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?
Skyrim for the mods.
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.
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.
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.
Instead just buy something he wants to play so you can play it together. Or at least talk about it.
Sit down with them on their new gaming machine and sign them up for Steam or GOG. While they are doing that, slyly buy Steam or GOG credits on your phone and gift them to your buddy. Have your buddy go through the automated recommendations and gently inform your buddy whether a game is worth their time or not. And then watch as they add games to their wishlist thinking that they are going to pay a bunch for it.
I mean, they will eventually. No one in the MPCR escapes spending a fortune on their wishlist.
The Sonic Racing games are the best counterpart to Mario Kart available on PC. Sonic Racing Transformed is the best of the 3 games (and bundles the very first game) but sometimes gets confused when switching up controllers, so you must delete the config file, so maybe because of that not the best introduction to PC. Team Sonic Racing is a bit less good but that input bug is gone.
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.
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?
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
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 !freegames@feddit.uk) 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!
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.
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
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
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.
