Five Games We'd Hand a Friend Who Says They Don't Like Video Games

Five ways to turn a non-gamer into someone who asks, "Wait, what else can I play?"

Case File: The Reluctant Gamer
Platforms: Nintendo Switch / Nintendo Switch 2
Genre: Gaming Recommendations / Beginner's Guide
Players: 1–4, depending on the game
Case Type: Open File — Recommendations
Category: 🎮 Gaming for Everyone
Mannequin Warning: None. Although Mr. X may cause a beverage-related incident.
The Mystery Cartridge Verdict: 📁 OPEN THE FILE — RECOMMENDED

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🗂 The Case: "I Don't Really Like Video Games"

Everyone has that friend.

You mention a game you've been playing, and they give you the look. "I don't really like video games."

Sometimes they mean they tried one once and got destroyed. Sometimes they think every game involves shooting somebody while a teenager with a headset explains, in considerable detail, how terrible they are. And sometimes they've simply never found the right game.

We suspect it's usually that last one.

"Video games" covers an awful lot of ground. Saying you don't like video games is a bit like saying you don't like books because you didn't enjoy the one about tax law.

Bradley, for the record, has read plenty of those. They are not a gateway.

The trick is finding a game that appeals to something the person already enjoys. Love gardening? There's a game for that. Enjoy horror movies? There's a game for that, too. Like mysteries, cartoons, or spending time with friends? Welcome to an entire medium that has been waiting patiently for you to discover it.

So here are five games we'd actually hand to that friend. These aren't necessarily the five greatest games ever made. They're five games we think have a decent chance of changing someone's mind.

And yes, they're all available on Nintendo Switch, with compatibility and editions depending on the title.

1. 🌱 Stardew Valley

The Case for Gaming: Games can be about building something.

A lot of people assume games are about fighting, winning, or getting yelled at by a teenager online.

Stardew Valley is about planting parsnips.

You inherit your grandfather's old farm, move to a small town, and slowly turn an overgrown mess into something that's yours. You plant crops. You raise animals. You get to know your neighbors. You fish, explore mines, decorate your house, and discover that running a farm can somehow become a full-time job even when the game isn't charging you rent.

There's no rush, and nobody is keeping score but you.

Well, there are monsters in the mines, and there are deadlines if you want your crops to survive the changing seasons. But you can spend an entire evening simply tending your garden and talking to the townspeople. The game is happy to let you find your own pace.

That's the point. Stardew Valley shows someone that a game can be about making something, a little bit every day, and feeling good about it at the end of the night.

It's also a good introduction to the idea that games don't need to be completed in one sitting. You can play for twenty minutes, accomplish a few things, and come back tomorrow.

Who should we hand it to? The gardener, the cozy-game enthusiast, the person who loves small-town stories, or anyone who wants a hobby that doesn't involve being shot at.

A word of caution: This game can consume an alarming amount of time. You might tell your friend to try it for an hour and discover that they're still playing at 2 a.m. because they just need to harvest their pumpkins.

One more day. Just one more day.

2. 🧟 Resident Evil HD Remaster

The Case for Gaming: Horror hits differently when you're holding the controller.

Watching a horror movie is one thing. You can yell at the screen all you want, but the character is still going to open the door.

In Resident Evil, you have to open the door.

The remastered version of the 2002 remake of the original 1996 game puts you in a mansion in the woods with not nearly enough bullets, a lot of locked doors, and something shuffling around in the next hallway.

It's a big part of why horror works so well in games. You aren't watching someone else be scared. You're making the decisions, and you're living with them.

Do you investigate that suspicious noise? Do you use one of your precious healing items now, or save it for later? Do you have enough ammunition to deal with whatever is waiting behind that door?

And, perhaps most importantly, do you have enough room in your inventory to carry the thing you need to solve the next puzzle?

The original Resident Evil formula combines exploration, resource management, puzzles, and survival horror. It also demands a little patience. The controls and camera perspective can feel dated compared with modern action games, but the atmosphere remains remarkably effective.

On Switch, look for Resident Evil HD Remaster. The Resident Evil Origins Collection also includes the game alongside Resident Evil 0, although the specific physical and digital packaging matters if you're trying to avoid download requirements.

A fair warning for your friend: this one is rated M, and it earns it. Maybe don't start here with someone who can't sit through a scary movie.

Bradley's Family Gaming Story: The Mr. X Incident

While we're on the subject of introducing people to gaming, Bradley has a story about how his dad became interested.

Back in the late 1990s, Bradley was playing Resident Evil 2. He was on Leon's second scenario, and his dad walked in to tell him it was late and he needed to go to bed.

"Okay, let me finish this puzzle and go to the save room," Bradley said.

His dad stood there watching him do something involving gas lamps in the RPD station. Then Mr. X burst through a wall.

Bradley's dad jumped back, spilled his beer, and announced:

"I want to play this!"

And there it is. One minute you're telling your child to turn off the video game, and the next you're discovering that the game has something you'd like to try yourself.

We can't guarantee that every prospective gamer will react to a surprise Tyrant with enthusiasm. We can, however, confirm that the moment made an impression.

3. 🐢 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection

The Case for Gaming: Sometimes all you need is a couch, a controller, and a friend.

There's no complicated tutorial to memorize. There's no enormous story to keep track of. There are four turtles, a whole lot of Foot Soldiers, and the opportunity to sit next to somebody and make a mess of the criminal underworld.

The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game is the sort of thing you can hand to someone and explain in about ten seconds.

Move around. Hit things. Try not to get hit. Rescue April.

That's about it.

And sometimes, that's exactly what you need.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection brings together 13 classic Konami games, including the original arcade game and other beloved TMNT releases. The collection also adds useful modern conveniences, including save and rewind features for supported games.

Those conveniences are particularly welcome for players who didn't grow up with arcade games. Nobody needs a pocket full of quarters anymore, and a difficult section doesn't have to mean starting from the beginning every time.

The real selling point, though, is multiplayer. There's something wonderfully uncomplicated about four people sitting around, choosing their favorite turtle, and working together to beat up cartoon villains.

Bradley's Family Gaming Story: Four Turtles, Four Controllers

Bradley and Amanda have two original Switch controllers and two Switch 2 controllers. When Bradley's dad and brother visited a few weeks ago, they broke out The Cowabunga Collection.

All four of them played together, with all four turtles on screen.

And the result?

Bradley's brother wants a Switch now.

We'd call that a successful demonstration.

It's a reminder that multiplayer games can be one of the easiest ways to introduce someone to gaming. Nobody has to sit through a lengthy explanation of lore or learn an elaborate set of controls. You're just playing together, laughing at the chaos, and occasionally yelling at someone for getting in the way of your attack.

Who should we hand it to? The nostalgic arcade fan, the person who likes classic cartoons, or the friend who doesn't want to spend an evening alone with a controller.

4. 🌌 Super Mario Galaxy

The Case for Gaming: Sometimes a game is the reason you buy the console.

This one isn't Bradley's pick.

It's Amanda's.

Super Mario Galaxy was essentially the reason she owned a Wii. That tells you most of what you need to know. Some games are good. Some games are good enough that someone goes out and buys the hardware just to play them.

Mario's adventure sends him across tiny planets, through colorful galaxies, and into environments where gravity seems to have been designed by someone who considers conventional physics a personal insult.

You jump between planets, run upside down, launch yourself through space, and discover that moving around can be as enjoyable as reaching the end of a level.

It's bright, it's cheerful, and it's a reminder that video games can be pure play. There's no need to understand a sprawling backstory or master a dozen complicated systems. You just need to run, jump, and see what happens.

The game's presentation is also a big part of its appeal. The music, the colorful environments, and the sense of scale create something that feels magical without requiring the player to be an experienced gamer.

And it's no longer confined to the Wii. Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 arrived on Nintendo Switch on October 2, 2025, in a collection that gives modern players another way to experience both adventures. The games are also playable on Switch 2.

There's a Doctor Who episode in which the Eleventh Doctor talks about visiting universes where the laws of physics were designed by a madman. We suspect he might have been thinking about this game.

Who should we hand it to? The person who likes bright, imaginative worlds, the family member who wants something cheerful, or anyone who has ever watched Mario and wondered what all the fuss was about.

Amanda's recommendation comes with a personal endorsement: sometimes one game really is enough to justify an entire console.

5. ⚖️ Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy

The Case for Gaming: Games can be a really good mystery.

We couldn't make this list without one from our home turf.

In Ace Attorney, you're a rookie defense attorney. You investigate crime scenes, collect evidence, interview witnesses, and then go to court to catch people in their lies.

Then you point at the screen and yell "Objection!"

Optional, but strongly encouraged.

The Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy collects the first three games in the series, giving you a substantial collection of cases to investigate. You'll examine evidence, question suspicious witnesses, uncover contradictions, and gradually work out what actually happened.

There's no need for lightning-fast reflexes. The challenge is reading carefully, thinking logically, and noticing when something doesn't add up.

If your friend enjoys a good detective show, courtroom drama, or mystery novel, this is the game that might sneak up on them.

The series also demonstrates something important about gaming: interaction can make a story more engaging. Instead of simply watching a detective discover the truth, you have to find the evidence and present it yourself. When you finally catch a witness in a contradiction, you get the satisfaction of having worked it out.

Of course, you might occasionally present the wrong piece of evidence and have the judge look at you as if you've forgotten what a courtroom is for. Nobody said law school would be easy.

Who should we hand it to? The mystery reader, the true-crime enthusiast, the person who loves legal dramas, or anyone who enjoys proving that they're the smartest person in the room.

We might be a little biased on this one, but we think a well-constructed mystery makes an excellent gateway into gaming.

🏅 Runner-Up: Professor Layton

The Case for Gaming: What if a mystery novel let you solve the puzzles yourself?

We know. We said five games, and here we are with a sixth recommendation.

But we couldn't leave the professor out.

The Professor Layton series combines charming characters, elaborate mysteries, and hundreds of logic puzzles. You play as Hershel Layton, a gentleman professor who somehow manages to encounter an extraordinary number of suspicious villages, improbable conspiracies, and people who desperately need someone to solve a brainteaser before they'll tell him anything useful.

It's a wonderful combination of detective fiction and puzzle-solving. The games don't demand quick reflexes or competitive instincts. They reward curiosity, observation, and a willingness to think about a problem from a different angle.

If your friend enjoys crossword puzzles, escape rooms, logic games, or detective stories, Layton could be exactly what they've been missing.

The original adventures were released on Nintendo DS and 3DS, and several games are available through mobile releases as well. The upcoming Professor Layton and the New World of Steam is another reason to get acquainted with the series.

We're particularly excited about the possibility of the professor's adventures continuing into a new era.

And while we're dreaming, Level-5 and Microids, if you're reading this: please consider a Professor Layton and Hercule Poirot crossover. A gentleman professor and Belgium's most meticulous detective working the same case? We would buy that immediately.

🗂 The Verdict: There's a Game for Everyone

None of these games will turn every person into a gamer, and that's fine. Gaming isn't a mandatory hobby, and nobody needs to justify how they spend their free time.

But if someone tells you they don't like video games, it's worth asking what they do like.

Building something? Try Stardew Valley.

Getting scared? Try Resident Evil.

Hanging out on the couch with friends? Bring out the turtles.

Looking for pure joy and imagination? Mario is waiting.

Want a good mystery? You know where to find us.

The important thing is to stop thinking of gaming as one single activity. It's a medium that can offer relaxation, storytelling, competition, exploration, puzzles, creativity, and shared experiences. Sometimes the only thing standing between a non-gamer and a new hobby is the right first game.

One Last Case: Bradley's Mom, the Gamer

While writing this article, Bradley thought about his mother.

She's the kind of gamer who walked into GameStop and asked for a Nintendo DS. When the clerk remarked that it would make a child happy, she explained:

"No, this is for me."

She wasn't particularly fond of combat in games, but she enjoyed Plants vs. Zombies. Sometimes she'd play the DS version alongside the PC version at the same time.

We think about that whenever somebody insists that video games aren't for them. Here was someone who knew exactly what she liked, found a game that suited her, and made it part of her life.

Maybe she would have enjoyed contributing to this little gaming blog, too. We like to think she might have had some recommendations of her own.

And that's really what this list is about. Not convincing everyone to play the same games we do, but helping people find the games that speak to them.

TMC Verdict: OPEN THE FILE — RECOMMENDED

Five games, five different experiences, and five opportunities to discover that gaming is a much bigger world than you might think.

Now go find that friend. Hand them a controller. And if they spill their beer when Mr. X comes through a wall, please let us know.

We have a case file to update.

What game would you hand to someone who says they don't like video games? Let us know in the comments. We're always looking for another recommendation to add to the file.

Buy it: Stardew Valley (Nintendo Switch) on Amazon

Buy it: Resident Evil Origins Collection (Nintendo Switch) on Amazon

Buy it: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection (Nintendo Switch) on Amazon

Buy it: Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Nintendo Switch) on Amazon

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