Hear Me Out: Games You Should Let Non-Gamers Start With

Gamers love bringing in more gamers, especially those close to them. Normally, for those who are just getting into gaming, you would suggest something easy, casual, and stress-free—really letting them lean into this hobby. 

But let’s flip that. 

Instead of handing them a relaxing puzzle game or something comfy, what if we threw them straight into the fire? Some games seem like questionable choices for beginners, but if they push through, they might come out the other side as full-fledged gamers. So here are some titles that may sound ridiculous as starter games, but actually make sense. 

Dark Souls III

From Bandai Namco Official GIPHY

Alright, I know what you’re thinking—why would you throw a beginner into Dark Souls III, a game known for its difficulty? Simple: because it teaches core gaming fundamentals better than anything else, or at least I believe so. 

Every fight is a lesson in patience, observation, and adaptation. There’s no mindless button-mashing here—newbies must learn enemy patterns, time their attacks, and improve with every attempt. Yes, they’ll die a lot. But once they beat that first tough boss? I want them to relish that feeling of accomplishment, and they’ll understand why Souls players never shut up about it.

A worth, trial by fire. 

Slay the Spire 

From Steam Official Website

Card games as an intro to gaming? Absolutely. Slay the Spire is the perfect game for non-gamers who love strategy and thinking ahead. Unlike fast-paced action games, this one lets them take their time and get hooked on that sweet, sweet roguelike progression loop. Every run feels different, and before they know it, they’re obsessing over deck synergy and min-maxing strategies—without even realizing they’re becoming full-blown gamers in the process. 

Deep Rock Galactic  

From Steam Official Website

Okay, this is just a wholesome suggestion. 

First-person shooters can be intimidating, but Deep Rock Galactic makes them fun, accessible, and team-focused. Instead of a competitive environment, players work together as space dwarves mining resources, fighting off alien bugs, and completing missions. Now, that may sound great—and it is—but the game can be quite hectic. There can be too many things happening on the screen. This teaches the player that teamwork is essential and to understand that keeping tabs on your environment is the key to winning. 

From Steam Official Website

The community itself is very supportive and is a great title to pick up with other non-gaming friends. It’s the perfect game to introduce someone to FPS mechanics without overwhelming them with high-stakes, sweaty competition.

These games aren’t your typical “starter” titles, but they teach the core mechanics of gaming in the best way possible—through their own challenges. Speaking of challenges, one of the more difficult things we have right now is locating quality smart products. If you are one of these people, you can check out our Next Upgrade Shop that supplies the latest and greatest devices that can elevate your home space.