The best games to play with non-gamers

Be it a friend, partner or family member, every video game fan on the planet has tried and either failed or succeeded in getting a loved one to play. It's hard not to share a passion with someone else, and this applies to any hobby from stamp collecting to hiking to taking up racing.

It used to be difficult to find a game that almost anyone could play, but thanks to the mid-2000s, more simple games began to emerge alongside indie experiences. Now, more than ever before, there are games out there for everyone. So if you want to convince someone to start playing, here are some great starters to play along to ease them in.

Jackbox Party Starter

Everyone has a phone

The easiest game to get all non-gamers into is Jack box games because they are essentially just board games shown on a TV. Jackbox Party Starter features three mini-games that are easy to learn and perfect for popping out during a party.

Trivia Murder Party 2 is a trivia game with a saw-like twist, T-shirt KO lets players design their own jerseys for fun, and Quiplash 3 is just a way for players to write jokes and compete to see who is funnier. Players can use their phones as controllers, so it's very inviting.

Just Dance 2026

Lost Up

Just Dance 2026 is the latest entry in the series, which is also great for a party. What's fun is that there's a great mix of oldies and classics, and music suits all ages whether players want to dance with their kids or younger cousins.

Using a controller or phone, players just need to match their bodies to the on-screen dance instructions, which can be simple or complicated depending on the song. It can be quite the workout, and there's no denying the ability of music to make players let their hair down, metaphorically speaking.

Donkey Kong Banana

Right on my shoulders

Donkey Kong Banana is a good two-player co-op game for the Switch 2 because the non-player doesn't have to do much input on their controller. As player one, players will control Donkey Kong to platform around and beat up enemies and the environment while searching for treasure.

As Pauline, the other player will ride on her shoulder, and with the power of her voice, they can make Pauline's lyrics shatter both enemies and the world. It's another good example of a game made for all ages, with not much offensive stuff for any age group.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes

For the horror fans

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashesor any of the games in this series, are perfect for the horror fans out there. The game follows five characters, who are soldiers, who end up in an ancient ruin, followed by bizarre events. In co-op mode, players can pass a controller around to control their character or a set of characters, depending on how many people are nearby.

Inputs rely on movement, click around to collect items and have quick responses with hectic moments on screen. It can be quite an adrenaline rush for someone who is not used to the controller, but it is a learning and interesting experience, as characters can die and thus affect the story.

Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus

Everyone has played Pac-Man, right?

Pac-Man Championship Edition was a major revival of one of the most iconic gaming characters ever, bringing new ways to play in a competitive online market. Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus is the edition that added co-op for two players to tackle mazes and ghosts together.

Everyone who is anyone has played or at least seen someone play the original Pac-Man before. It's inescapable and easy to learn, even in a newer game like this, so it's still perfect for a beginner.

Split Fiction

A new game every minute

Split Fiction is a bit more intense, but still relatively easy to learn with a good partner teaching them the ropes. It's a co-op game about two writers who get stuck in a virtual reality game that keeps stealing their story ideas.

In one level, players could race digital bikes they were riding Thronewhile in others they can raid dragons in a fantasy world. The clash between sci-fi and fantasy ideas makes for some inventive levels, and no motif sticks around for long, almost creating a sense of whiplash.

Portal 2

Train your mind

Portal 2 has a single-player campaign, which most Valve fans have played, but then there's a co-op-only campaign that takes place after the events of the main story, which isn't talked about enough. Although it involves more brain activity than most co-op games, it's an easier game to control, as players basically just have to solve a series of physics-based puzzles in rooms together to progress.

Slide portals to create doorways, move cubes to activate switches, jump around pads to get past long gaps and so on. It can be a fun activity that will challenge both players to come up with solutions, so it's best to just play this game with fresh eyes between both players.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion

Introducing MCU Fans to Brawlers

The MCU has been part of pop culture ever since Iron Man dropped in 2008, making comic fans of just about everyone on the planet. So anyone interested in MCU movies, but not in video games, can appreciate the sweet nature of beating enemies in a fight that Marvel Cosmic Invasion.

With up to four players, they can choose from familiar MCU characters such as Iron Man, Captain America, Rocket Raccoon and many others. By scrolling from left to right, anyone can mash buttons and move a directional pad to beat the crap out of enemy soldiers or alien bugs.

Overcooked 2

Order up!

Overcooked 2 can be played alone, but it's more fun with a full party of four players. Each mission brings a new challenge to the table as players must actively decide who does what in the kitchen. There is food to cook, vegetables to chop and prepare, dishes to clean and so on.

All of this is also timed, as guests want their food served quickly and perfectly. It can be stressful when players are yelling commands at each other, but as long as everyone keeps it together and reminds themselves that it's just a game, it should be fine.

Windjammers 2

A Retro Versus Match

Windjammers 2 is a great contra game to test your reflexes and have fun in the sun with a quirky extreme sport that could only exist in a video game. It can be likened to frisbee meets air hockey as players pass a disc between each other and try to score a goal each round.

The board can get hectic as the more skilled players become adept at blocking, countering, and using special moves like creating a wave of fire. Without a ton of controls to learn, it's one of the better sports games to get someone into competitive gaming.