Al_B on 23/8/2012 at 16:13
Looks like lots of good suggestions. It's definitely worth checking out some of the popcap games. Plants vs Zombies has already been mentioned but if she likes word games then Bookworm Adventures may be up her street. Both are good to play together, taking turns on different stages.
Stitch on 23/8/2012 at 17:47
I don't know about "cute," but the level design of Trine 2 is is so storybook incredible that I want to crawl up into its cozy glowing sets and sit naked upon every available surface.
Shadowcat on 24/8/2012 at 13:23
What about some classic LucasArts adventures?
The LBA games spring to mind when I think "cute" (particularly the second one). I feel they aren't quite a match for what you've described, but if she finds herself wanting more of a challenge, with the occasional need for nimble fingers, I'd certainly suggest looking at LBA2.
Unfortunately, most of the games that spring to mind similarly require some degree of hand-eye coordination. "Beyond Good and Evil" is another obvious one in that category, as is the "Worms" series (which can be hilarious in hot-seat multiplayer).
Bookworm Adventures was mentioned; if she likes Boggle or similar word games, then (
http://www.newcrayon.com/BonniesBookstore.htm) Bonnie's Bookstore might well appeal. It has continual variations to the rules and/or layouts which keep things interesting, a well-thought-out user interface, and a bunch of cute children's book-derived backdrops (about which there was also an (
http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/30/from-concept-to-completion/) interesting article).
EvaUnit02 on 24/8/2012 at 16:40
Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale
Godly metroidvania-esque titles for PC:-
Aquaria
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
Fun tower defence games with light appeal:-
Plants vs. Zombies
Defence Grid
Orcs Must Die
Unstoppable Gorg
Goofy cute, but also batshit insane:-
Cargo: The Quest for Gravity
If you consider Jhonen Vasquez derivative works and Zelda clones to be "cute":-
The Binding of Isaac
Phatose on 25/8/2012 at 04:15
Dude.....Binding of Isaac? Cute?
june gloom on 25/8/2012 at 04:22
lol @ "Jhonen Vasquez derivative works"
also lol @ "Zelda clones"
also suggesting, for a non-gamer, one of the creepiest possible games? are you an idiot? OH HEY GIRL YOU'LL LOVE THIS, IT'S GOT POOP, SEVERED HEADS CRYING BLOOD AND A DEAD CAT AS A POWERUP
credibility: 0
demagogue on 25/8/2012 at 06:52
As far as the more immersive games go, I wouldn't say cute, but the most accessible to women might be like No One Lives Forever 1 & 2, Vampire: The Masquerade, Anachronox, American Mcgee's Alice, Psychonauts, and Mirror's Edge.
nicked on 26/8/2012 at 20:12
...NOLF, if she could get past the blatant-pandering, undermining-the-feminism massive exposed tits of Cate Archer. Such a shame for an otherwise quite positive role model of a female character.
Sulphur on 26/8/2012 at 21:09
NOLF isn't the easiest game around, though. Lots of muscle memory to be developed if she's never played before. Remember the first time you learned how to use mouselook in an FPS? Painful, wasn't it.
