The issue is that I think there are Steam bundles that can’t be gifted, such as the Valve pack and that kind of thing. That also makes something like Civ 6 less likely, just because of the DLC bundles. I can also use Fanatical or Humble but frankly the region thing might be an issue.
This guy has played every console-available game under the sun before around 2020. So I’m focusing more on what he’s not likely to have played. He’s more of a soulslike/fighting game guy and I’m more of a simulation and eurojank enjoyer, so the recommendations don’t always carry across.
That said, I’ve been thinking newer games like Animal Well that are sure to be received well, but it’d suck if he already played it on something else. Would be a funny inclusion as well, a 35 megabyte 2D platformer for his new gaming desktop.
Any suggestions?
Man, for a console gamer coming over this thread has a bunch of pretty terrible recommendations. I can’t imagine a better way to send somebody back to console gaming than immediately dumping a bunch of fiddly mods and janky old stuff on them so they can play their OS for a while before having any fun.
I mean, if they’re into competitive, hardcore console stuff they probably will want to decide if they want to go down the rabbit hole of competitive PC gaming. Checking out a couple MOBAs or fast mouse and keyboard shooters is probably a good way to start (for Steam ease of use I suppose DOTA2 and CS2 are the obvious choices). That’s the fighting game equivalent stuff they’re unlikely to have played already. I’d say if they aren’t feeling it, it’s fine to step away, though.
Depending on how beefy their gaming PC is, it may be fun to go for crazy console-crushing visuals. Path traced games like Indiana Jones or Cyberpunk may be fun to check out even if they’ve played the console versions, if they have a current-gen expensive GPU in there.
There are a couple of genres that are also cross-over but play best on PC, like survival sims and the like. I’m a PC controller player, but I’ll switch to mouse and keyboard for, say, Satisfactory, although that’s less action-packed and timing-based.
And of course there’s upcoming stuff. VF 5 REVO is coming out in January, and that seems like a good chance to jump into a new thing on a gaming PC instead.
I agree. People keep suggesting Factorio, which leads me to believe that they have not actually read the post since his friend is into souls-likes and heavy combat games. Factorio is the antithesis of that! I don’t personally play those games (Factorio is one of my most played games), so I can’t make suggestions aside from Monster Hunter.
They didn’t specifically say it needed to be a souls-like. In fact, if you had read the whole thing, they’re considering including a 2d platformer.
They want new experiences for their friend. They probably don’t want a game that their friend has already played on console.
Yeah, that’s why Satisfactory is probably a better choice (I mean, it’s mostly “what if Factorio didn’t look like a 1999 Flash game”).
Honestly in 2025 (hey, happy new year!) things are platform-agnostic enough that the biggest thing to do when you switch to PC gaming is go check how all the games you know play when you run them at 200 fps or whatever. But even if you’re an action game guy I do think it’s work taking a few minutes to decide if you’re going to be a sweaty mouse and keyboard guy and it’s time to start browsing online stores for mice with ten grams shaved off the mouse wheel or whatever.
straight up cash and a note saying “for games”
not a gift card, not steam credit, just real actual paper cash.
I agree.
Don’t try to push your idea of “all PC gamers must have played this” it’s cringe.
Deep Rock Galactic
He can get used to mouse and keyboad, while you cover him.
As mentioned before, gift cards are good way to go.
DRG is a fantastic place to start with moving from a controller to mouse/keyboard.
I would personally T-up some classics like portal and Half-life 2 for solo “history lessons” after that. Only then would I make some harder recomendations like long RPGs, MOBAs, 4X, and would shy away from MMOs unless you have an organized group to introduce them to.
Portal 2 has coop 👍
Rock and stone!
Helldivers 2 for similar reasons.
Honestly, we all can’t be much more useful than any of the “Top 10 games of 2024” YouTube videos because we don’t really know your friend or his tastes.
A Steam gift card seems like a good idea? Let him pick his own games?
Skyrim for the mods.
I’d also add a lifetime subscription to Nexus, that alone can add so much life to so many games. Hell, if I’m checking out a game, I see what kind of mod support it has first.
Or do they not offer that anymore?
I think I got it way back when for $50 or so.
The best game ever made is Baldur’s Gate 3, so that’s what I’d give if he hasn’t played it. IDC what kind of games he usually plays, that’s what I’d give.
So, most of my recommendations are going to be FPS or first person. For Valve related stuff:
- Half-Life 2 is pretty much a must have along with Episodes 1 and 2.
- Black Mesa is a remake of the original.
- Entropy : Zero 2 is a fantastic fan made mod that’s a good follow up after finishing Half-Life 2 and the episodes.
- The original Entropy : Zero is pretty good, but the default difficulty is hard as hell.
- Portal 1 and 2 are also a must have
- Portal: Revolution is an independent mod that’s a good follow up after 2.
As for non-Valve games and related:
- Crab Champions - fast paced, third-person, rogue-like shooter.
- Talos Principle 1 and 2 - first-person puzzles with a serious philosophical scifi story. It actually gets a bit heavy when it discusses mortality and death. 1 is being remade into a “definitive edition”.
- Untitled Goose Game - Honk!
- Gnorp Apologue - fun little game
- Pineapple on pizza - it’s free. I would describe it as games-as-art.
- Any of the Serious Sam games. They were made for PC.
- Fallen Aces is still in early access, but a good story driven retro FPS with sprites and multiple ways of navigating each level.
- Trepang2 - a bit of an odd FPS with bullet time.
- Roboquest - rogue like FPS
- Exit 8 - horror walking simulator. Kinda short once you figure it out.
- APE OUT - Ape smash! Top down “shooter”.
- Hotline Miami 1 and 2 - top down shooters with fast deaths and excellent soundtracks
- The Binding of Isaac - has always been popular if a little dated
- Gunpoint - stealth puzzle third person. Came out a decade ago, but a good game.
- Party Hard - little indie murder-everyone-and-don’t-get-caught.
- The Stanley Parable - walking simulator with some interesting dialog and interactions. 9-to-5 office people can relate.
- Dusk - awesome boomer shooter
- Antichamber - came out a decade ago, but it’s mind bending first-person puzzles.
- Hades and Hades 2 which is in early access. Third person isometric rogue-like.
- The Invincible - Story driven walking simulator based off the book of the same name. Good story.
- Firewatch - story driven walking simulator
- Deep Rock Galactic - wasn’t my pint of beer, but a lot of people like it.
ROCK AND STONE!!!
In my personal opinion, the steam starter pack should be:
- Portal 1+2
- Terraria
- Gary’s Mod
- Tabletop Sim
- Fallout New Vegas
- Stardew Valley
Perfect for showing off that £2000 gaming PC.
Valid lol. I was more trying to come up with a list of games you could get for probably a combined like 30 bucks during sales
Add factorio to this and it’s perfect
Agreed in my case, but I don’t think Factorio is for everyone realistically
Plus, all those games regularly go on sale for super cheap and factorio has and will never go on sale
True. But it’s an introduction to a genre that is very satisfying for the people that do enjoy it. But yeah, I haven’t played it for years and haven’t looked at the current price tag
I grabbed it as a gift to myself. $35.00
XCOM 2
I watched the Ahoy video for XCOM and decided I wanna try it. Then I saw that I already own a copy on epic, but I bought it for steam anyway.
Shower With Your Dad Simulator
Came here to post this! Every new Steam account gets a copy, it’s the law.
It was the first game I was gifted! My second recommendation is “I Love You Colonel Sanders!: A Finger Lickin’ Good Dating Simulator”. Who needs more satisfaction than that?
Oh that game is CRAZY. Free too!
That sounds disturbing
I usually gift Wallpaper engine. Not a game but it’s a fantastic tool for personalization.
One of the first things I add to any PC. I just bought a copy for someone a few days ago.
If your friend is new to PC gaming then they might not be aware of how much they can get for free. I just wrote a post (stickied in [email protected]) summarising all the places you can regularly get freebies, could be a good way for them to try out a lot of different things.
Just in the past few years I got maybe 100-200 free games. I follow a few discord bots, and several free groups here on lemmy and Slickdeals website. Lots of resources. Amazon prime gives free games, epic free games, lots of free games on steam, itch.io, gog often has free games, other key websites often have free games too.
Can check steam sale prices on steamDB website.
It’s crazy how many full games you can play for free nowadays, I claim them way faster than I can play them!
It’s not as elegant, but you might be able to give them some Steam Gift Cards and recommend some games.
https://store.steampowered.com/digitalgiftcards/selectgiftcard
Get them a month (or 3) of PC Gamepass so they can play everything and find out what they like.
This is probably the best way to go. You won’t be able to beat the flexibility for the price.
You could add them to your steam family to give them access to your library?
Otherwise, seeing as he’s played a lot of console games, maybe an RTS would be a good option? Something where kB+m is a better controller layout.
