[bhattisatish]

Taking a segue, I am a 50+ man who hasn't played any games in my working life. I did play Prince of Persia 2 but never crossed level 1. Played Doom in the network mode with classmates. Now I want to start exploring games. I am on Ubuntu with Intel graphics. I am ready to invest in a joystick or gamepad.

What games do you guys recommend to me? Also any hardware accessories, other than GPU's, that is?

I just tried Steam, and was completely overwhelmed by choice.

[kibwen]

The problem is that I could recommend a hundred wildly different games that you might like, but playing a hundred games just to figure out which one is right for you doesn't sound like a good use of your time. Can you give more information? You like single-player games? Classic card games like solitaire (rec: Zachtronics Solitaire Collection)? Postmodern card games (rec: Balatro)? Deckbuilding roguelikes (rec: Slay The Spire)? Actual roguelikes (rec: Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup)? Postmodern roguelikes (rec: Caves of Qud)? There's so much out there, even the cream of the crop is overwhelming to a newcomer. If you're a programmer, maybe look at the best games from Zachtronics (Spacechem, Opus Magnum, Shenzhen I/O, TIS-100, Last Call BBS... they're all pretty good).

[bhattisatish]

As I haven't tried many games, I am not sure what I really like.

Card games are out unless I am playing in real life ;-)

I haven't played board games much. I tend to zone out pretty fast.

First shooters, feels immersive enough, but when they become fast paced and need quick reaction, I get overwhelmed and zone out.

I guess I am looking for something that is immersive, but forgiving in it's gameplay. As I have RSI injury on my wrist, any mouse based games are out.

Your reco on Zachtronics, looks interesting, will definitely try out the publisher.

[kibwen]

By "immersive" are you thinking of first-person games like Doom? Sadly most first-person games prefer to use a mouse to control the camera, and most also reward twitch reflexes. You said you were willing to buy a joystick, so maybe you would enjoy a flight simulator? And if you wanted something more game-y, then the Mechwarrior franchise is a very immersive, slow, ponderous first-person game that makes good use of a joystick as well.

Sadly most games these days are not accustomed to be entirely controlled by a keyboard. However, any game that supports a controller should allow you to configure it to use a keyboard instead. The only games I can think of that are keyboard-first are old-school genres like MUDs and classic roguelikes. For a starter MUD I'd recommend DiscworldMUD, and for a starter roguelikes I'd recommend Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup (which is not quite "forgiving" in an absolute sense, but is relative to its genre). Both of these games are free, can be played in either the browser or a native MUD client/SSH terminal (respectively), are extremely Linux-friendly as a result, and are "immersive" in the sense that they invite you to use your imagination (although DCSS also has a graphical version).

If you're willing to be "immersed" by a game with a top-down perspective, I'll go out on a limb and recommend Moonring. It's free and made by a single indie developer and designed to evoke the classic Ultima-style RPGs of the 80s, but with modern conveniences and sensibilities. It gives you a free-form world to explore, and even if combat can sometimes be punishing you never really lose any progress for dying.

[bhattisatish]

DiscworldMUD has definitely piqued my interest. I own the whole pratchett's set. Something I can see myself enjoying :-)

Moonring seems interesting. A title I will definitely try.

[watwut]

Wait for steam sales, buy a bunch of cheap stuff that seems interesting and figure out what you like from there. And ignore moralization in the article and comments.

It is actually ok to buy a bunch of cheap stuff without being sure you will like it. People always bought physical books based on few pages in the store and either finished them or not. People start netflix shows and figure they dont like them 15 min in.

[lantry]

I highly recommend Caves of Qud. It's great for keyboard-only. I think it's got controller support too. The game is very confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it you can really get sucked in. Runs great on ubuntu.

[kibwen]

Though if they play Caves of Qud, I'd recommend playing in either Roleplay mode (which enables autosave checkpoints at settlements) or Wander mode (where most enemies in the game start off neutral to you, and you gain XP by exploring rather than fighting). Classic mode would be intolerable for anyone but a hardcore gamer.

[bhattisatish]

Noted. Will avoid classic mode first time around :-)

[friedtofu]

Kibwen gets it, not to knock the other user who suggested Subnautica, but that would likely be one of the last games I would think to recommend, its too much for a first game. Too many gameplay mechanics, too many objectives(and side objectives you set for yourself) I would think it would just be overwhelming for a "first" game.

To go on top of kibwen's questions; what kind of game do you think you'd like? Do you like a long movie/book that gets you heavily invested in the character?

Do you tend to prefer genres like action, romance, comedy, drama, or even sub-genres like spy films, whodunnit, slapstick over dry humor etc etc. I'm not asking for you to respond with all of these answers but it if you're looking for something that will click with you - you have a better chance using whatever genre/styles you like in other entertainment mediums.

Lastly, do you want to see what you've "missed out on" in the last couple of decades us nerds(collectively) consider the creme de le creme? Or are you looking for a game you* specifically will enjoy? Again, just something to think about.

As someone in their mid-30s whose dad got me into gaming when I was in diapers while I watched him play Hexen and Tribes 2, here are some random games off the top of my head - these will only include 'modern' games aside from roguelike/card/'programming' games, going from what I think would be "easy" to "hard" in terms of accessibility:

Portal 1/2 Terraria/Minecraft Half life 1/2(maybe at a lower difficulty) Team fortress 2(something my father still plays today) Disco Elysium Uncharted Series """ this is the point I'd consider to be somewhat difficult at this point) many of these games I recommend just becuss the developers are known for their intuitive introductions to controls, UI, gameplay mechanics, etc. I'm really not sure about Disco Elysium though you may want to research it a bit more and see if its something youd be interested in)

""" And for some personal picks if you're able to pick these games up or want something further down the road some of my personal favorites of the last decade(definitely not titles I'm recommending for a first): """

Nier Automata/Nier Replicate Baldur's gate (series) Mass Effect(1-3, the only ones that exist :) ) The Witcher 3(the first two are great as well IMO but haven't aged well visually or in terms of gameplay mechanics) Metaphor: Refantazio The 'Yakuza' series or as its now named 'Like a Dragon' Claire Obscura: Expedition 33 Red Dead Redemption(old and new)

And if you destroy any or all of these games or find yourself to be a masochist when it comes to games you can try my personal favorite series(toss up between nier):

Dark Souls(and all of the spinoffs available to PC)

I purposely stayed away from games from genres that kibwen mentioned, although I think those are much better choices than my own.

Oh and as far as controller; either a Nintendo switch pro controller or ps4/5 controller would be my go to if you don't like the feel of keyboard/mouse. A decent headset like a Bose QC37(whatever the most recent over ear headset is) or just a decent sound system(doesn't have to be a headset) as well as a decent monitor with a refresh rate higher than 120Hz...

I went on forrr wayyy longer than I expected to, but hopefully some of what I said makes sense. If nothing else just research the 'easy' titles and kibwens recommendations.

I'd just hate for you to pickup a game that just didn't vibe with and have it ruin your reintroduction with gaming. As I alluded to at the top, movies and games share enough similarities where it feels almost like someone asking "I haven't watched movies/TV/read any entertaining books in the last few decades, which movie/TV show/book would you recommend for me?"

[bhattisatish]

I definitely like something that is long. I am an avid reader of SF/Fantasy series. In TV series I prefer Noir style, ...

You definitely have asked some interesting questions. What I am looking for is something I can enjoy :-) and not something that I missed out on It's been a stressful period for me personally for last few quarters, and I am trying to figure a way to wind down but that which keeps me engaged in some form. Something I can do in the weekends. Reading or Streaming is not cutting it right now.

Thanks for the reco, I will try exploring few of these titles.

As for headset I have DT 990 pro, Sennheiser BT (I don't recall which one), so I guess I am set there.

Similarly for monitor, though I don't have 120hz, but I have a 32inch setup, which I hope will be sufficient for now :-)

On the controller, I will consider your recos.

I guess the strategy for now will be:

- Download few titles recommended in this thread, especially if they have a trial / demo option. Play them. See if I vibe with them.

- Get a controller.

- Figure out my taste, and start exploring similar genres. Also keep some time aside for exploring other genres and titles.

- Rinse and repeat :-)

Thanks for the recos.

[qudat]

Hands down one of the best games I have ever played was Subnautica and I highly recommend it without knowing your preferences.

It’s a deep sea exploration / builder with a story that gets crazier and crazier.

It’s also very approachable and mostly easy to play.

[unsui]

Subnautica in VR (with the Submersed VR mod) is easily the most immersive environment I have ever encountered.

[bhattisatish]

Thanks. Looks interesting... Will definitely try this one

[seventhtiger]

It's hard to recommend games when you don't have a baseline taste. The past couple of years having a demo became very common on Steam, so I suggest trying some demos.

You've played a 2D platformer and a multiplayer shooter, two very popular genres with massive offerings. If you're interested in more along the same lines, just off the top of my head I'll say try Hollow Knight as a 2D platformer, and Overwatch 2 as a multiplayer shooter (this one is free). Overwatch 2 may be overwhelming for someone new to gaming.

There is a genre called cozy games for more relaxed experiences, like Journey. There are also turn-based roguelikes, and for those I would recommend Balatro.

I don't know about Ubuntu or Linux compatbility so look into that, but I know Steam's OS and Proton have made massive strides.

[bhattisatish]

Journey seems something I will like to try :-)

I wasn't aware of cozy games, but I guess that's what I am looking for. Thanks for the keyword

[seventhtiger]

Then more along those lines is the walking simulator genre. It's called walking simulator generally because combat is not emphasized, with focus on immersion, exploration, and narrative. How puzzly it is varies from not at all to all about the puzzles.

Steam has awesome genre pages so you can search by tag then go to the tag's page and you can see what's hot right now in the genre, what's top selling of all time, what has demos etc. that's why I'm mentioning all the genres.

[bhattisatish]

Thanks for providing another keyword :-) Walking Simulator genre looks interesting.

[tmtvl]

I'm gonna recommend Final Fantasy VI. The FF games generally aren't sequels to each other (the ones that are have titles like Final Fantasy X-2) and FF6, while on the older side, is not only very beginner-friendly, but also has quite good writing.

So-called JRPGs (Japanese Role-Playing Games) tend to offer decent bang-for-buck and are generally more controller-friendly than CRPGs (Computer Role-Playing Games). Besides the Final Fantasy games you could also check out the Persona series.

[bhattisatish]

Man the genres and sub-genres I am discovering here is just awesome!

JRPG's is another discovery. Seems like I am opening myself up to a whole new world :-)

[namr2000]

There are still a HUGE number of games you can play with Intel integrated graphics all of which are extremely good. Many of the greatest games of all time are quite old or 2D which means you don't need anything special to run them. At most I'd invest in a controller (both Xbox & PS5 controllers are compatible) but you don't even need that to play almost all games on Steam. Some cheap but great games: Hollow Knight, Celeste, Hades, Outer Wilds, Undertale, Rimworld.

[bhattisatish]

Thanks for the reco. Will explore couple of these titles.

[brianjlogan]

I wouldn't buy a joystick if you're into Flight sims. I'd look into a Hotas setup or a virtual reality setup where the whole cockpit is simulated (VTOL VR).

I started out on Microsoft Flight Simulator back in 99-2000. I feel like that was the peak joystick purchase era.

Get a monitor with a good refresh rate, get a good gaming keyboard and mouse, potentially look into mechanical keyboards if you watch some videos and find it interesting.

Watch some YouTube PC gaming channels.

Also there's SO many games you're right it is overwhelming.

You could easily go ten years back. And buy the top ten games on some gaming site rank list.

Obligatory mentions: - Red Dead Redemption 2 - The Last of Us - BioShock Infinite - The Witcher 3 - City Skylines (Sims City like)

Really depends on what category of game you like. Highly highly subjective thing these days.

You can almost make friends by aligning on the types of games you like because it's a bit of a personality litmus test.

I'd imagine a lot of people in HackerNews play Factorio quite seriously.

[bhattisatish]

Oh I have a good monitor, but I don't have an high end GPU. I do have couple of mechanical keyboards, and split keyboard which I use for my programming.

Any youtube channels you can recommend? Especially for older people with RSI :-)

As for what genere I like, I am not sure. I am looking for something that is immersive, where I can spend some long hours during my downtime. But that does not require any mouse. This is a deal breaker

I will try out some of your recos.

[metabagel]

Can't go wrong with Portal, although I had to look up a walkthrough from time to time in order to get past a puzzle, especially the end puzzle. I think it should play pretty well for you on Ubuntu and be a lot of fun.

Portal 2 is even better than the first one, but play them both.

[renjimen]

Seconded. And play Half Life 1 and 2. They’re arguably the best single player FPS games of all time.

[bhattisatish]

I watched couple of Half life videos/movies and I found the story line engaging. I haven't tried playing the games though. I guess next step will be that, in case they support controllers as I don't use mouse.

[uxcolumbo]

You might want to try out the Steam Deck - https://store.steampowered.com/steamdeck

You might like story driven games, like Read Dead Redemption 2, Witcher 3, Mass Effect... all on sale on Steam currently.

You can also install emulators on the Steam Deck, so you can play those games before you started your working life.

Otherwise look into how to install Valve's Proton on Ubuntu to play the games available on Steam.

Alternatively get yourself a cheap PS4 pro on eBay, which usually come with plenty of games bundled. Don't need the latest and greatest console. PS4 still has a huge library of games and you can get those cheap on eBay too.

[bhattisatish]

I installed Steam for Ubuntu after reading the parent article :-) But I was completely overwhelmed by the choices, that's why I asked for some reco.

[Levitating]

It depends on what games you like.

One game that I recommend to anyone is Firewatch. It's a beautiful, linear story game with easy to understand mechanics. And it only lasts a few hours, so it's a small time investment.

I can also recommend Outer Wilds. It's a puzzle story game. It gives you a lot of freedom, with the downside that it's somewhat easier to get stuck. For this game you should buy a gamepad.

If you like single player shooters, I recommend Half-Life 2.

Hope this helps!

PS. As for peripherals, a keyboard+mouse should be plenty. Some vehicle driven games require a gamepad to play comfortably.

As for a GPU, the games I mentioned here will run on anything semi-modern. No need to buy something brand new.

[bhattisatish]

Thanks for the reco.

Anything that requires mouse is out. I have a RSI on my wrist, and anytime i use the scroll wheel it flares up.

I am ready to buy a gamepad. I guess I will need to explore which one I should buy.

Outer wilds looks interesting. Something I will explore one of these weekends.

[renjimen]

Outer Wilds is amazing if you like puzzles and/or sci fi.

[bhattisatish]

Noted. Is on my definite list now :-)

[seventhtiger]

PC games generally assume you have an Xbox controller. I'm not sure about Linux compatibility but based on a quick search it should work fine.

[pie_flavor]

There isn't really a good way to recommend a game to someone who's never played a game before - preferences regarding immersion, complex mechanics, turn-based vs live-action, etc. vary wildly. Someone who likes Europa Universalis 4 frequently does not like Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and vice versa. With these constraints I would probably recommend Cyberpunk 2077 (no gamepad), and if you decide you like live-action, Hades, and if you don't, Slay the Spire.

[pie_flavor]

Ah, I just saw your adjacent comment about RSI. First-person games like CP77 can be played with gamepad, they're just better with mouse. But without a mouse, I'd switch my initial recommendation to A Hat In Time.

[bhattisatish]

Hat in time sounds quirky and interesting. Will give it a go

[petderek]

Regarding gamepads: you can use the xbox/playstation ones with your computer. Bluetooth is hit or miss for me (windows), but they both work really well with a USB cable. Its subjective of course, but the console manufacturers do a pretty good job with comfort and quality.

If you liked Doom, it might be fun to play through some of the newer doom games like Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal and see how they've evolved over the years.

[bhattisatish]

Oh I wasn't aware that I could use the xbox/playstation controllers on Ubuntu. I guess that makes it easier to buy one.

I did not play much of Doom in a single player mode. It was typically in a LAN party my friends used to organize. I don't have much nostalgia for the game as such, more for the time and friends during those period :-) I am not sure I wanna explore the newer versions. But I might try...

[bhattisatish]

Thanks everyone for the recos.

I asked chatgpt to summarize the conversation, and this is what it came up with.

https://chatgpt.com/share/68752971-9e78-8012-bb83-5586a81d4d...