Easy fantasy-based PC games?
June 25, 2015 9:48 AM Subscribe
My 75 year old father loves loves playing fantasy-based video games, but he gets frustrated if they require too much dexterity or if the puzzles are too hard.
For example, he likes playing the Elder Scrolls game on the easiest level, and he just plays a fighter-type and runs up to bad guys with a sword and repeatedly bashes them (no spells or missile weapons). He also liked the Heroes of Might and Magic games, again on the easiest level. But when I buy him games I seem to miss more than hit. If there are puzzles to solve that are difficult he gets quickly frustrated, and likewise if the game requires either fast or really accurate mouse/keyboard moves. Basically, in his dream game he plays a tank character with a big sword or something, he runs around bashing things and gets a sense of accomplishment by finishing simple tasks, and eventually almost always wins. So I'm asking for game suggestions with just the right 'easy' setting.
Games he's really liked: The Elder Scrolls series (even if there are puzzles there he doesn't solve the open nature of the game allows him to beat on monsters), the Heroes series, the first two Diablos
Games he didn't like: Planescape Torment (too many hard puzzles), Arcanum (same problem), Baldurs gate (too much dexterity required in battles), Diablo III (same problem), Legend of Grimrock (puzzles WAY too hard), Dragon Age (too much dexterity required).
Bonus points if they're on Steam, as then I can easily buy and install them for him.
Thanks!
For example, he likes playing the Elder Scrolls game on the easiest level, and he just plays a fighter-type and runs up to bad guys with a sword and repeatedly bashes them (no spells or missile weapons). He also liked the Heroes of Might and Magic games, again on the easiest level. But when I buy him games I seem to miss more than hit. If there are puzzles to solve that are difficult he gets quickly frustrated, and likewise if the game requires either fast or really accurate mouse/keyboard moves. Basically, in his dream game he plays a tank character with a big sword or something, he runs around bashing things and gets a sense of accomplishment by finishing simple tasks, and eventually almost always wins. So I'm asking for game suggestions with just the right 'easy' setting.
Games he's really liked: The Elder Scrolls series (even if there are puzzles there he doesn't solve the open nature of the game allows him to beat on monsters), the Heroes series, the first two Diablos
Games he didn't like: Planescape Torment (too many hard puzzles), Arcanum (same problem), Baldurs gate (too much dexterity required in battles), Diablo III (same problem), Legend of Grimrock (puzzles WAY too hard), Dragon Age (too much dexterity required).
Bonus points if they're on Steam, as then I can easily buy and install them for him.
Thanks!
Response by poster: Should have thought to add this - he doesn't like MMOs. I got him Elder Scrolls online and he hated it. There's a generation gap that makes him not understand what other people are trying to say to him, and he gets visibly out-competed by other people and he finds that frustrating.
posted by overhauser at 10:22 AM on June 25, 2015
posted by overhauser at 10:22 AM on June 25, 2015
Torchlight I/II are Diablo-esque and I found them very enjoyable on "casual" difficulty.
posted by trunk muffins at 10:23 AM on June 25, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by trunk muffins at 10:23 AM on June 25, 2015 [4 favorites]
I like to play games on easy mode and just key mash until the baddies die too. I found in Witcher 3 that even I was going hey wait your easy mode is just too easy. Yes dexterity is required at higher difficulty levels or if fighting high monsters, but if I stay in my skill range I can just hit a key to target then spam my mouse button until they die. Any puzzles usually involve going into witcher mode and clicking on the red glowy thing or following some red glowy things.
It's super open world so if something's too hard, the next monster down the road might be right up his alley and you can come back when you've leveled. There is a huge complicated storyline, and lots of little side quest storylines and on easy mode you don't really need to worry about crafting unless you want to.
Rift is a fun MMO and the people on their are pretty nice & usually seem more "grown up" the leveling system is a little different so if he's not into stat & skill trees he might want help with that. It has lots of random world events too so it feels more open world as you don't have to just do quests or pvp.
posted by wwax at 10:43 AM on June 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's super open world so if something's too hard, the next monster down the road might be right up his alley and you can come back when you've leveled. There is a huge complicated storyline, and lots of little side quest storylines and on easy mode you don't really need to worry about crafting unless you want to.
Rift is a fun MMO and the people on their are pretty nice & usually seem more "grown up" the leveling system is a little different so if he's not into stat & skill trees he might want help with that. It has lots of random world events too so it feels more open world as you don't have to just do quests or pvp.
posted by wwax at 10:43 AM on June 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Seconding Torchlight 1 and 2, they are both on Steam and have free demos if he wants to try them out first.
posted by Bunny Boneyology at 10:48 AM on June 25, 2015
posted by Bunny Boneyology at 10:48 AM on June 25, 2015
Path of exile is a free to play game that's very nearly a clone of Diablo 2
posted by Zalzidrax at 11:03 AM on June 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Zalzidrax at 11:03 AM on June 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
The Deathspank series is a wonderful, easy, comedic sendup of games like Diablo.
If he just wants to wallop on stuff, you might consider one of the Dynasty Warriors games.
posted by radiosilents at 11:36 AM on June 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
If he just wants to wallop on stuff, you might consider one of the Dynasty Warriors games.
posted by radiosilents at 11:36 AM on June 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
BG2 actually doesn't require dexterity at all. There is a game setting that makes battles play out on a tactical, turn by turn mechanic (autopauses after each round, so you can decide what each of your guys is going to do in your own time).
Maybe you could help him with the settings and see if he finds BG2 more fun set up in that way? (it's a great game).
That would open up a large set of other infinity engine games that play the same way - Icewind Dale; Pillars of Eternity etc.
One other suggestion - does he do sci fi? Knights of the Old Republic was quite fun, and fairly easy.
posted by bifter at 12:18 PM on June 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Maybe you could help him with the settings and see if he finds BG2 more fun set up in that way? (it's a great game).
That would open up a large set of other infinity engine games that play the same way - Icewind Dale; Pillars of Eternity etc.
One other suggestion - does he do sci fi? Knights of the Old Republic was quite fun, and fairly easy.
posted by bifter at 12:18 PM on June 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Also there are a bunch of Diablo clones that are quite derivative, but still pretty fun - Divine Divinity, Dungeon Siege & Torchlight (plus various sequels) spring to mind.
posted by bifter at 12:19 PM on June 25, 2015
posted by bifter at 12:19 PM on June 25, 2015
Not sure about difficulty level - I think the easiest mode should be doable. Or at least I do not find them harder than Heroes series.
Heroes-like (and some are more Civ-like) fantasy based games that I found very enjoyable
1. Endless Legend
2. Battle for Wesnoth - this is a free game.
3. King's Bounty - The original is the precursor to the Heroes series. The new updated version is decent. I do find it hard as game goes on but the beginning parts are very enjoyable.
4. Warlock: Master of the Arcane
5. And of course the classic oldie - Master of Magic
posted by 7life at 12:19 PM on June 25, 2015
Heroes-like (and some are more Civ-like) fantasy based games that I found very enjoyable
1. Endless Legend
2. Battle for Wesnoth - this is a free game.
3. King's Bounty - The original is the precursor to the Heroes series. The new updated version is decent. I do find it hard as game goes on but the beginning parts are very enjoyable.
4. Warlock: Master of the Arcane
5. And of course the classic oldie - Master of Magic
posted by 7life at 12:19 PM on June 25, 2015
King's Bounty - the Legend is a great game in a very similar manner to the HOMM games. If anything it's simpler, as there's no real town development strategy, just buy some creatures and explore the map (in real time, but otherwise very much like HOMM), fighting turn-based battles on a small hex grid when you contact nasties.
posted by protorp at 12:20 PM on June 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by protorp at 12:20 PM on June 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
When did he try D3? If it was before RoS it's worth trying again, especially with the Crusader class. On the easier difficulty settings, the Crusader can tank and spank everything in the game standing still.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 1:21 PM on June 25, 2015
posted by monju_bosatsu at 1:21 PM on June 25, 2015
You said he doesn't like MMOs, but I'd still give Lord of the Rings Online a try. It's the only MMO I've ever played, but my understanding is that the average age of players skews a bit older than usual, and the overall atmosphere is far more polite and friendlier than a typical MMO. Plus, on the Landroval server there are regular plays and concerts if he likes that type of thing.
posted by lharmon at 2:19 PM on June 25, 2015
posted by lharmon at 2:19 PM on June 25, 2015
I don't understand how Diablo 3 could be too hard - he just needs a character that's too high a level for the act he's in. A level 20 barbarian in Act 1 just _destroys_ things, extremely fast. I play mostly on the PS3 tho.
posted by fiercekitten at 8:36 PM on June 25, 2015
posted by fiercekitten at 8:36 PM on June 25, 2015
Which Dragon Age game did he try? Origins is a great game, but the melee fighting is kind of a pain. It was simplified a lot for DA:2, and although people complain about that, I find it much more fun for smashing through crowds with my great sword or shield.
Or go straight to DA:Inquisition which has a tactical camera to get an overview of the battlefield to plan out attacks.
posted by saffry at 3:22 AM on June 26, 2015
Or go straight to DA:Inquisition which has a tactical camera to get an overview of the battlefield to plan out attacks.
posted by saffry at 3:22 AM on June 26, 2015
The Aveyond series. (And other titles made with "RPG Maker", although the level of quality there can be low, but it creates a really basic JRPG, turn based combat, simple fetch-and-carry quests style game.)
posted by anaelith at 7:47 AM on June 28, 2015
posted by anaelith at 7:47 AM on June 28, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
Elder Scrolls Online is on Steam, but you may as well let him try some of the FTP games and see if he likes them... for easy I'd go with Rift. It's easy, free, on Steam, and has great reviews.
posted by Huck500 at 10:06 AM on June 25, 2015