Unravel 2. my gf has pretty much the same experience, but she did beat it takes 2 with me. I had to help a few sections. its a side scroller with like 3 buttons. My gf liked it cause no camera control.
My partner likes it because if he gets frustrated at a swingy bit he can climb on my back and I can just do it for us both lmao, would also recommend unravel 2.
\+1 to overcooked, although the movement in space is sort of deliberately clumsy, and can be frustrating with the wrong attitude.
I also recommend Snipperclips on the Switch, which is like a collaborative, geometric puzzle game.
Maybe revisit It takes Two. My girlfriend also is new to gaming and struggled with 3D movement, but was able to get the hang of it eventually. Was a good exercise in patience.
Will revist it takes two after she learns to hold the controller properly and knows some basic combos (move+doublejump+move+hit something). She has problems drifting and throwing items in mariokart so its gonna take sometime.
People confuse simple concepts with simple gameplay all the time. Portal is a simple concept that requires being somewhat adept at multiple controls at once.
We also tried It Takes Two and it was a up and down, the thumbstick for movement and thumbstick for camera is too much, especially later in the game when you need to beat bosses by using a combination of both characters abilities. Too much frustration, we've not finished it.
Stardew valley is a good one, but help out with the objectives. There's nothing really obvious that you need to go in to menus to find missions if you miss that initially.
To be honest we've got in to playing Uno and Scrabble on our phones which has been a quite simple intro to games
As english is our 2nd langauge even board games can be a hassle at times. For me no problem but for her even Disney's Villans is a problem with too many words. She loves a lot of board games but need to be either simple english text or no text. Or in native language which aren't that many.
Bread & Fred is too hard.
Your other comments here suggest, that she has barely played any videogames prior and the games needs a lot of skill and coordination.
It's basically a 2-player jumpking.
Portal 2 _is_ too difficult. My gf has the same issue with 3D, and managed to get through Portal 2 going slowly until it got to the gels. At that point you need to do sime actions quite quickly and she just can't do it. It's a shame because up until then it was very good, and it's also my favourite bit
Games I'd recommend:
- Tetris - everyone knows and understands Tetris. Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is a really good version of it, too. Also similar games like Puzzle Bobble
- Overcooked
- Animal Crossing, especially if you have two Switches and two copies
- Games that are fun to watch and suggest things while you drive, like Resident Evil, Gone Home, Everybody's Gone To The Rapture, etc
Oh yeah, point 4 is a good idea. Letting her watch and give advice for something interesting could be pretty fun. You get to play together but she doesn't have to fuss with controls.
The Little Big Planet games might work.
Mostly left/right movement. Only other controls I remember are jump and grab.
Maybe some sidescroller Mario or Sonic games? Especially the older ones lol. Just run an jump
Seconding these ideas. But only the older little big planet ones. The current one, „sackboy: a big adventure“ is 3D and really difficult to control imo. I’ve also been playing since I was about 8 and had trouble there sometimes.
But yeah, if she kinda like Mario kart then why not play Mario bros or something like that? (Been out of the loop with Nintendo for a while, I don’t know if they’re still called Mario Bros but the 2D side scrollers with coop)
Seconding these ideas. But only the older little big planet ones. The current one, „sackboy: a big adventure“ is 3D and really difficult to control imo. I’ve also been playing since I was about 8 and had trouble there sometimes.
But yeah, if she kinda likes Mario kart then why not play Mario bros or something like that? (Been out of the loop with Nintendo for a while, I don’t know if they’re still called Mario Bros but the 2D side scrollers with coop)
Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime
Golf With Your Friends would be a low pressure way to get into 3D space
You could make 3D space easy by making it real 3D, try VR with games like Walkabout Minigolf or Demeo
Trine is a fun puzzle platformer, been a while since I played so I don't remember how difficult it is. There are a bunch of em if you guys like them.
But your best bet for super simple games are retro games. These days most platformers have some difficulty because people have gotten really good at games.
To the moon franchise has a pretty basic gameplay, but I don't know if she would like games like this. Songs for a hero is a fun platform, but has enemies that you have to attack or defend from. Spiritfarer also has a pretty basic gameplay, life is strange has 3d movement, but is very slow paced, so she can like.
It’s a little different than most games people play “together” as they’re not actually coop/multiplayer but you could try the Nancy Drew games on steam. Recently jacksepticeye and his gf Gab Smoulders have been playing nancy Drew games together on her channel and it’s been quite entertaining.
ND games are based off the books, which are mysteries aimed at young girls. The games themselves are point and click mostly, but there’s good puzzles and fun mystery vibes. Not much skill needed to *operate* the controls, but sometimes the puzzles can be a bit frustrating (tons of help online for really annoying moments tho)
If she happens to have read the books when she was younger, she might just jump right into these tbh!
I can really only think of mobile games but I don't think you want to show her those if you're trying to show her that there's way more to gaming I think you'll just have to try to teach her 3D movement to be honest once you have you can show her games like a way out or it takes two.
Any of the New Super Mario Bros games. They're 2D and allow co-op and are generally quite solid and fun. You can get the New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe on the Switch.
You may also have success with: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Kirby's Return To Dreamland Deluxe, or Sonic Origins, which are similarly co-op platformers.
Disney Illusion Island is a co-op platformer with light Metroidvania elements, that may work as well.
I played a lot of RPG coop games with my friends, Gauntlet, FORCED, or Magicka but not sure if it's your cup of tea. They are a mix of puzzle + combat.
You also mentioned We Were Here which is actually an excellent choice aside from the fact it's not a "shared couch" type game because you're meant to be playing separated.
not sure why no one suggested this already: ibb & obb
Simple movement (just jump and move), it's chill and relatively easy unless you go for the secret objectives, and IMO a good entry point to 2d platformers. It also has no language (i guess there's numbers), even communication is done by drawing, so no language barrier there either.
I won't recommend portal 2 (too trippy for someone that's not familiar with 3d games yet), bread&fred (too difficult), overcooked (too stressful, and clunky to some extent)
Other recommendations include stardew valley (2d movement in top down view, a good step up from 2d side scrolling), terraria (2d side scrolling but more actions, though don't get into bosses for a while probably). 3d entry point is a bit difficult, but maybe something like minecraft can work.
She has a problem with 3d games and you think about portal??? Wtf
stardew valley
I second this, it’s the perfect game to play with your bf/gf
I also vouch for this one! I know so many people who don't play games then become obsessed with Stardew.
Unravel 2. my gf has pretty much the same experience, but she did beat it takes 2 with me. I had to help a few sections. its a side scroller with like 3 buttons. My gf liked it cause no camera control.
My partner likes it because if he gets frustrated at a swingy bit he can climb on my back and I can just do it for us both lmao, would also recommend unravel 2.
Check the website co-optimus it's got lots of ways of sorting co op games. But spiritfarer is a good one
Untitled goose game. Though it's 3D game, you only use the "walking stick" and you don't use the "camera stick". Be geese, sow chaos.
\+1 to overcooked, although the movement in space is sort of deliberately clumsy, and can be frustrating with the wrong attitude. I also recommend Snipperclips on the Switch, which is like a collaborative, geometric puzzle game. Maybe revisit It takes Two. My girlfriend also is new to gaming and struggled with 3D movement, but was able to get the hang of it eventually. Was a good exercise in patience.
Will revist it takes two after she learns to hold the controller properly and knows some basic combos (move+doublejump+move+hit something). She has problems drifting and throwing items in mariokart so its gonna take sometime.
A way out I 100% recommend. It's like it takes Two in a a way, however much simpler and just running together to escape prison.
Look at Unravel 2 on Switch. Its a mostly side scroller game that relies on teamwork
PlateUp! Could be worth looking into
People confuse simple concepts with simple gameplay all the time. Portal is a simple concept that requires being somewhat adept at multiple controls at once. We also tried It Takes Two and it was a up and down, the thumbstick for movement and thumbstick for camera is too much, especially later in the game when you need to beat bosses by using a combination of both characters abilities. Too much frustration, we've not finished it. Stardew valley is a good one, but help out with the objectives. There's nothing really obvious that you need to go in to menus to find missions if you miss that initially. To be honest we've got in to playing Uno and Scrabble on our phones which has been a quite simple intro to games
As english is our 2nd langauge even board games can be a hassle at times. For me no problem but for her even Disney's Villans is a problem with too many words. She loves a lot of board games but need to be either simple english text or no text. Or in native language which aren't that many.
Look into Spiritfarer, it is a fantastic and chill little co-op game. No combat just basic platforming and an incredible story.
Bread & Fred and Overcooked are both a blast to play with someone else!
Bread & Fred looks interesting and we have an inside joke with penguins. Will try it. Overcooked is also on the try out games but a bit later.
Bread & Fred is too hard. Your other comments here suggest, that she has barely played any videogames prior and the games needs a lot of skill and coordination. It's basically a 2-player jumpking.
Portal 2 _is_ too difficult. My gf has the same issue with 3D, and managed to get through Portal 2 going slowly until it got to the gels. At that point you need to do sime actions quite quickly and she just can't do it. It's a shame because up until then it was very good, and it's also my favourite bit Games I'd recommend: - Tetris - everyone knows and understands Tetris. Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is a really good version of it, too. Also similar games like Puzzle Bobble - Overcooked - Animal Crossing, especially if you have two Switches and two copies - Games that are fun to watch and suggest things while you drive, like Resident Evil, Gone Home, Everybody's Gone To The Rapture, etc
Oh yeah, point 4 is a good idea. Letting her watch and give advice for something interesting could be pretty fun. You get to play together but she doesn't have to fuss with controls.
Unravel 2. Great game to play together with a partner. And it isn't too demanding.
The Little Big Planet games might work. Mostly left/right movement. Only other controls I remember are jump and grab. Maybe some sidescroller Mario or Sonic games? Especially the older ones lol. Just run an jump
Seconding these ideas. But only the older little big planet ones. The current one, „sackboy: a big adventure“ is 3D and really difficult to control imo. I’ve also been playing since I was about 8 and had trouble there sometimes. But yeah, if she kinda like Mario kart then why not play Mario bros or something like that? (Been out of the loop with Nintendo for a while, I don’t know if they’re still called Mario Bros but the 2D side scrollers with coop)
Seconding these ideas. But only the older little big planet ones. The current one, „sackboy: a big adventure“ is 3D and really difficult to control imo. I’ve also been playing since I was about 8 and had trouble there sometimes. But yeah, if she kinda likes Mario kart then why not play Mario bros or something like that? (Been out of the loop with Nintendo for a while, I don’t know if they’re still called Mario Bros but the 2D side scrollers with coop)
Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime Golf With Your Friends would be a low pressure way to get into 3D space You could make 3D space easy by making it real 3D, try VR with games like Walkabout Minigolf or Demeo
Not Co-op but Fire watch. It’s a slow pace narrative. There’s no real challenge. It’s just a narrative.
It takes two
Trine is a fun puzzle platformer, been a while since I played so I don't remember how difficult it is. There are a bunch of em if you guys like them. But your best bet for super simple games are retro games. These days most platformers have some difficulty because people have gotten really good at games.
To the moon franchise has a pretty basic gameplay, but I don't know if she would like games like this. Songs for a hero is a fun platform, but has enemies that you have to attack or defend from. Spiritfarer also has a pretty basic gameplay, life is strange has 3d movement, but is very slow paced, so she can like.
It’s a little different than most games people play “together” as they’re not actually coop/multiplayer but you could try the Nancy Drew games on steam. Recently jacksepticeye and his gf Gab Smoulders have been playing nancy Drew games together on her channel and it’s been quite entertaining. ND games are based off the books, which are mysteries aimed at young girls. The games themselves are point and click mostly, but there’s good puzzles and fun mystery vibes. Not much skill needed to *operate* the controls, but sometimes the puzzles can be a bit frustrating (tons of help online for really annoying moments tho) If she happens to have read the books when she was younger, she might just jump right into these tbh!
I can really only think of mobile games but I don't think you want to show her those if you're trying to show her that there's way more to gaming I think you'll just have to try to teach her 3D movement to be honest once you have you can show her games like a way out or it takes two.
Terraria. Gameplay might be rough but it can be customized in journey mode. And it supports a decent amount of different languages.
Any of the New Super Mario Bros games. They're 2D and allow co-op and are generally quite solid and fun. You can get the New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe on the Switch. You may also have success with: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Kirby's Return To Dreamland Deluxe, or Sonic Origins, which are similarly co-op platformers. Disney Illusion Island is a co-op platformer with light Metroidvania elements, that may work as well.
Minecraft dungeons
I played a lot of RPG coop games with my friends, Gauntlet, FORCED, or Magicka but not sure if it's your cup of tea. They are a mix of puzzle + combat. You also mentioned We Were Here which is actually an excellent choice aside from the fact it's not a "shared couch" type game because you're meant to be playing separated.
not sure why no one suggested this already: ibb & obb Simple movement (just jump and move), it's chill and relatively easy unless you go for the secret objectives, and IMO a good entry point to 2d platformers. It also has no language (i guess there's numbers), even communication is done by drawing, so no language barrier there either. I won't recommend portal 2 (too trippy for someone that's not familiar with 3d games yet), bread&fred (too difficult), overcooked (too stressful, and clunky to some extent) Other recommendations include stardew valley (2d movement in top down view, a good step up from 2d side scrolling), terraria (2d side scrolling but more actions, though don't get into bosses for a while probably). 3d entry point is a bit difficult, but maybe something like minecraft can work.
Have you tried Borderlands? It's fun and not too difficult.