My new computer seems to finally be working (it's been randomly freezing; I'll give it a few more days until I declare it stable), so my old computer is getting transferred to my parents.

Right now they have a rusty piece of crap that's based on turn-of-the-millennium technology. As such, it can't play anything more than Plants vs. Zombies, some Breakout clones, Mahjongg, Peggle, etc.

So, with a newer computer, they should be able to play something a little more demanding. I just don't know what, but I definitely need to stop the "OMG we need different games, we're bored" complaints.

They can't play any flashy arcade stuff that requires fast reflexes. Mouse is fine. Arrow keys and spacebar is fine. Anything more than that, like a mouse+keyboard combination, or more keys - nope, too much for old people.

Complex adventure games are also out of the question. English is fine in very small amounts. I tried Botanicula, but it ran at like 3 fps on that computer. That said, the games should have high replayability, so my attempt to give them Botanicula was just novelty; it's not a valid solution to their gaming problem.

Father had no use for old NFS: Underground. Too fast. So that takes racing games out of the equation as well.

The computer is in the same room as the TV. Games that rely on sound are also unacceptable.

Do you have any suggestions? What do your parents and grandparents play?

EDIT

Tried and failed: World of Goo, Crayon Physics, The Sims

Will try: Angry Birds, Cogs, Little Inferno, Zuma, Faerie Solitaire, Reach For the Sun

Tried and working: Bejewelled (forgot to mention it when posting), Farm Frenzy, Plants vs. Zombies, Peggle, mahjongg, "match 3", breakout

11 years ago*

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Postal 2, obv

11 years ago
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Surgeon Simulator 2013

11 years ago
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Super Meatboy - An extremely slow reaction old graphic 'super mario bro' style game which you would totally not scream your head off at...

Ok, seriously, hmm...

Plants vs Zombies, World of Goo, Zuma Deluxe, Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition, and Civilization III are the first to come to mind.

Uplink is a basic graphics - but hacking simulation game, it would work, but i don't know if it's your type of thing?

Maybe adventure puzzle games if into that -
Back to the Future: The Game /
Monkey Island /
Day of the Tentacle /
Grim Fandango /
Abe's Oddysee / Abe's Exodus /
Space Quest Collection / King's Quest Collection

11 years ago
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old people can play games like real people.

11 years ago
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Yeah, play Super Meat Boy when you have arthritis... -_-

11 years ago
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Scribblenauts or Worms (Either Clan Wars or Revolution),

11 years ago
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Scribbleauts? Really? How are they supposed to play that -.-

11 years ago
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My mother plays,
World of Warcraft, Starcraft II, Diablo III, Rift, 7 Wonders, Chainz, Zuma Deluxe, Bejewled 3, World of Goo and Hearthstone.

11 years ago
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Obulis, SpacChem, Train Simulator, Trainz

11 years ago
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civilization ( civilization 5 if your pc is capable )

11 years ago
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lol, old people does not have the memory capacity to play civilization.

11 years ago
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Not all old people are senile.. my mother-in-law is 75 and has a better memory than I do

11 years ago
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then how about minesweeper

11 years ago
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most young people don't even have a memory or intend to play at a competetive level in the first place. They seem to jsut do what floats their boat... err memory in that second without any regard on it's impact for the rest of the game or if something else was better. I believe many people don't even know what a unit or building they build is good for exactly... it just seems nice to them to have a barracks or build the Ankor Wat in a size 3 "OCC" capital. Whatever. They still seem to have fun as the programmers were wise enough to add a game mode/difficulty level where nobody can lose, ever.

11 years ago
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Maybe try A Game of Dwarves.. not sure about the system reqs right offhand, but it's a fun game with a pause to think feature

11 years ago
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Pinball

11 years ago
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would an old person have the reaction time?

11 years ago
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any platformer like Trine ,Giana Sisters Twisted Dreams , Jazz , Party of Sin etc

11 years ago
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Lots of new replies since I wasted my entire weekend on XCOM (god damn chrysalids)... Can't reply to everything you wrote, but I will read and keep you posted about what my parents found interesting and playable (trust me, they're a tough crowd to please).

Thanks everyone!

11 years ago
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11 years ago
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Off-Spring Fling, Snapshot, thomas was alone, toki tori (but he may find very childish), wizorb (basicly kind of pong i believe), theme hospital, age of empires 2 etc? Criminal case from facebook

11 years ago
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Maybe FEZ?
And Portal 1 and 2.

11 years ago
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Dark souls. They'll love it.

or

http://store.steampowered.com/app/27020/

11 years ago
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How does one fail on 'The Sim's - Isn't it as casual as it gets? :P

I am a bit confused on the matter of hand.. Are you trying to get them into games, or are they genuinely wanting to play them?

Could always try 'Amnesia' - It's a very happy and fun game, they'll love it -.^

11 years ago
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Magic the Gathering Card Game.

Crusader Kings 2

Euro Truck Simulator 1/2 (it's good especially the 2)

(If the PC can handle those games)

11 years ago
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MY father play Diablo 2, Darkensang River of time, kings bounty warrior of the north and heroes of might and magic 4 and 6 :D and recently Dungeon keeper 2 ^^ so these are good games for old ppl.

11 years ago
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Why has no one mentioned Fortix.

11 years ago
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Super Hexagon.

My grandparents... wouldn't ever touch a PC. So giving advice for yours... well. Maybe something non abstract, something they know from real life would work best. Like a flipper for e.g. (compared to something like FEZ). On Pinball FX2 (with one great free table and currently a lot of tables in the humble weekly bundle) you can even slow down the game and remove the ball trail (I did that too) in case it's too fast for them (can't compete in the public leaderboards then, but like they intended too, huh?).

Then again they might be the type that want something less colorful and/or less noisy in which case the above tips suck big time :D

11 years ago
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How I wish that Everyday Genius: Squarelogic was still available (well it is, but only by buying the MumboJumbo Collection). That game is amazing and also something the older generations will thoroughly enjoy.

It still is available through Amazon.

11 years ago
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The Groupees Mumbo Jumbo bundle that's currently running. The hidden object games there have English text though, so it depends on how little is too much for your parents.

What's your parents' native language?

My father has been playing "400 solitaire games" (or something like that) for many years now, and hasn't grown tired of it. He enjoyed playing Everyday Genius: SquareLogic too.

11 years ago
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I'd recommend adventure games, preferably oldies.

11 years ago
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Half-Life 1 / Governor Of Poker :)

11 years ago
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Closed 11 years ago by mkrnic.