Games for Non-Gamers

As any seasoned gamer knows, its the time of the year were our gaming and wider social circles collide as we try and mesh family and loved ones with video games.

As is becoming obvious, one huge obstacle is finding titles that'll intrigue non-gamers and aren't inaccessible due to execution of complex control schemes. Callum Alexander serves up a few festive treats that could help not only share your love of gaming with others this Christmas, but bring a gamer-friendly vote into play for choosing what dominates the television screen over the holidays.

"Gaming certainly isn't for everyone. My girlfriend found this out the hard way when I tried to introduce her to Call of Duty.

'Just use the left stick to move around and the right one to aim', I instructed. To me, using a controller has become second nature; strafing with a gun in FPS games doesn't require any thought, it just happens. For my girlfriend, I may as well have just asked her to build the Death Star out of lollipop sticks and blu-tac.

Watching Sgt. Soap stare at the floor whilst moon-walking through Russia showed just how inaccessible some games are for non-gamers. Whether it is the controllers, complicated menus or vague objectives, things that we take in our stride can become obstacles for those who haven't grown up gaming.

That doesn't mean there aren't games out there for non-gamers to enjoy, and Christmas can provide a great way to introduce people to some that are accessible to them. Here are five games that even people with two left thumbs can enjoy.

1.The Dead Rising Series

Dead Rising games have the potential to be some of the most frustrating on the Xbox 360. Brain-dead AI, time limits on missions and a ruthless save system can make playing through the main story testing even for the most patient and experienced of gamers. An odd choice for the list then? Definitely not.

The beauty of the games comes not from seeing the main game through but the fact that the missions are completely optional. You can choose to spend a six hour play-through doing nothing more than killing your way through an endless supply of zombies.

Almost anything you see can be picked up and used to fight off the undead mass, from conventional weapons like chainsaws and shotguns (the obligatory anti-zombie tools) to more obscure objects such as wheelchairs and lightsabers. The second game introduced being able to combine weapons and crank the crazy-ness up to 11, letting you slaughter zombies with chainsaw motorbikes, machine-gun wielding teddy bears and more.

A perfect pick up and play game, nothing is simpler and more fun than spending a few hours slicing through the recently re-animated. A gripe many non-gamers have is not understanding the ‘point' to the game. Well you see those zombies? Yeah, go kill them. The latest game in the franchise is Dead Rising 2: Off The Record - but either of the older games will suffice for those on a budget, though this might be one series worth breaking out only when the young 'uns have went to bed and your grandparents are out cold from too much brandy.

2. Rayman Origins

Take out a dimension and gaming becomes a lot less daunting for new-comers. As mentioned before, using two joysticks in conjunction with each other is quite alien for those who aren't used to it.

Unfortunately in an age of Call of Duty and online multiplayer, good 2D games are harder to come by. Thankfully, Rayman has broken free of the Raving Rabbits and returned to his roots, showing us that 2D platforming still has a place in modern gaming.

Sporting some of the most eye-poppingly gorgeous 2D visuals ever (this game definitely deserves HD), Rayman fits nicely into the ‘easy to play, hard to master' category. Within seconds even the most novice joystick warrior will be jumping and swinging their way through the beautifully designed levels.

One of the biggest praises I can give Rayman is that, unlike the majority of games out there, dying isn't a source of frustration. The near instant load to the nearest checkpoint, as well as the ability to be revived by a surviving friend in multiplayer enforces that "one more go" feeling rather than frustration at tackling a tough section.

3. Any Lego title

It seems like nearly every popular movie franchise is getting the Lego makeover these days.

What started as a couple Star Wars games has led to the Rockband, Batman, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Carribean and Indiana Jones franchises all getting the plastic conversion, with a total of 10 games released and another in the pipeline. Yet the popularity of the Lego games is a testament to how good they are.

With drop-in co-op they are the perfect pick up and play games and great for offline multiplayer, so you can play with and guide gaming newbies through the levels. The Lego games tick most boxes for this list, with nice and simple platform mechanics, easy to master controls and obvious objectives.

Be warned though, they do at times suffer from pretty bad signposting and you can spend a fair while wandering around without a clue where to go. The charm and fun of the experience overweighs the negatives, and if the person you are trying to introduce to games has a fondness to the franchise being Lego-ed, chances are it will be easier to convince them to sit down and give it a go.

4. Project Gotham Racing 4

No game is easier to get to grips with than a good arcade racer. Needing only three buttons to master the basics (accelerating, braking, and turning) and having a clear and focussed objective (follow straight path until finish), a good racing game can be enjoyed by almost anyone who has a go.

PGR4 is an arcade racer with the heart of a sim. Customising settings allow you to strip down racing to its most bare basics thereby planting it firmly within reach of newcomers: and who wouldn't want a chance to drive a sports car?

Plus, while many racing games since have gone for an open world, mission based gameplay, PGR4 sticks to the basics. Pick a track, pick a car, enjoy. Featuring over 130 vehicles (and, for the first time in the series, motorbikes) and around 10 tracks, considering how cheap the game now is (you can pick it up for under a tenner) it is an absolute steal.

Bonus List Addition: Microsoft Points

Not strictly a game but points cards are the perfect Christmas gift for the indecisive present givers (the M&S gift card of the gaming world, if you will). With retail games being dominated by FPS and online gaming, XBLA has become the platform where more alternative games have called home.

Hidden away in the depths of the Xbox 360 Dashboard are the likes of Mr ‘Splosion man, a perfectly simple and addictive platformer that only uses one action button (what could be easier to jump right into?).

There is also a barrel load of great puzzle games on XBLA, with developers Popcap providing the highlights in Plants vs Zombies and Peggle. Plants vs Zombies is a tower defence game, a genre that starts with a slow enough pace for newcomers to get to grips with, whilst Peggle has you clearing pegs by firing balls at them. Something that seems pure luck the first couple of goes, but soon shows its true colours when skill shots and ball powers come into play.

Other honourable mentions on the marketplace go to Worms and Bomberman Live, both games providing simple controls and a fun pick up and play experience. They are also great for offline co-op, so a gaming newcomer won't be thrown into the experience by themselves.