Trying to introduce Girlfriend to pc gaming

[Spitfire]

Trine and Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light both seem like good suggestions. I'd also add Audiosurf, Guacamelee, Rayman Legends, and Saints Row 3 and 4.

 

[Worgen]

Don't play coop. it might seem liked a good idea, but that way lies madness. Playing coop with someone who is much better or worse than you is a sure way to turn someone off from gaming. The only coop game I can think of that might work is minecraft. Since if she wants, she could just wander off and do her own thing.

Otherwise, just suggest a few simple games for her to play on her own, let her play at her own pace and come to enjoy it herself. Don't hover, be there in case she asks for help but don't force help onto her, let her learn for herself.

 

[Krustosaurus]

Castle Crashers is a pretty fun multiplayer. It recommends you use a controller but I'm pretty sure you can just use your mouse and keyboard if you really want.
Another game I love is The Binding of Isaac. Not a multiplayer but it's something you can just play whenever you feel like it without having to dedicate too much time to it.

 

[BoogieManFL]

Hi this is my first topic on the Escapist and any help would be appreciated.

We have been going out for about 6 months now and have played quite a few games together but only old school games mainly on the SNES.
She has never played pc games before and has very little experience and patients for modern controllers.

I would like to show her some fun coop games on the pc but most of the ones i play or have played will be too advanced for a beginner or mainly involve pvp.
I have a decent laptop she can use so not restricted to just local coop any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Pixeljunk Monsters. I find the PC version is best but it is also available on the PS3.

I've known people who are completely inept with electronic games of all kinds who've tried and enjoyed that game. It's engaging and easy to get the basics figured out.

Left 4 Dead 2 once she gets used to PC gaming, if she doesn't mind the graphic violence.

 

[MHR]

I like the suggestions people have made about Minecraft. Women love minecraft, and if you're any fun you like it too. The best thing is that it's in the first person perspective with WASD controls which will acclimate her to shooters pretty nicely while not doing anything stressful.

Make her use the bow a lot XD

 

[draigan]

Thanks for all the suggestions a lot of good stuff to try should be very helpful

 

[Ratty]

Volgarr The Viking

Ehhh I really enjoyed this game but it was harder than most actual SNES and Genesis games I've played. Plus it's got no co-op. Even if it were less brutal it's a proud imitation of Genesis/SNES games, so it's not the kind of title I would introduce someone to PC gaming with.

I'll second that Torchlight is good if you like Diablo-style games, and Torchlight 2 has co-op as I recall.

Query: how interested is she in gaming? I mean, is this something that she really wants to get into or is this more something that you want her to get into?

It's just I can't help but think that if she was interested in gaming then she'd have found out about it already.

If she really wants to get into PC gaming because she's already into some other form of gaming then I would advise exploring the analouges of the kind of games she already likes on PC. The best bit about PC gaming is the wealth of choice, after all.

Otherwise maybe it'd be best to avoid a situation where your personal hobbies are in a kind of Barcode Battler confrontation and instead try to find a new, mutually enjoyable, pass time such as extreme sex or cooking.

That's a good point. Though OP already answered that it doesn't apply to them specifically.

But eh, it's not always a case of trying to "force" hobbies and interests on one another. The major reason I'm a gamer today is that I knew my girlfriend was an avid gamer and I wanted to share that with her. Never really cared about games as a kid. We bonded over Serious Sam and still play games together. Meanwhile she gradually took an interest in laughing at terrible or cheesy old movies with me. I think people naturally want to share the things they love with the ones they love most.

 

[Rhykker]

I have to throw my hat into the Portal 2 pool. Also, as much as I hate to recommend League of Legends, it worked for my friend's girlfriend, despite its competitive PvP nature.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Borderlands can be hard to get into, specially with all the RPG stuff and the gun market and comparing stats and inventory management and tracking quests and looting and all the nice little OCD things that turn me on but don't sound terribly fun on paper. It can feel overwhelming at first. But once you get used to that, co-op is a lot of fun. My girlfriend ended up loving the game. It's probably about the instant pay-off and sense of progression. Anyway, maybe it's not the coziest intro to gaming. Depends on the individual.

I think the best you can do is offer her a game where she will instantly feel the consequences of her actions rather than wait for the plot to develop or the tutorial to end or the gameplay to round up. Don't overwhelm her with open worlds and customization and stuff like that. I'm not saying she may not like it but the smoothest intro would be to give her something you can play and get a feel of what's it all about from the get-go.

 

[TrevHead]

Jametown, a fun noob friendly local co-op shmup, IIRC co-op mode has power ups that bring dead players back into play. Uses just about any control type and you easily map your own buttons when you start play.

Also Get her own private Steam account with a few retro games (the SEGA Mega Drive packs, 2d platformers, VVVVV, Ys, Recettear and puzzlers like Lumines and Might & Magic Clash of Heroes.) Just to get her invested in the platform.

Noitu Love 2 might be a good way to get her using K&M, she might really dig Aquaria and Dust An Elysian Tail too.

Sonic 2 CO-OP might suit your needs too.

 

[GiantRaven]

Looking at my Steam library I see the following games with Local Co-op:

Monaco: What's yours is mine
Guacamelee
Spelunky
Risk of Rain

They're all great and all have some old-school sensibilities that should appeal to somebody more familiar with SNES era gaming (or at least I think so).