this post was submitted on 03 Jul 2023
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Hey everyone! Despite my efforts, my fiancé really doesn’t get into video games much. Mechanical skill limitations frustrate her, and sometimes her attention span for games isn’t high when she could read a book or watch a show, I want to try a new tactic to see if it works: games where she can be a “backseat driver.”

I’m mainly thinking of story focused games that aren’t reliant on mechanical skill and where having a second person watching can meaningfully contribute.

Some games I’ve thought of are the Phoenix Wright games, and Return of the Obra Dinn. Does anyone else have suggestions for games I could try to play with her?

Steamdeck verified games preferred, so I can play while docked to our TV.

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[–] Alatain 15 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Currently paying Outer Wilds in my steam deck while docked to a tv. It's been very engaging and fun for my wife and I to sit down and try and solve an interstellar mystery while winding down for the night.

Interesting game with good art style and interesting mechanics.

[–] clovernorth 3 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I keep seeing this in steam but haven’t actually checked it out yet

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago

If you decide to go for it, don’t read too much, just go in blind.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

My two cents; I'm in a very similar boat with my GF, and Outer Wilds was unfortunately a bit too slow paced and open ended for her, so I ended up completing it by myself (and absolutely loving it). Same with The Witness unfortunately. Both are very much in my personal top three though.

But to make it not all negative, some recommendations!

We enjoyed The Room series by Fireproof Games a lot. It's an escape room puzzle box type of a deal with a really cool, slightly creepy atmosphere, and there's multiple games out already. The games are quite linear and focused, so my GF didn't bounce off. We're escape room junkies and haven't found a better digital fix. Escape Room Simulator is decent, but not quite up there in production quality.

Another fun one is the games by Rusty Lake. They're mechanically similar, if a bit less flashy than The Room, but the puzzles are mostly fun and the story/atmosphere/music is really neat.

And yeah, Obra Dinn is absolutely our number one favorite game, but that one was already mentioned.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Oh, I think I have the perfect series of games to you because they also work as movies, sort of.

Check out the dark pictures anthology, until dawn and the quarry, all developed by supermassive games.

Here's a trailer: https://youtu.be/3NcF7EOnjow

https://youtu.be/ESPKeMinQgI

If you want something that's less horror based, check out oxenfree.

[–] 10_dollar_banana 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yes so much. I played these with my partner. This is exactly what OP is looking for.

[–] clovernorth 3 points 2 years ago

Hmm definitely going to give this a shot!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Detroit: Become Human was my favorite of this sort of game. Not in the horror genera though. My wife loved watching me play it and giving suggestions.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 years ago (2 children)

My girlfriend and I really enjoyed playing Life is Strange together like this. I think we both enjoyed the setting and characters quite a bit (high school in the Pacific Northwest). We tried Life is strange 2, but never really got into it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

And episode 1 is currently free on Steam!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Also tried to like Life is Strange 2 and 3, but really couldn't. Have you tried Before The Storm? It's really great as well!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I'll have to give before the storm a try! That's disappointing to hear that the third one was also a let down.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

It probably wasn't bad on its own, but it doesn't have the feel of 1 or BtS, which is what I was after.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 years ago (1 children)

You should really check out this YouTube channel https://youtube.com/@GirlfriendReviews

Their content schedule had slowed down a lot recently because they got married. But their whole schtick is about games that are fun for backseat gamers.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Wouldn't it be called WifeReview instead?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

They're not changing the name.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 years ago (1 children)

As they have not been mentioned before: We played „The Witness” and “Return of the Obra Dinn” together and are currently solving “The Case of the Golden Idol”

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Obra Dinn is phenomenal, you should try it right now.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

These are all story based games where the player must make decisions, which is a great way of involving someone who is not actively playing:

  • Tell Me Why
  • Detroit: Become Human
  • Heavy Rain
  • Beyond: Two Souls
  • Life is Strange
  • Telltale Games
  • Until Dawn
[–] Jmr 3 points 2 years ago

Telltale games are perfect. It's usually solving a puzzle and picking dialogue. And quick time events are usually slowed down

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago

I suggest Telltale games, like the walking dead and the wolf among us. You can make choices together to shape your own story. It's more like watching a TV show together.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

My wife and I call this "Single controller co-op".

There are classic point and click adventure games that work well like the Monkey Island series, or more recently Thimbleweed park. Any game with a significant puzzle element works well too - we've really enjoyed Tunic.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

Thimbleweed park took me by surprise and really loved that game,

[–] EvilBit 6 points 2 years ago

Her Story, Telling Lies, and Immortality (all games by Sam Barlow) are uniquely meta/postmodern FMV games with no input besides consideration, selection, search, and other very democratizable actions. I bet those would go over really well!

[–] LFR 5 points 2 years ago

Detroit: Becoming Human, you can make the endless decisions together Live is Strange, as others already said

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Maybe Her Story? Some would not even call it a game, but I enjoyed unraveling the mystery. It involves inputting text, but it's just keywords for a search so it shouldn't be too cumbersomer even with on screen keyboard.

[–] EvilBit 2 points 2 years ago

Beat me by one minute! I recommended this and everything by Sam Barlow.

[–] kingcake 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

I played this with my partner - it's perfect as one person can do as much or as little work as they want. And you can take the game at your own pace. Great co-op game.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

you may try "blanc". A good coop game with simple gameplay mechanics

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1982340/Blanc/

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Stray seems perfect, it's mechanically easy, has puzzles, cute characters, an interesting (short) story, and a nice environment to explore.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

Saving this post. Some good stuff here

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Dicey Dungeons, Peglin, Inkulinati, Pan'orama, Slay The Spire, Tile Cities

[–] clovernorth 2 points 2 years ago

Hmm hadn’t thought of Slay the Spire as a good option that I already own. Thanks! Wishlisting these 👍🏻

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I would suggest the Zero Escape series (999, Virtue's Last Reward, Zero Escape), Danganronpa, and Escape Room Simulator.

The first two are similar to Pheonix Wright and the last one is just plain fun

[–] clovernorth 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Sweet, I’m wishlisting all of these! If you have a favorite you’d recommend I pick out first let me know. Thanks!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

I would recommend playing the Zero Escape series in order. It's the closest thing I've found to the Professor Layton scale twists and turns.

[–] morgan_423 3 points 2 years ago

Into the Breach is perfect for this. It's played on a coordinate grid, so giving suggestions on what to do per turn would be very easy without needing a bunch of description to explain exactly what is being talked about.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The Witcher 3. It's a very story heavy game with lots and lots of dialogue and long cutscenes. My wife wouldn't play it herself for exactly those reasons, but she watched most of the time while I played it.

Another recommendation would be The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The Koroks to be precise. Four eyes see more than two.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

I think generally any puzzle game will work, you can try solving the puzzles together and you'll be the one moving the character.

[–] kbrown 2 points 2 years ago

Other than the puzzle games already mentioned, I'd recommend Hidden Folks if you enjoy the "Where's Wally" gameplay. You will need the TV though, as the Deck's screen is probably too small for two people to play comfortably.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

I think Girlfriend Reviews will agree with me here, but the Resident Evil series is probably the best backseat gamer experience. I'd recommend the new one, Village.

[–] vennac 2 points 2 years ago

As someone who enjoys backseat driving games, I liked Bug Fables (cute Paper Mario inspired rpg) and Omori (psychological horror rpg).

On Switch, I enjoyed Paper Mario: The Origami King. There's a lot of hidden things to notice so I actually felt like I was helping, and the story was fun.

There are some battles that might take a while, and if I got bored I would check my phone. But overall I feel like I played the games without having touched the controller.

[–] Horza 2 points 2 years ago

Return of the Obra Dinn!

[–] Molecular0079 1 points 2 years ago

I think the Divinity Original Sin series and the upcoming Baldur's Gate 3 might be good options! They're good story driven games with good dialog, turn-based so not too mechanically demanding, and often times require paying close attention to subtle story beats in order to get the best outcome.

Last of Us and Uncharted 4 could also be good options because watching someone play the game is like watching a good movie.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Control. It has god mode built in the settings. My wife liked it when the enemies can’t hurt her and auto aim makes running through enemies much faster for non experienced aimers.

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