some games. However, most of what I have are some pretty complex and dark games. Assassin's Creed, Fallout, Deus Ex: Human revolution, Skyrim. That kind of thing. Now, of course, these games are not particularly dark or complex by our standards, but to my girlfriend I am fairly certain it would be different. I mean, an Xbox controller is deeply foreign to her.

So, I know that this is a horrible stereo type, but I need a girlfriend game. Something simple and fun to introduce her to the hobby. I have an xbox and a pretty boss PC, so some games that can run on those, please.

Thanks in advance.

I don't know your GF, so I don't know what art styles she likes, but I've found in the past that light-hearted games that can be played co-op are usually the best. Games like Castle Crashers, Rayman, Metal Slug, etc. Getting to play together and work to a common goal is a lot more fun than ones where you have to compete with each other.

 

[Fappy]

-Snip

-Snip-

You plebs and your Skyrim-playing girlfriends. Mine plays Morrowind!

I am so proud of her.

 

[CannibalCorpses]

Skyrim. That kind of thing. Now, of course, these games are not particularly dark or complex by our standards, but to my girlfriend I am fairly certain it would be different.
Thanks in advance.

You have the answer: Skyrim.

If you're worried about complexity or difficulty, have her start on Casual and work up difficulties as she gets used to the game.

For a non-gamer, Skyrim is very open and inviting. She will never be forced to follow the main quest and can instead follow whatever quests or side plots interest her. With the ability to adjust difficulty, there won't be any artificial skill walls to overcome.

I agree with this completely. I know 2 non-gamer females who love Skyrim because they don't have to do anything and so they can just enjoy it. I've also noticed that a lot of females i know are really good at puzzle games so maybe find something fairly simple to play but hard to master. I'm not going to recommend you any games though...my tastes are far too unforgiving for most players

 

[Random Fella]

[complex and dark games. Assassin's Creed, Fallout, Deus Ex: Human revolution, Skyrim.]

Sorry, what?
Are you scared your girlfriend is too simple for the extensive complexity of Skyrim?
Is she, challenged?

But seriously, I can't speak for Deus Ex as I haven't played it, but the three other titles are extremely simple and easy to play,

Lets think about this from the perspective of someone who has never played a video game before, or any form of table top RPG. It wouldn't be about her being "challenged" it's literally that she would've never played that type of game before. Skyrim doesn't exactly do much in the tutorial department, there's a lot to take in for someone who's never played a game before. It's simple for us, but that's because we've got 15 plus of gaming under our belts. Everything in Skyrim is old hat mechanics wise.

Those games are by NO means "extremely simple" even by a gamers standards. Pacman is "extremely simple", Mario is "extremely simple". Skyrim, Assassins Creed and Deus Ex? No, not by a long shot, especially as the OP stated, for someone who DOES NOT GAME. Now that I'm a master, Metal Gear RIsing is "simple" for me even on the hardest difficulty, does that make it a simple game? Of course it doesn't.

Comparing a simple game to the likes of pacman is just pedantic, why not just give the girl a mobile phone and see if she enjoys Snake?
Games like skyrim can be picked up by anyone who has basic learning and comprehension skills, and they're very fun and casual too.

 

[FoolKiller]

Assuming your girlfriend isn't a child, I wouldn't exclude games based on the chance that they might be too complicated.

Just let her have a look through your collection, pick something that appeals to her and have her try it out. If she doesn't like it, she doesn't like it and you can move on to something else. I know people who've never gamed in their lives but got really into a whole multitude of different games from a wide range of genres just because they saw other people play them and thought they looked like fun.

Sure, they weren't very good when they started but it's a trial and error thing.

It is a little stereotypical to pick a game for her just because it's simple or light-hearted. If she ends up liking a game like that, then cool but I don't think it's a requirement.

Agreed. Nothing says condescending like telling her what to play. My S/O plays games and wants to try FPSs but she doesn't like them because she sucked at it before. The truth is that she sucked at it and other people made fun of her for it.

As long as you're supportive and patient (ie. don't take the controller away because she's dying or keeps looking at her feet while shooting) she will get better naturally.

As for introductory games, I would say Portal hands down. The game isn't too long. Most of it is a tutorial. Its very entertaining. And once someone has mastered the basics of an FPS, the skills are transferable to most genres.

 

[Something Amyss]

You plebs and your Skyrim-playing girlfriends. Mine plays Morrowind!

Morrowind? That's far too complicated! I call shenanigans.