Player Two Co

The Best Games to Gift a Non-Gamer

The games that turn a non-gamer into a fan: gentle, easy to pick up, and impossible to fail. Perfect for a partner, parent or friend who says they 'don't really play games.'

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

Most people who say they “don’t play games” just haven’t met the right one. The games that win them over are calm, welcoming, and have no way to lose — the opposite of the twitchy, intimidating stuff they’re picturing. Give one of these and there’s a real chance they get quietly hooked.

These all suit a beginner: nothing here demands fast reflexes or gaming know-how. Most are on the Nintendo Switch, the friendliest console for newcomers, though several are on PlayStation, Xbox and PC too — we note where each is available. Every one shows its age rating.

How this is funded: Player Two Co earns a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which gift we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

The picks at a glance

Ranked for who they suit and how safe a gift they are. Tap a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t hands-on-tested these — here’s exactly what we do instead.

#GiftBest forPrice
1
Nintendo Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Nintendo Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A gentle, no-pressure island-life game with no way to lose. It's the game non-gamers fall in love with — creative, calming, and endlessly relaxing rather than stressful.

Best overall
$51.58 · See it on Amazon

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
ConcernedApe Stardew Valley

ConcernedApe Stardew Valley

A cozy little farming-and-friendship game with a massive, devoted following. Cheap, charming, and hard to stop playing — a brilliant low-risk gift for almost anyone.

Coziest pick
$34.00 · See it on Amazon

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Electronic Arts Unravel Two

Electronic Arts Unravel Two

A gorgeous, gentle co-op puzzle-platformer about two little yarn characters. Beautiful, calm, and playable solo or with a partner — a lovely, inexpensive surprise.

Most charming
$19.89 · See it on Amazon

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
Team17 Overcooked! All You Can Eat

Team17 Overcooked! All You Can Eat

A frantic, hilarious co-op cooking game that turns any living room into chaos. It's the friendliest party game to gift a group or a couple — easy to learn, impossible not to laugh at.

Funniest together
$35.90 · See it on Amazon

$39.9910% off

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
Mojang Minecraft

Mojang Minecraft

The most-owned game on earth for a reason: it's a creative sandbox with no rules, endlessly playable, and beloved across every age. A safe, affordable win for a kid who talks about it constantly.

Most creative
$29.83 · See it on Amazon

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

6
Nintendo Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Nintendo Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The single safest game gift there is. Everyone from a 6-year-old to a grandparent can pick up a controller and have fun in ten seconds, and almost no Switch owner will be sad to get a second copy for parties.

Easiest to pick up
$59.88 · See it on Amazon

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

7
Electronic Arts It Takes Two

Electronic Arts It Takes Two

An award-winning game built entirely for two people to play together, start to finish. It's the perfect gift for a couple — even if one of you barely games — and a genuine joy the whole way through.

Best to play as a pair
$59.99 · See it on Amazon

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

Every pick, explained

#1Best overall

Nintendo Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A gentle, no-pressure island-life game with no way to lose. It's the game non-gamers fall in love with — creative, calming, and endlessly relaxing rather than stressful.

Great because

  • Completely relaxing — there's no failing or losing
  • Wildly popular with people who don't consider themselves gamers
  • Hundreds of hours of gentle, creative play

Keep in mind

  • Slow-paced by design — not for someone who wants action
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they specifically want a fast, competitive or action game.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#2Coziest pick

ConcernedApe Stardew Valley

A cozy little farming-and-friendship game with a massive, devoted following. Cheap, charming, and hard to stop playing — a brilliant low-risk gift for almost anyone.

Great because

  • Deeply relaxing and endlessly playable
  • Very affordable for how much game you get
  • Beloved by gamers and non-gamers alike

Keep in mind

  • The retro pixel art isn't for everyone at a glance
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Also on PlayStation, Xbox, PC & mobile
Good for
Ages 10 & up
Age rating
E10+ (Everyone 10+)

Skip it if: Skip if they only like big-budget, cinematic games.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#3Most charming

Electronic Arts Unravel Two

A gorgeous, gentle co-op puzzle-platformer about two little yarn characters. Beautiful, calm, and playable solo or with a partner — a lovely, inexpensive surprise.

Great because

  • Beautiful and soothing to play
  • Works solo or two-player
  • One of the best value game gifts here

Keep in mind

  • Short compared to a big adventure game
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Also on PlayStation, Xbox & PC
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they want a long game to sink dozens of hours into.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#4Funniest together

Team17 Overcooked! All You Can Eat

A frantic, hilarious co-op cooking game that turns any living room into chaos. It's the friendliest party game to gift a group or a couple — easy to learn, impossible not to laugh at.

Great because

  • Instantly funny and easy to pick up
  • Bundles both Overcooked games plus extras
  • Up to four players locally

Keep in mind

  • Gets intentionally hectic — some find it stressful in a good way
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Also on PlayStation, Xbox & PC
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they want a calm, solo experience.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#5Most creative

Mojang Minecraft

The most-owned game on earth for a reason: it's a creative sandbox with no rules, endlessly playable, and beloved across every age. A safe, affordable win for a kid who talks about it constantly.

Great because

  • Bottomless creativity — build anything
  • Affordable and universally loved
  • Play alone or together with friends

Keep in mind

  • Check which platform they play on — many kids already have it on a tablet
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Also on Xbox, PlayStation, PC & mobile (buy for their device)
Good for
Ages 7 & up
Age rating
E10+ (Everyone 10+)

Skip it if: Skip if they already play Minecraft on another device (progress doesn't always carry over).

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#6Easiest to pick up

Nintendo Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The single safest game gift there is. Everyone from a 6-year-old to a grandparent can pick up a controller and have fun in ten seconds, and almost no Switch owner will be sad to get a second copy for parties.

Great because

  • Zero learning curve — pick up and play in seconds
  • Up to four people on one Switch, so it's an instant party
  • The best-selling Switch game ever; it's beloved for a reason

Keep in mind

  • A very online player may already own it
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if you know for certain they already have it (most Switch owners do eventually).

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#7Best to play as a pair

Electronic Arts It Takes Two

An award-winning game built entirely for two people to play together, start to finish. It's the perfect gift for a couple — even if one of you barely games — and a genuine joy the whole way through.

Great because

  • Designed 100% for two-player co-op
  • Won Game of the Year — it's that good
  • Approachable for a non-gaming partner

Keep in mind

  • Needs two people — not a solo game
Platform
PlayStation
Type
Game
Works with
Also on Xbox, PC & Switch (buy for their device)
Good for
Teens & up
Age rating
T (Teen)

Skip it if: Skip if they mainly play alone; this needs a second player.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

Why these work for beginners

Three things make a game beginner-friendly. No failure state:games like Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley can’t be “lost,” so there’s no frustration. Instant fun: Mario Kart and Overcooked are enjoyable within seconds, no tutorial needed. And a partner to play with:co-op games like Unravel Two and It Takes Two let a more experienced player carry a nervous newcomer. Pick based on whether they’ll play alone or with you.

Frequently asked questions

What's a good video game for someone who doesn't game?

Gentle, no-pressure games with no way to lose — Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley are the classics — or instantly-fun party games like Mario Kart and Overcooked. If you'll play together, a co-op game like Unravel Two or It Takes Two is perfect.

Which console is best for a beginner?

The Nintendo Switch is the friendliest for newcomers — its games are approachable, and it works both on the TV and as a handheld. Many of these games are also on PlayStation, Xbox and PC, so you can buy for whatever they already have.

What game can a couple play together where one isn't a gamer?

It Takes Two is built entirely for two people and is famously approachable for a non-gaming partner. Overcooked and Unravel Two are also great co-op picks. See our co-op games for couples list for more.

Are these games appropriate for all ages?

Most are rated E or E10+ and fine for the whole family; It Takes Two is rated Teen. We show the ESRB rating on every game so you can match it to the recipient.

Sources

  • ESRB — Ratings Guide — The Entertainment Software Rating Board's official age-rating definitions: E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+), T (Teen), M (Mature 17+) and the content descriptors printed on every game box (accessed July 22, 2026)
  • Amazon — Video Games store — Amazon's video-games storefront, where the games, gift cards and gear on this site are sold and priced (accessed July 22, 2026)

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