# Gaming novice, recommendations for downloadable PC games? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 17, 2020, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaming-novice-recommendations-for-downloadable-pc-games/920837 "2020-09-17T14:34:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Acierocolotl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acierocolotl/32/6241_2.png) [@Acierocolotl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acierocolotl)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaming-novice-recommendations-for-downloadable-pc-games/920837/21 "2020-09-17T19:49:22Z")
There’s a newish game on Steam I’m pretty fond of, “Hardspace: Shipbreaker”. It’s kind of a cerebral game, and you can turn the timers off which makes it pretty relaxed. Your goal is to dismantle scifi ships to salvage as many systems and as much material as you can, as efficiently as you can. Order of operations is critical as haphazard cuts might hit fuel systems (or worse) that haven’t been deactivated, resulting in explosive decompressions or just plain old explosions. It’s a bit of a puzzler, as ship components may be placed behind uncuttable armour and you may need to find the key welds to pop off to access valves and the like to safely shut down ship systems as you work. You also have the option of turning off the timers so you can take your time about it. It won’t require twitch reflexes. It’s still in active development (it’s an “early access” game) so the full allotment of ships aren’t in the game yet. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaming-novice-recommendations-for-downloadable-pc-games/920837/22 "2020-09-17T19:56:27Z")
Stardew Valley. It is cheap. Single player (I hate multi-player). No speed requirements. Very few requirements at all really. Very addictive. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaming-novice-recommendations-for-downloadable-pc-games/920837/23 "2020-09-17T20:00:40Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Do Steam games play in surround sound? That also depends on the games themselves rather than the delivery service. 🙂 _Elite: Dangerous_ and the _Fallout_ FPS games sound great in 5.1. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaming-novice-recommendations-for-downloadable-pc-games/920837/24 "2020-09-17T20:03:21Z")
[Universal Paperclips](https://www.decisionproblem.com/paperclips/) is very cerebral, and free. You play an AI who needs to make paperclips. A LOT of paperclips. You can let the window alone to run idle and watch your fortunes build. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaming-novice-recommendations-for-downloadable-pc-games/920837/25 "2020-09-17T20:11:15Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > Stardew Valley. It is cheap. Single player (I hate multi-player). No speed requirements. Very few requirements at all really. Very addictive. Oh, yes. It’s not turn-based, but there are only two twitch-based parts of the game, and they’re (like everything else in the game) optional. Fishing starts off pretty hard but gets easier as you go; dungeon-crawling starts off really easy, and never gets super hard. And it’s so, so soothing and absorbing. One of the best games in years. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaming-novice-recommendations-for-downloadable-pc-games/920837/26 "2020-09-17T20:12:15Z")
And if you want something beautiful, but can tolerate a little bit of reaction speed gaming, I’ll recommend something that’s never been recommended before on these boards: Subnautica. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaming-novice-recommendations-for-downloadable-pc-games/920837/27 "2020-09-17T20:16:38Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > I limit this to downloads since I cannot drive for a month or two, so picking up a box at BestBuy isn’t an option. I haven’t seen a pc game sold at best buy since the elder scrolls compilation about 5 years ago > [@Hermitian](#): > > Stardew Valley. It is cheap. Single-player (I hate multi-player). No speed requirements. Very few requirements at all really. Very addictive. you do know they have a multiplayer stardew valley out? but on that note, i recommend stardew valley or harvest moon: more friends of mineral town . 2 super chill farming games … ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaming-novice-recommendations-for-downloadable-pc-games/920837/28 "2020-09-17T21:20:27Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > In terms of recommendations, other that what people have already mentioned, maybe a turn based building or strategy game if you want something a bit different. The modern Civilization games give you a choice of micromanaging or directive based play, or Galactic Civilizations if you want something in the same vein but sci-fi. I mention these because your goal is to burn 6 weeks. Games of this style will eat your time very, very easily. 🙂 I like those kinds of games. You can get Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom, which is a city building/strategy game that is part of a series – You can get the whole series on GOG. I’ve played the series from Caesar II onward, and Emperor has the best game mechanics because you can use residential gates, so that’s the one I recommend. Also on GOG is Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri, which is a futuristic Civilization-style game set on another planet. It’s pretty much infinitely replayable. I’ve played it a ton, and then will leave it alone for a while, then take it up again for a while. I’m currently playing Windbound on Steam, which is new. It does require some reflexes, but not too much once you figure out the way it works. The focus of the game is survival, primarily through crafting and to a small extent hunting. It’s not really puzzle based, but is more about running around and finding things, sailing between islands, trying not to get eaten by predators, and advancing through a narrative. There’s a harsh “survival” mode where, if you die, you go all the way back to the beginning of the game, but there’s also a more forgiving story mode where, if you die, you just restart the level, and you get to keep pretty much all of your stuff. I am really enjoying it so far. One of the best things is the soothing music. I do get a bit stressed out when something attacks me, but, again, once you figure a few things out about how it works, it’s not too bad, and definitely (so far, at least) doesn’t require fast-twitch reflexes. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaming-novice-recommendations-for-downloadable-pc-games/920837/29 "2020-09-17T21:27:26Z")
Too late to edit: If you like turn-based RPGs, Dragon Age Origins is on GOG. It’s one of the best. Very good story. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaming-novice-recommendations-for-downloadable-pc-games/920837/30 "2020-09-18T07:13:39Z")
Definitely second XCom 2 for turn-based, cerebral gameplay. If fantasy RPG stories might be your jam, I also loved the turn-based combat of Divinity: Original Sin 2. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaming-novice-recommendations-for-downloadable-pc-games/920837/31 "2020-09-18T15:24:15Z")
Tropico. One of my all-time favorite games. No twitchy finger stuff. Available on gog. I didn’t care for Tropico 6 but liked all the rest of the series – I still play Tropico 4 and 5. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaming-novice-recommendations-for-downloadable-pc-games/920837/32 "2020-09-18T21:02:19Z")
Thanks again everybody! I now have an embarrassment of riches! I don’t know what to try first. I’ll look into the suggestions to see what the game are like! pullin ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaming-novice-recommendations-for-downloadable-pc-games/920837/33 "2020-09-19T00:19:12Z")
Two relatively recent puzzle games with great atmosphere and no time pressure: The Witness and The Talos Principle. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaming-novice-recommendations-for-downloadable-pc-games/920837/34 "2020-09-19T01:08:37Z")
Talos principle becomes time sensitive in later levels, particularly once you get to the recording tool ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2020, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaming-novice-recommendations-for-downloadable-pc-games/920837/35 "2020-09-19T03:44:15Z")
Right. Forgot about that. Still not really a fast twitch game though, and I found the tidbits of story quite compelling. Although, thinking about it, probably downright eerie to play in 2020. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaming-novice-recommendations-for-downloadable-pc-games/920837/36 "2020-09-20T01:54:14Z")
Agreed on all counts. Yeah, it’s not fast reflexes/twitchy time sensitive, more of a “plan your route correctly” time sensitive. But even with a well-planned route, you still gotta be quick. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaming-novice-recommendations-for-downloadable-pc-games/920837.md?page=1)