It’s okay to not be a gamer. A lot of my favorite people are non-gamers. There are, after all, millions of equally valid hobbies, and it can be hard to find the time or money to invest in a new pastime, especially one that requires (often expensive) hardware.

However, it’s equally plausible that you non-gamers out there just haven’t yet discovered your “gateway” game—that one, very special game that is just so fun, so interesting, so satisfying, that it gives you the confidence to try more games, and then more, until suddenly you’re...One of us!

For me, that game was the 1994 classic Crystal’s Pony Tale. For you, it will probably definitely be something else.

Below you’ll find a few of my favorite games for beginners. They’re cheap, they’re simple, and they just might get you hooked. And that’s a good thing. I promise.

(All of these games are available to play on smartphones, tablets, or computers.)

Which games did I miss? If you’re already a gamer, what was your “gateway” game? Let me know in the comments!


This article was written by

Courtney is Pixelkin's Associate Managing Editor. While working with the Girl Scouts of Northern California, she mentored young girls in teamwork, leadership, personal responsibility, and safety. Today, she spends her time studying adolescent development and using literary analysis techniques to examine video games.