Think you don’t like video games? Play these.

We all know someone, whether it be a relative, friend, or coworker, who just doesn't "get" video games. They've either never played a game, or haven't played one in decades (they think of video games and think of Pong or Space Invaders - which are great games, but that's beside the point). They stare at you when you're talking about a game you've been playing and your eyes light up and, sometimes, well up with tears. They've never had that experience before, and you want to share your love of games with them. You want them to have that "aha!" moment. Maybe they have no interest in games whatsoever; or, maybe they've always been a little curious, but have never known how or where to even start. I have compiled a list for people who don't play video games of some games that, I feel, are a great starting point for those who want to dive into the world of gaming.

Any Telltale game

The Walking Dead, The Wolf Among Us, Batman, Tales From the Borderlands, Minecraft: Story Mode...just to name a few.

Development studio Telltale Games has really made a name for itself over these past several years. The Walking Dead, perhaps their most well known game, was the first game they developed that really stood out as something exceptional. It was praised by casual and core gamers alike, and it is one of my top 5 favorite games of all time. Any games developed by Telltale are a great starting point for those who are unfamiliar with games for many reasons- the first being that Telltale games are available on every platform imaginable. Don't have a PC or a video game console? You can play on your smartphone or tablet. This is possible because Telltale games have relatively simple mechanics, which is the second reason I think these games are a great starting point for new gamers. These games focus heavily on making decisions that will affect the outcome of your story, and don't require much skill when playing.

flOw, Flower, Journey, ABZÛ

These games all have a very similar gameplay style, and that's why I grouped them together into one list entry. flOw, Flower, and Journey were all developed by thatgamecompany, an award-winning game studio. This was taken from the developer's website: "At thatgamecompany, we design and develop artistically crafted, broadly accessible video games that push the boundaries of interactive entertainment. We respect our players and want to contribute meaningful, enriching experiences that touch and inspire them." That pretty much sums it up. I really enjoyed all of their games, but Journey is the one that had the biggest impact on me.

ABZÛ is an "adventure art video game" by Giant Squid Studios, and its look and feel is very similar to thatgamecompany's Journey - the founder of Giant Squid Studios was previously an art director at thatgamecompany. Austin Wintory, who composed the music in flOw and Journey, also composed the music in ABZÛ. These are more than games; they're experiences. I highly recommend these games to people who just don't "get" video games, and to people who feel intimidated when looking at a video game controller. flOw, Flower, and Journey are available on PlayStation 3 and 4 exclusively, and ABZÛ is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows.

Minecraft

If you haven't heard of Minecraft by now, you must be living under a rock. Minecraft is "a game about placing blocks and going on adventures." It's a sandbox game, meaning it focuses on exploring and creating your own fun, so to speak. There aren't any objectives in Minecraft, and there isn't a story - it's just you, and the tools you've been given to create a world to explore alone, or with friends. Minecraft is adored by kids and adults alike, and it's a great game for someone who likes to be creative and explore. Minecraft is very easily accessible; it is available on, literally, every platform I can think of - Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, PlayStation 3 and 4, Xbox 360 and One, Apple TV, Nintendo Switch...even Raspberry Pi; I think you get the idea. You probably have at least three devices at home right now that can be used to play Minecraft.

Are you thinking about introducing a loved one or coworker to games? Let me know if they try any of these! Talk to me at twitter.com/gottosaurus or instagram.com/gottosaurus.