6 video games for people who don’t play them

In 2007 an interesting phenomenon occurred in the world of video games. Three events that year helped this entertainment to mass globally: the success of the Nintendo Wii, which had been launched late last year; the introduction of the iPhone and its innovative application store (full of games); and the proliferation of video games on Facebook pages, such as Farmville, Mafia Wars, Restaurant City and dozens of other titles.

All of the above gave rise to the emergence of casual gamers, a new name coined to identify those people who usually do not use this type of entertainment, but who occasionally — taking advantage of their simplicity of control, new mobile platforms and networks social – could spend a few minutes. It was the case of angry Birds (2009), the most popular and downloaded casual game in those days.

Today the concept remains just as popular, especially on mobile devices, where there are tons of games of this style, from the Candy crash and its clones to racing or strategy games, like the popular one Clash of Clans. But the experience on consoles, with TV screens that are getting bigger every year, is different (beyond the FIFA): deeper, more immersive and even more social. Here is a short list of video games designed for people who do not play video games.

This is probably one of the simplest and most casual games available. Thought, of course, as a kind of digital board game, the different versions of the saga Mario Party they are based on the concept of mini games set in the colorful universe of the iconic Nintendo character. There are dozens of simple and very brief activities to play — alone or in company — where the objective is to accumulate points and score more than the rest. Nothing more, nothing less. The mini games are varied, very simple and fun. It is not a title to change anyone’s life, but it is ideal to play as a family and in which everyone can participate. The candor and variety of the multiple games that each title includes are its main component. Available for Nintendo Switch.

They’re not the only ones, but this Californian studio – founded in 2004 by former LucasArts developers – has specialized in a type of game that can be described as “interactive storytelling based on popular film and television franchises.” Basically Telltale games are the old “pick your own adventure” games, but in digital mode. game of Thrones, Guardians of the Galaxy, Minecraft and Batman are some of the titles where, beyond moving some characters, the main mechanics of the game is to make decisions. It sounds easy, but it is not. In fact, the most popular title was the game based on the comic The walking dead. With seasonal deliveries – just like the TV series – the saga concluded its games in September 2019. Stressful, immersive and exciting, this is a great recommendation for people who don’t play video games. Available for all platforms, including mobile.

Ever since I was a young boy, I played the silver ball, sang The Who. Flippers? Why not. This collection of machines includes real tables from companies like Williams, Stern, Bally or Gottlieb, along with others based on popular film and television franchises. All tables have animations, multiple objectives, online competitions and are also customizable. Whether it’s for nostalgia themes, or simply for the experience of hitting a silver sphere and accumulating points, specials and extra balls, the experience of Pinball FX 3 it is the closest thing to the real thing. It only takes coordination and some aim. The simulator base is free and includes a table; the rest is bought in packages of different prices. Available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Windows and Nintendo Switch.

Taking advantage of the current moment, PlayStation has this game free to download until May 5. But it is worth having the same. Journey is a beautiful, intuitive and very zen exploration adventure set in a vast desert, in which the protagonist must travel to a mountain while meeting different characters, initially anonymous. The art direction, its music, its mechanics and its proposal make Journey a game like few others, ideal for inexperienced players and that leaves a great feeling in the soul, perfect for these times of confinement. Originally released for the PlayStation 3, the game is available today for the PlayStation 4, Windows, and iOS.

Nostalgia is always powerful, especially in times of confinement. That’s why these classic game collections are perhaps the best antidote for those who feel like sitting down to experience a video game without feeling overwhelmed by the novelty or, simply, to relive childhood experiences. These are games that of course belong to another era, one that was definitely simpler — at least in these terms — and the controls didn’t have as many buttons. There are several retro collections, for all tastes: Sega Genesis Classics, the Capcom or Konami collections, which include classics like Megaman, Against or Castlevania. Personally, I keep the collection Atari Vault, which rescues the classics of the Atari 2600 and its salon machines, with all its details. It is available only for Windows, MacOS and Linux. By the way, the classic console emulators we will leave them for a next time.

This game is not only one of the best in the series, but also has its share of complexity and depth: it is not for nothing that more than 120 hours are necessary to finish the campaign. But it is included in this list because it has been one of the first titles to include a “guided tour mode”, that is, focused precisely on the narrative and on the historical aspects of the game. It is set in ancient Greece and subjects such as philosophy, architecture, daily life, war and mythology are explored, without going through the stress of defeating enemies or overcoming challenges. Designed for educational purposes, the mode is ideal for those who want to immerse themselves in the historical beauty of the game. Available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows.