The LifeMaven

If you’re like the majority of most gamers, you’re likely male and between the ages of 16-35. And unless you’re a complete social hermit, you probably have a girlfriend or significant other.

We’ve all seen these situations before, where the guy is completely glued to his game and while his girlfriend is ignored and wondering what she needs to do to get that kind of attention.

Here’s one simple idea. PLAY WITH HER!

(And not just in the rated R sense, either

I’ve come up with the 5 current games that I’ve played with my the women in my life and they represent what I think is a good way to include her in your favorite hobby.

1. Left 4 Dead

Who would’ve thought girls would be into zombies? But hey, my girlfriend and I have a blast every time we play this one together.

There’s always some defining moment that you’ll remember and talk about for days. Like the time I was downed by the Witch and yelled “Shoot something!” and my girlfriend shot me and I died.

Or that time we were playing Survival Mode and I got knocked halfway across the map by the Tank, while she got ambushed by a Hunter and was screaming “Help Me!” at our brain-dead computer partners.

In essence, this is the type of game that depends upon good cooperation and is a great way to bond together.

After all, nothing is as intimate as surviving the zombie apocalypse together!

2. Diablo 2 (Or other multiplayer RPG or MMORPG)

The appeal here is the bond you get by questing together. Exploring dungeons, killing monsters, and discovering loot is a great way to spend some time with your girlfriend.

Be careful though, depending upon how game-friendly your girlfriend is, you might not want to introduce her to some of the more complicated MMORPGs out there. I know, I tried Anarchy Online with my girlfriend and she gave up after about 20 minutes of figuring out what to do.

Diablo 2 is a lot simpler with its heavy focus on the action and combat, and relatively straightforward character progression. The Gauntlet series would be a good runner-up here.

3. Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise

I’ll be honest. I bought this game to play with my girlfriend thinking that she’d enjoy the colorful pinatas and simple gameplay. (Stereotype alert!)

I was somewhat right.

She did like some of the piñatas and making a garden together. But I bought Left 4 Dead the week afterwards, and it was impossible to get her away from the zombies and back to the garden.

4. The Sims Series

This one is not so much something that you can play together, as it is just a way to get your girlfriend into gaming.

The Sims is the modern day dollhouse for girls of the 21^st century (Although guys can play with it too).

No other game these days allows you the freedom to create people and grow or ruin their lives whenever you feel like it. J

Have that one person in your life that drives you insane? Make them into a sim and extract your revenge in ways that your psychiatrist should probably know about.

5. The Rock Band and Guitar Hero Series

Another confession. I don’t play this with my girlfriend. I play this with my mom. O_O

Seriously, who doesn’t want to be a rock star and pretend to rock and roll all nite and party ev-ery day?

It might be tough at first, but once she gets the basics down, you’ll be rocking like Paramore.

That’s it for my list. Not comprehensive, but it’s what I’ve experienced in the past year. (Wow, Diablo 2, it just doesn’t get old)

What are the top 5 games you play with the women in your life? Share below in the comments.

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