Gaming has always been a fantastic form of escapism. Sometimes you just need to be whisked away to fantastical worlds and have a moment to yourself, but it’s also fun to bring your friends and loved ones in on one of your favorite hobbies! Finding the right title that is accessible to those who don’t regularly game, but can still be engaging to the player who games regularly, can be a daunting task, but never fear because Twinfinite has got you covered. Here are 7 accessible and enjoyable games to play with those who don’t game in your life:
Mario Kart
Nintendo has always specialized in making titles that reach all audiences, and perhaps no series embodies that design philosophy more than Mario Kart. The fast-paced action keeps the racing fun for players who have put in hundreds of hours already, but the controls are simple enough and confined to only a few inputs that make Mario Kart easy to pick up and play. But what truly makes Mario Kart fun for all is how no one is ever safe.
Gamers have complained that Mario Kart punishes you for doing well and holding on to first place, but when you’re playing with someone who has less experience, it’s fun for them to feel like they have a chance to win with just the right item drop because, in all reality, they do. Feel free to pick whatever iteration is easiest for you to get ahold of; Mario Kart shares the same sense of fun across the series, so no matter what game you go with, you’ll have a good time.
Jack Box Party Pack
In the early 2000’s, people would come together over hors-d’oeuvres and wine and play board games like Cranium or Pictionary. These games usually required cerebral thought but brought everyone together through the necessity of group efforts. The Jack Box Party Pack series has brought those style games to consoles near you.
There are currently four different Party Packs, with a fifth one set to release in the fourth quarter of 2018. All of the packs contain five different party games; each pack has their own unique games, but later titles have updated versions of fan-favorite games that add functionality and content. Any game in the series will bring the fun for the whole family, but if you had to pick one, go with Jack Box Party Pack 4.
Overcooked
If you’re ready to put your relationship to the test than Overcooked is the game for you. Overcooked is a dine-n-dash game that requires cooperation and quick communication to succeed in the outlandish situations that developer Ghost Town Games throws at players. It isn’t meant to be a chill night of gaming when playing Overcooked, but the fun of accomplishing a scenario with three-stars will make you and your co-chef feel like a dynamic duo. For those looking to step it up, Overcooked 2 recently released and added new mechanics, like throwing items, which adds to the puzzle variety in fun and complex ways.
Rock Band 4
Whether you like games or not, almost everyone likes music, in some form or another. More specifically though, everyone loves to feel like a rock star. While it may be hard to find the peripherals for the title nowadays (check your local yard sales), the hunt is well worth the rhythmic party game that is fun for all.
Rock Band nails inclusivity phenomenally, allowing everyone to feel like they are an integral part of the group. Got someone extroverted in your party? Throw them the mic and watch them command the stage. Maybe you’ve got a less bodacious friend, put them behind the drums and listen to them shred. And if a friend has never played before, the bass parts are usually a bit slower and more predictable, making it a perfect gateway into the feel of Rock Band.
Diablo 3
Don’t let the dark veneer fool you, Diablo 3 can create an approachable sense of accomplishment. Creating a character that you progressively upgrade creates a sense of ownership that anyone could enjoy, gamer and non-gamer alike. The hack and slash mechanics are simple enough to learn and require only a slight amount of dexterity, but offer plenty of room to strategize as the player begins to feel a sense of control. Diablo 3’s loot grind ultimately makes every quest or run feel meaningful and the fact that the rewards are only incremental means there is always an incentive to keep pushing forward. If you want to feel a sense of growth with someone, then Diablo 3 is the game for you. The game is currently available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, and will be coming to Nintendo Switch, with local co-op, later this fall.
Thimbleweed Park
Classic point-and-click adventure games have always been known for having zany solutions to puzzles that require creative, outside-of-the-box problem-solving. Thimbleweed Park takes that hallmark and updates antiquated systems so the title follows modern gaming’s sensibilities. Anyone who enjoys Twin Peaks or supernatural murder mysteries writ large will be hooked by Thimbleweed Park’s setting. If this type of game strikes your fancy, check out some titles from developer Double Fine, like Grim Fandango or Broken Age.
What are some games you’ve enjoyed playing with those special people in your life that don’t typically game? Let us know in the comments below!
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