The Best Games to Play With Non-Gamers

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Almost every gamer has attempted to share their hobby with someone they care about – whether it’s a friend, partner, or family member. It’s natural to want to share things you enjoy, and this applies to all sorts of interests, from stamp collecting to hiking to even something like race car driving.

Finding a game everyone could enjoy used to be a challenge, but the rise of simpler, independent games in the mid-2000s changed that. Today, there’s truly a game for every type of player. If you’re hoping to introduce someone to gaming, these are some great options to play together – they’re perfect for beginners!

The Jackbox Party Starter

Everyone Has A Phone

If you want to introduce someone to video games, the Jackbox games are a great place to start. They’re basically digital board games played on a TV. The Jackbox Party Starter includes three simple, fun mini-games that are ideal for parties.

Trivia Murder Party 2 is a trivia game with a dark, suspenseful edge, similar to the movie Saw. Tee K.O. lets you create and share funny t-shirt designs, and Quiplash 3 is all about writing jokes and seeing who can get the biggest laughs. What makes these games easy to pick up is that you can play using just your phone as a controller.

Just Dance 2026

Losen Up

Just Dance 2026 is the newest game in the popular dance series and is perfect for parties. It features a fantastic selection of both classic and current songs, making it enjoyable for dancers of all ages – even families who want to play with their kids or younger relatives!

Players follow dance moves displayed on the screen using a controller or phone. The difficulty varies with each song, and it can actually be a good workout! Plus, music naturally encourages people to relax and have fun.

Donkey Kong Bananza

Right On My Shoulders

Donkey Kong Bananza is a great choice for two players, especially if one isn’t very experienced with video games. The second player doesn’t need to do much controlling, while the first player takes on the role of Donkey Kong, jumping through levels, defeating enemies, and searching for treasure.

Pauline will ride on the first player’s shoulder, and she can use her singing to defeat enemies and even impact the game’s world. It’s a family-friendly game that’s appropriate for players of all ages, without any objectionable content.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House Of Ashes

For The Horror Fans

If you love horror movies, you should definitely check out The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes, or any game in the series. It features five soldiers who find themselves in an ancient ruin where strange things start happening. The game is especially fun with friends – you can play co-op by sharing a single controller and each taking turns controlling the characters.

The game uses motion controls and requires players to quickly collect items and react to fast-paced action. It can be exciting, especially for those new to the controls, and offers a unique experience where character deaths actually change the story.

Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus

Everyone Has Played Pac-Man, Right?

Pac-Man Championship Edition successfully reintroduced the classic Pac-Man to a modern audience, offering fresh gameplay in the world of competitive online gaming. Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus then built on this by adding a two-player cooperative mode, letting players team up to navigate mazes and chase ghosts.

Almost everyone knows Pac-Man, either by playing it themselves or watching someone else. It’s a classic game that’s easy to pick up, and that holds true even for modern versions, making it great for beginners.

Split Fiction

A New Game Every Minute

Split Fiction is a cooperative game that’s a little challenging, but still beginner-friendly if you have a helpful teammate. Two players take on the roles of writers who find themselves stuck inside a virtual reality game where their story ideas are constantly being stolen.

The game lets you experience wildly different worlds – one minute you might be racing futuristic bikes like in the movie Tron, and the next you’re battling dragons in a fantasy setting. This constant shift between science fiction and fantasy creates surprisingly creative levels, but it also keeps things moving so quickly it can feel a bit jarring.

Portal 2

Train Your Mind

Most fans know Portal 2 for its excellent single-player story, but the co-op campaign that follows it is often overlooked. It’s a bit more mentally challenging than many co-op games, but the gameplay itself is straightforward: players work together to solve physics puzzles and advance through each room.

Create doorways by shooting portals, move blocks to trigger switches, and jump across pads to overcome large gaps – these are just a few of the challenges you’ll face. This game is best enjoyed with a partner who hasn’t played before, as solving the puzzles requires a fresh perspective from both of you.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion

Introduce MCU Fans To Brawlers

Since the first Iron Man movie in 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become a huge part of popular culture, turning many people into fans. If you enjoy the MCU films but aren’t a gamer, you might find it surprisingly fun to play a beat-’em-up game like Marvel Cosmic Invasion and battle enemies.

Up to four players can team up and play as popular Marvel Cinematic Universe heroes like Iron Man, Captain America, and Rocket Raccoon. The gameplay is simple: just move a direction and press buttons to defeat enemies, whether they’re soldiers or alien creatures.

Overcooked 2

Order Up!

I absolutely love Overcooked 2! You can play it by yourself, but honestly, it’s way more fun with four players. Every level throws a new, crazy challenge at you, and you really have to work as a team, figuring out who’s going to chop veggies, cook the food, wash dishes – it’s a total kitchen chaos in the best way!

Everything happens quickly because guests expect their food to be served promptly and correctly. It can be a bit chaotic with everyone calling out orders, but as long as the team stays calm and remembers it’s just a game, they should be able to handle it.

Windjammers 2

A Retro Versus Match

Windjammers 2 is a fast-paced, competitive game that’s perfect for testing your reaction time and enjoying a unique virtual sport. Imagine frisbee and air hockey combined – players throw a disc back and forth, aiming to score in each round.

Matches can become fast-paced and chaotic as players master blocking, countering attacks, and using powerful special moves, such as creating a fiery wave. Because it’s easy to pick up and play, this is a great game for anyone new to competitive gaming.

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2026-01-02 14:37