While it is very debatable whether we are in a ‘Golden Age’ of gaming or not, I think it is safe to say that the current generation is finally hitting its stride. With Fallout 4 and MGS 5 dominating 2015, and games like Final Fantasy XV, The Division and No Man’s Sky among the most hyped titles of 2016, we have more quality games then we could shake a collective stick at. Don’t underestimate me though, I can shake a stick at literally anything (I’ve done it before). My point is, games are getting better, and gamers are expecting more. For heroes players like you and me, this is what we have been waiting for. Finally, our hundreds of dollars spent on new consoles are starting to pay off! With all these great titles dropping left, right and center, does that make it harder to break into the world of gaming if you are just a casual gamer or, heaven forbid, don’t play games at all?

I’m not asking because I think they are bad games, but the learning curve can be quite steep. It’d be like never doing drugs, then trying meth off a crackhead’s recommendation. Not that you should learn to do drugs kids, they will fuck you up. When you think about the fact that even experienced gamers can still be daunted by some big IP’s like Dark Souls or most MMO’s, you can see how someone new to the fold wont have any clue where to start. Fortunately, there are plenty of games, both new and old, that can satisfy as a good gateway drug into some of the hard stuff. I’ve broken it down into a list of what to look out for in a good game for non-gamers, and will also provide some games that I think are a smashing example of that.

Controls

For god sake, make sure the controls are simple, whatever you do. If you pick something that handles like the freaking Starship Enterprise, they will put down the controller so fast it will look like they threw it. And it will look that way because they probably did throw it, probably at something pretty expensive too. When I say dumb it down, I don’t mean like ‘play Dark Souls with this normal controller instead of my guitar hero controller’, I mean like pick something where the player doesn’t have to do more than two things at the same time. For most new comers, just the simple action of moving with one thumb and looking around with the other thumb will send them into a tail spin of nausea and long-term regret. Walking simulators are a good introduction to this, where that is all the have to worry about. Alternatively, third person games side step the camera issue all together, meaning you can focus on good platformers like Ratchet and Clank to introduce simple controls as well.

Story

You might be surprised, but when it comes to the uninitiated, great story will be miles more relevent than great gameplay. When most people play games from the first time, the closest thing they can compare them too are movies and tv. This means they won’t be as forgiving with bad plots and worse voice acting. Fortunately this is happening less and less these days, but throw something like Call of Duty or The Division at them and you’ll find the reception will be a little less than overwhelming. Like controls, keep it simple. Even if it is a great story, if it is part of a series and it won’t make any sense, that doesn’t help you at all. Stay away from your Metal Gear Solid 5’s and focus more towards your Portal 1’s.

Difficulty

The rules for this one are pretty simple. Ultimately, just don’t be a dick. Feel free to just take that as general life advice, but if you have to choose one or the other, take it in regards to difficulty. I really don’t care if you’re a dick in other areas, if I’m being totally honest. While you definitely want someones first game to be enjoyable, that doesn’t necessarily mean their first game has to be easy. Difficulty is there to provide a challenge to stop the gameplay from becoming stale. Overall, this depends on the game. In my opinion, games that don’t even give you a choice in the matter is a good place to start. Something like Gone Home or the Lego series are good examples of this, where they are focused more on accessible game play or story rather than an intense challenge.

Experience

A big one that often gets overlooked is the experience the player has while playing the game. In my experience, some of the best games are the ones that make you want to talk to everyone else about how they approached something to see how it changed. My partner isn’t a massive gamer, but the games we both get most excited about are games where you make decisions that affect the outcome in multiple ways. Games like Until Dawn, Heavy Rain and Stardew Valley are all pretty good examples of this.

These are the four areas where you want to knock it out of the park. Here are five games that follow all these guidelines that have been well received by non-gamers.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

This is a unique game in that it has to be played with at least two people. One person is in charge of disarming a bomb, the other is in charge of giving instructions off a printed manual. Controls are super simple, with the game getting more and more complex as it goes on. It is more about communication and teamwork then gameplay and story, but does a great job at showcasing how games can be used in different ways.

Telltale’s The Walking Dead

A modern-day version of the ‘point and clicks’ of old, any Telltale game could have filled the gap here. The best one to go with is based on content and interests, so The Walking Dead or Game of Thrones would probably be the best way to go. The fun in this game comes from making decisions that span across 5 episodes of story, meaning there is no right or wrong way to play the game. It also gives you something to talk about after it has been played, it’s a win-win.

Mario Kart

A game that needs no introduction. Almost everyone should have played this game at least once at this point, but it is welcoming to new comers and veterans alike. One of the rare games that pros and beginners can play at the same time with both having equal chance of winning. The way the system works is the worse you are doing, the better weapons you get to help you win. This makes it a skill game for the people in the lead, with the people trailing the pack arguably having the most fun.

Firewatch

Firewatch is the most recent ‘walking simulator’ to hit the market. Controls don’t move outside of walk, look, and one button to interact. This game focuses entirely on the story and atmosphere, putting the player inside a national park it is very easy to lose yourself in. Superb voice acting, great sound design, even better story telling, this is a great introduction to games as a medium for amazing narrative on par with books or movies.

The Witness

Out of all the games I’ve suggested, this would be the one that is the definition of ‘it’s not for everyone’. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed this game, but it is first and foremost a puzzle game. It starts off simple, then slowly adds new rules throughout the game until puzzles start to drive you insane. Because it is so puzzle focused however, this makes it the perfect game to play on the couch with a partner and brainstorm ideas on the solution. It’s controls are very basic and solving puzzles, particularly the difficult ones, actually makes you feel something. For me, that feeling always resulted in a combination of relief and Homer Simpson’s ‘I am so smart’ chant, but it is even better when it is shared with others.

What game’s do you think would be a good starting point for non-gamers? Or are you a non-gamer that has had a chance to play any of these? Let us know in the comments below!