Wife friendly games?

GtBFilms

My wife's previous exposure to MAME was just after we met, and I installed MAME on her PC so she could play some gem matching games.

Apparently she tried one out and was somewhat surprised when she completed a level to be rewarded with a picture of some topless model covered in whipped cream. She was scared to continue to level 2.

We stuck to Bejewelled on the PC after that, no more soft-porn surprises!

Although having said that, last week, after a decade of disinterest, she actually tried the Sega Genesis "Fix It Felix" game and really liked it!

Alturis

Apparently, Pengo is/was hugely popular among women.

But I think Centipede, Frogger, and Ms PacMan are ahead of it.

Oh yeah Qbert too.

Top 4 Games for Women
As selected by the KLOV.com team

Ms. Pac-Man
Centipede
Pengo
Q*bert

I think the general rule is that games that have a strong element of clearing things out or filling things in appeals to the female nature. I don't want to come across sexist but maybe its the nesting satisfaction? We all find satisfaction in organizing things but women just dont also find satisfaction in killing things. ;)

XVO

Dunno but my wife plays a lot of fps games, her favorite is still Unreal Tournament though...
Other games she likes to play are Spyro, crash bandicoot and some Kart racers.

spruce_m00se

We play new super mario bros, but I generally get mad and give up. lol

Clyde

@alturis said in Wife friendly games?:

But I think Centipede, Frogger, and Ms PacMan are ahead of it.

I recently heard in an arcade history documentation that Centipede was very popular amongst women in its time. The reasons are unknown, but could have to do with its pastel colours.

@AndersHP If that's true, look for games with women-friendly graphics. :)

thelostsoul

I really liked playing co-op World of Illusion on the Mega Drive.

MEGA DRIVE
World of Illusion
Mega Bomberman
Sonic 2

NES
Baloon Fight
Dr. Mario
Ice Climber
Mario Bros.
Snake Rattle n Roll
Super Mario Bros. 3

Arcade / mame2003
Bubble Bobble
Landmaker (never played this)
Simpsons

Arcade / Neo Geo
Metal Slug 3
Puzzle Bobble 2
Super Sidekicks 3
Twinkle Star Sprites
Windjammers

Didn't count fighting games and brawler, as I don't expect this to be fun for ladies, besides Simpsons. Maybe she likes Smurai Shodown or Waku Waku 7? Do she plays shmups maybe, bullet hell (DoDonPachi) or traditional (R-Type) then? These games often have co-op modes. If you like, there are some recommendations waiting too.

AndersHP

I'm only looking for 2 player coop/battle games (with simultaneous play), but here's a lot of recommendations already, so thanks all!

We've only ever played Puzzle Bobble, and apart from that she's more into The Sims :)

But I guess iconic "clearing" puzzleish games like Tetris clones and such would be a better bet than shooters or fighters.

beamquaker

Bust a move 4 on the psx . It has alot more depth than puzzle bubble. My wife and I have played bust a move for years. She liked shenmue and California games was another we played . We still don't know how to do the half pipe tho .

meleu

I frequently get my ass kicked by my wife on Super Puzzle Fighter.

thelostsoul

Btw AndersHp, what system are you playing on? I misread one comment above mine and thought you was the guy playing on Nes, mega drive and Mame. Do you play Snes games too? Any Playstation game?

BobHarris

It's too bad women often aren't interested in fighting games. These really are my favorite 2 player games. If you're equally skilled, then it starts to feel like chess (but actually fun).

Bomberman, mario kart 64 and super puzzle fighter would be my choice of games with girls.

Alturis

@bobharris said in Wife friendly games?:

If you're equally skilled, then it starts to feel like chess (but actually fun).

Hey! Chess is fun! Its my favorite. ;)

BobHarris

@alturis :D It's a bit too static for me, but I can see the appeal for skilled players.

Clyde

@alturis said in Wife friendly games?:

Hey! Chess is fun! Its my favorite. ;)

Especially if it's fast, brutal, and martial artistic. ;)

Capeman

Definitely Tetris (tengen 2 player version) and Dr. Mario with the no-punishment hack.

SgtJimmyRustles

@capeman

Mean Bean Machine or Kirby's Avalanche. (Puyo Puyo 2 clones for genesis/snes respectively.)

AndersHP

Keep 'em coming!

@thelostsoul NES, MAME, SNES, MegaDrive/Genesis and NeoGeo are the systems I run on my bartop arcade. But am willing to try other.

pjft

These are great picks. There was a similar thread in the past that might be worth checking as well.

We play 2p Tetris - Gameboy or SNES Tetris Battle Gaiden. Puzzle Bobble, Puyo Puyo are great.

I tried Bishi Bashi Special with my wife but it didn't click. Too random for her. Still, a great casual collection of games on the psx. My sister - not a gamer - likes it a lot. The classic Mario Bros as well.

On AdvMame there are two games I'd recommend. Bonanza Bros is a nice one (also a Genesis version though I'm not sure if it supports 2 players), but also the Namco Arcade Collection volume 2 which has a 2-player version of Pacman that I found out about recently.

thelostsoul

@andershp Ok, then let me add some wife friendly multi player SNES games, my favorite console. :-) I didn't play all of those games, just a disclaimer. My favorite recommendation for any Match Block games on any system is Tetris Attack.

SNES (Match Block genre)

Kirby's Ghost Trap
Pac-Attack
Tetris & Mario
Tetris Attack (highly recommended)
Tetris Battle Gaiden
Wario's Woods
Yoshi's Cookie

SNES (other wife friendly games)

Donkey Kong Country 1 - 3
Goof Troop
Kirby's Dreamcourse
Kirby's Dream Land 3
Kirby Super Star (several mini games)
Pocky & Rocky 2
Secret of Mana
Super Bomberman 2 (just yes)
Super Mario All-Stars
Super Mario Kart
Super Mario World
Super Tennis
Legend of the Mystical Ninja
The Magical Quest starring Mickey Mouse
Worms
Zombies ate my Neighbors

SNES (maybe not wife friendly)

Battletoads & Double Dragon
Contra 3
International Superstar Soccer Deluxe
Rock N' Roll Racing
Street Fighter 2 Turbo
Super Smash T.V.
Firepower 2000
Turtles IV: Turtles in Time
The Lost Vikings
Uniracers (i love this game, so unique)
Wild Guns

akafox

@clyde said in Wife friendly games?:

I recently heard in an arcade history documentation that Centipede was very popular amongst women in its time. The reasons are unknown, but could have to do with its pastel colours.

Centipede was made by a woman..thus why maybe so popular with them.
She made it because she didn't like space invaders..."it was boring and had no purpose."

Why kill aliens that don't exist..when bugs DO exists and women love to kill them ;)

And as for Kirby's Avalanche I had a gf that LOVED that game used to beat me EVERY time until I started playing on my SNES on-line. I improved so much we made it a uhh strip version...but that is for a TOTALLY different thread....
And she LOVED Super Bomberman..and hated that she lost to me lol

My gf now she LOVES Zelda and Frogger and Donkey Kong, Super Mario Kart, Crash Team Racing..not so much a puzzle game fan..but then again she hates that I "play with my pi all the time" (I spend more time tweaking it than playing for her mostly! 0.o ) but plays it whenever she can...

Really depends on the woman shrugs