Top 10 Girl-Friendly Games

[Cirrus]

Don't bite, I'm not about to belittle our lady gamers by offering what I think girls should play. I know that's a bad road to travel. ;)

This is just a recent list made up by 1up.com, listing the Top Ten girl-friendly games... some are reasonable. Gotta find those gateway games, right?

http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3139779

It was posted on the 21st, did a search on here for girl-friendly, and "1up.com, girl". No results. That's all I can do.

Which ones are wrong? Which are right on? Who here is man enough to admit that he plays all those games anyway? (I love most of them.. :) )

[anagrama]

That list is null and void since it doesn't feature Bubble Bobble.

[dreams]

For easy viewing:


10. Bejeweled
9. Centipede
8. Nintendogs
7. Dr. Mario
6. Suikoden
5. Ms. Pac-Man
4. Animal Crossing
3. Katamari Damacy
2. Dance Dance Revolution
1. The Sims

Seems pretty reasonable myself. Only one I would really disagree with is Nintendogs (ugh... never played it but it seems boring). Almost seems demeaning in a way. Maybe I'm just reading too much into it. ;)

A lot of my favorites made the list (DDR, Katamari Damacy, Animal Crossing). My puzzle games are there as well, although I am noticing that Tetris is missing (but, Dr. Mario is very similar) and they couldn't include every good puzzle game. Only one RPG, but with the sheer number of popular RPGs, again, they couldn't include them all.

Personally, I don't like the Sims, but that's just personal preference. Tons of my friends love it though - guy and girl alike.

So, for guys looking to get their girl something game related, I would say most any game from this list (and of course others that are similar) would be a good bet. :)

[DaveD]

My lady has always enjoyed Arkanoid. Once she gets started it's hard to get her away from it. Suprisingly, she likes a 2-player game of Raiden (PSX) now and again. Also Puzzle Bobble 2-player, which she is into, as well as the continuous 1-player mode (found on the SNES and 3DO versions, but hasn't been incluuded anymore in the more recent updates, unfortunately.)

[gamegirl79]

I like all those games but I also don't limit myself to just puzzlers, RPG's, and sims. I love first person shooters and GTA style games. I believe the list was geared toward non-gaming women though, so that's cool. :)

[machine.slave]

I've heard Rez with the Trance Vibrator attachment is pretty girl friendly LOL

[Lady Jaye]

Yeah, that's a generally good list for non-gamers, although I would have replaced Bejeweled with Tetris.

And I, just like Dreams, don't care for the Sims (although I love Animal Crossing...), but I do agree that it's currently the most popular game among non-gaming women (among non-gaming men, I'd tend more to say SimCity than the Sims...).

It's unfortunate that the article didn't mention, in the Centipede entry, that it was the first game co-designed by a woman. Most people don't know that. Granted, Dona Bailey didn't create the game alone, but she's still its co-designer.

[dreams]

Suprisingly, she likes a 2-player game of Raiden (PSX) now and again.

That actually reminds me, I love most any game that I can play 2-player in co-op mode. I'm very competitive by nature and that can make for hurt feelings on one side or the other if you play versus mode. Co-op mode prevents that in most cases.

I would imagine that a lot of non-gamer girls would be willing to try games not on this list and outside the stereotypical "girly" genre if they had such a mode. Working together is a lot of fun and you don't feel the need to be as good as the other to have fun.

[vulcanjedi]

Hmm

My daughter is starting to like fighting games. She has always liked playing Sarah in Virtua Fighter and kicking Jacky's butt.

I have watched this type of a discussion over the last 20 years and am starting to see less and less difference between my 7 and 8 year olds game playing styles. They each have their favorites. But they also both play games like Brute Force. And all of us including their Mother play Worms :)

VJ

[rpepper9]

My gal is hooked on Dr. Mario like crack!. I have to wrestle the GBA away from her when she gets going on Dr. Mario.

[GrandAmChandler]

Suikoden? WTF? My girfriend would NEVER play that! And how the hell is tetris not on there? Or bubble bobble? or snood? I know TONS of girls that love to play these. Along with any Wheel of Fortune game. Someone needs to check into this a little more seriously.

Seriously, how many women did they go on the street and ask what is your favorite game, and that many said Suikoden. Right. Great game, but I wouldn't put it on that list.

[Cirrus]

Suprisingly, she likes a 2-player game of Raiden (PSX) now and again.

That actually reminds me, I love most any game that I can play 2-player in co-op mode. I'm very competitive by nature and that can make for hurt feelings on one side or the other if you play versus mode. Co-op mode prevents that in most cases.

I would imagine that a lot of non-gamer girls would be willing to try games not on this list and outside the stereotypical "girly" genre if they had such a mode. Working together is a lot of fun and you don't feel the need to be as good as the other to have fun.

That's a super good point. My wife (24 yrs. old) grew up with her older brothers playing Atari 2600 and the NES. She basically got blasted out of the water all of her childhood, so she's not much of a gamer. Her happiest gaming memories as a kid is playing Bubble Bobble and TMNT 3: Manhattan Project with her friend. (A girl, too). Both cooperative, but still a small touch of friendly competition. She has picked up a thing for Dr. Mario and Pac-Mania recently, so things are looking up. :)

Oh, and the point about this top 10 list being a non-gamer girl list is spot on. Gamer girls tend to play the same games as the guys. And by guys, I mean gamer guys. (Not those Madden only types, although they probably make up most of the damn population of folks that buy games.)

[Daria]

Suikoden? O.o

And I think Animal Crossing should be like AC slash Harvest Moon.

Bust a Move can double up with Bejeweled along with Tetris.

[hydr0x]

the list is absolutely missing Harvest Moon and Yoshi's Island, as well as some Hello Kitty game, but Suikoden? come on...

[Cirrus]

the list is absolutely missing Harvest Moon and Yoshi's Island, as well as some Hello Kitty game, but Suikoden? come on...

I think mentioning Suikoden is a good idea, though. A large part of the serious gamegirl crowd are in it for the role-playing games. Suikoden is a good example, because it's a great RPG. Plus, it has real characters and a real story... I honestly think some of the stuff FFVII has could push away a casual gamer. I'm not saying it's a deep game, don't get me wrong... it's just a bit over the top with the supernatural stuff. (Although, well below par for weird stuff in RPGs). A good, real RPG with a solid, evenly progressing story does wonders. Just looks at how many girls love Lunar. (What a game!)

[poloplayr]

Girls like games with lots of pink.

[hydr0x]

@Cirrus

i dunno, i know girls like RPGs, but the RPGs my gf likes the most are the 16-Bit era ones, you know, 2D Top-Down perspective, like Lufia (one of her favourites)

[Sylentwulf]

the list is absolutely missing Harvest Moon and Yoshi's Island, as well as some Hello Kitty game, but Suikoden? come on...

Ding ding... wtf is suikoden doing on there? I've never heard of nintendogs. It's missing TETRIS FOR CHRISSAKES. And definitely harvest moon.

[gamegirl79]

Keep in mind guys this is only a 10 game list. All the puzzle games can't be on there! :)

[FlufflePuff]

Bubble Bobble and Kingdom Hearts are the two biggest misses for that list. I'd take out Bejeweled and Mrs. Pac Man to keep it at 10. My girl also enjoys Magic Pengel, but won't play with me because I keep drawing dirty shapes.

[Damon Plus]

Super Mario Kart and Kirby´s Adventure should be in there.

[Cirrus]

@Cirrus

i dunno, i know girls like RPGs, but the RPGs my gf likes the most are the 16-Bit era ones, you know, 2D Top-Down perspective, like Lufia (one of her favourites)

I was considering adding Lufia. To me, Lunar is "almost" 2d top-down. Tell your girlfriend to try it, (the psx version) I bet she'll love it.

And yes, Bubble Bobble is sorely missing. Also, Nintendogs was a stupid thing to put, considering that I'm pretty sure it's not even released in this country.

[AB Positive]

well, on day 12 of the "beat Myst IV with Rose" marathon, which is similar to the previous three marathons... I'm a little shocked that no mention was made of any Myst game. Difficult, but an incredibly simplistic control scheme that anyone can pick up.

Maybe that's just a game for girls that like to read :P

-AG

[nate1749]

I think bejeweled is a good choice, every girl I know whose got a palm has that thing on there. I'd definitely say The Sims is by far #1. I have a lot of female friends that don't play games at all and they own that one for PC.

I'm looking for a Tetris bumper sticker for my friend, she wants it to say like Tetris Princess or master or something - I think I may just have it custom made.

Oh and I have another friend whose addicted to Wetrix for dreamcast, but I think anyone who picks that up gets addicted.

Nate

[TheRedEye]

I have yet to meet a girl who doesn't talk about Mario 3 when videogames are brought into the discussion.

[maxlords]

We should do our own "Top girl games"

I can think of several that didn't get mentioned that my wife loves and that previous exs loved. Keep in mind my wife and several other girls I know like to watch some games rather than play em:


Games they'll play:
Metal Slug series
Final Fantasy III
The Adventures of Cookies & Cream
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Any puzzle game on the face of the planet that doesn't suck.
Animal Crossing
Cubivore
Harvest Moon series
Maximo: Ghosts to Glory

Games they'll watch:
Aliens Vs. Predator (PC)
Shadow Hearts
Resident Evil 4 (My wife LOVED watching it!)
Eternal Darkness
Any Kirby game
Lupin the 3rd: Treasure of the Sorceror King

[imanerd0011]

Although I am not a girl, I have a hard time believing that Suikoden is a popular game among girls. Most games that girls like are either puzzle games or side scrolling games.

Out of all the games I have, most of my girl friends (friends that are girls. LOL ) like Dr. Mario, Super Mario Bros 1,3 and Bust a Move.

[Gzilla23]

I'm a guy and I like a lot of games on that top ten girl list. Games are games....rarely are they gender specific and good games attract both sides. The games right now that a lot of girls i know play are World of warcraft and counterstrike.

[stuffedmonkey]

Yeah - the puzzle games thing is the absolute truth. My wife is hooked on a few of them like it was a crack pipe! Any of the java based ones.....

I got her interested in Katamari for a bit. She never grew up with a game system so I don't think she likes using a controller at all - just games for her laptop.

[Ed Oscuro]

I'm not sure if it's already been mentioned, but Disagaea seems to be popular with the ladies!

[whoisKeel]

Someone on this board once said that Bust-a-move/Puzzle bobble was "chick crack" and I couldn't agree more. I don't really see the centipede thing, but then again...I'm a guy. I'm not too sure about the nintendo puppy game either, but I've never even heard of it. It's just hard to believe that bust-a-move and tetris aren't on that list, even if it means a puzzle game domination...at least in my experience.

[racecar]

i think -ms pac man should be rank #1.....then bust a move
and all other puzzle game cause for some reason girl's are pretty good at it :hmm:
i don't see much girl's playing fighting game's..and if they do..they are not really good at it

[Jumpman Jr.]

Most of my friends love the Adventure Island series.
Although, they've never heard of this "Wonder Boy" character.

[syd]

My g/f loves playing Super Mario Kart, Mario Paint and especially Kirby's Avalanche (even though it's a rip off of puyo-puyo it's still lots of fun!).

[pragmatic insanester]

stretch panic

[bluegenes]

This list is missing every freakin' puzzle game ever made. stereotype? Maybe, but girls love their puzzle games. Another obvious game not mentioned: Literati. Games I know my girlfriend likes to play: Warriors of Fate, Blinx, Bust a Move and Heroes of Might and Magic III. She's cool like that. On the downside, she doesn't appreciate the old skool arcade games like defender or guantlet. Video gaming is a culture people! Study your heritage!

[Sothy]

This one helped 3do break into the femal gamer market.
Its a space shooter with sappy romantic sequences.


http://img242.echo.cx/img242/150/totaleclipseoftheheart7yc.jpg

[bluegenes]

OMG. That can't be a real game!

[cr0n0]

My wife is buying a BRAND NEW gamecube since she refuses to share it with our son when she plays Animal Crossing. Already I am looking forward to purchasing 2 (yes, 2) Nintendo DS sytems in anticipation for the new AC game. I could care less for the DS, yet I will be forced to play it, all for the love of AC. I will follow the advise of the list and introduce my wife to The SIMS and hope she leaves me alone in the process. :evil:

[felix]

For easy viewing:


10. Bejeweled
9. Centipede
8. Nintendogs
7. Dr. Mario
6. Suikoden
5. Ms. Pac-Man
4. Animal Crossing
3. Katamari Damacy
2. Dance Dance Revolution
1. The Sims



Yup.. cuz we all know that women are incapable of playing anything violent.. sigh..