Gamer's Top Guide to Best Computer Games For Women
86Top Computer Games Women Like and Why
If you are a gamer and are trying to bring the worlds of computer games and women together, look no further. Here are some great games that women are likely to enjoy.
Note: To keep things simple, the name of each game but not the latest version number is shown.
1. Civilization
Why women like Civilization:
a) Hot Seat capability up to Civilization IV (players use the same world board and switch to take turns) - this social gaming aspect is a big plus for women. Please note that Civilization V does not have the hot seat option.
b) Ability to win through means other than domination/conquest, such as diplomacy, culture or space race. A lot of women prefer a non-combative method of winning a computer game.
c) Easy to learn; starts out simple and then moves up.
 | Amazon Price: $20.15 List Price: $39.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $24.50 List Price: $29.99 |
2. The Sims
Why women like The Sims:
a) The look of the character is strongly customizable, including hairstyle and clothes (this is a much more strongly weighted factor in a woman's mind than the average gamer might realize)
b) Ability to customize the house
c) Fun to learn; very different concept to many other computer games
3. Majesty
Why women like Majesty:
a) Running an entire kingdom is fun, particularly making money.
b) Not having to run the characters everywhere; the hands-off aspect appeals to women and makes this computer game easy to learn.
c) The series of very defined quests labeled with difficulty levels makes this game seem appealing and accessible.
| 1. | ![Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim [Download]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51wPZ6N2SLL._SL75_.jpg) | PC download for Windows 2000/Vista/XP Amazon Price: $9.99 |
| 2. |  | For PC. Windows Vista/XP Amazon Price: $1.99 List Price: $29.99 |
4. Heroes of Might and Magic
Why women like Heroes of Might and Magic:
a) Hot Seat capability.
b) Fun board with bright colors and unexpected ways of getting from A to B (e.g. portals and underground tunnels).
c) Easy to learn (but battles are best kept automated at first).
5. On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness (Penny Arcade Games; a series of 4 separate games).
Why women like On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness:
a) It looks like a comic strip, making it appear friendlier.
b) Lots of humor; the least serious computer game featured here.
c) Easy to learn, but some women may need assistance or advice in combat at first.
6. Knights of the Old Republic
Why women like Knights of the Old Republic:
a) Character is reasonably well customizable in appearance (also in stats, but that isn't of interest to most women).
b) Lots of ability to talk to characters and make conversation choices during the story line of this computer game.
c) Automated combat (intervention is possible, but optional).
 | Windows 2000/XP/Vista Amazon Price: $3.59 List Price: $19.99 |
 | Windows 98/2000/ME/XP Amazon Price: $8.99 List Price: $19.99 |
 | Windows 98/2000/ME/XP Amazon Price: $9.06 List Price: $19.99 |
Games to avoid
On the opposite end of the spectrum, avoid real-time combat and first-person shooter games, except for the games on the list above. Generally, women don't like battle strategy (too complex) or first person shooter (too violent and personal). Examples of such computer games which are unattractive to women are: Sword of the Stars, Starcraft, Dawn of War, Grand Theft Auto.
Consider the personality of the woman
Now, this article is not suggesting you run out and buy all six top computer games listed here (besides, you may have usable old versions of these already!) Choose according to the personality of the woman. Some games will simply appeal more to one woman than another. For example, if your woman reads home decorating and fashion magazines, she might like The Sims. If she is a scientific type, she may prefer Civilization. If she enjoys a good laugh, try the Penny Arcade games. Just put a few minutes of thought into which game best matches the personality and interests of your woman!
© 2010 Giselle Maine
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Good point Lymond!
Great hub, Giselle!
I also enjoy playing computer games, though now my absolute favorite is Gothic (even if it has lots of combat, it's a 3rd person action and I adore the huge world that you can explore). Many years ago I used to play the classical Sierra quests: Kings Quest, Kyrandia, Quest for Glory, also the strategies Zeus, Pharaoh & Cleopatra, Heroes of Might and Magic :)... and many others!
Now I don't have time for all that, but it feels nice to remember these games!
Thanks, miragerainy! It was great to hear about the different Gothic games out there. In that case, you might like Dragon Age Origins, which I was debating about putting up on the list when creating this article, but ultimately didn't. It's a bit like a Gothic version of Knights of the Old Republic (KOTR). It has a huge world. The only downside is that the board isn't as brightly colored as the other games listed here and it isn't quite as user-friendly as KOTR, which is why I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for a beginner. Thanks again for mentioning the types of Gothic games you enjoyed!
I enjoyed reading this hub. Its good to know the best games for women. I love to play video game so i will definitely try these.
Thanks! Glad you like the ideas, katrinasui.
Nice ideas i have started following you.
Hi sairakhan, thanks so much for your supportive comment. I appreciate you taking the time to stop by this hub.
Haha, I should give them a try. I've been a Sims fan at some point in my life. It was addictive! :)
Thanks for the suggestions.
Hello Hailei, yes I totally agree that the Sims can be a very addictive computer game, especially to us women - there is just so much to 'mess around with' in that game!
I once played a game called Knights & Merchants, loved the fact that you get to build a town and how the technology of civilisation began but hated having to fight all the time, do you know of anything out there that has the first bit without the fighting??
Hello Eileen, I had a careful think about your question. I totally agree about the annoyance of having to fight all the time. I can only think of 2 options for you that would be good alternatives, but unfortunately neither is a 'perfect fit'.
The first option would be Majesty (described in this article) but the reason it's not a perfect fit is that there is some fighting. However, unlike most games, you (the player) are not in charge of making any combat decisions whatsoever in Majesty. You simply create knights, rangers, wizards, etc etc, and they run around initiating & doing all the fighting for you, while you build more buildings like markets, fairgrounds, etc etc and generate revenue. Your characters are ompletely 'on their own', even down to the tax collector! You don't have to intervene with the characters.
Another option would be Sim City. The reason it's not a perfect fit is that although there is no fighting whatsoever, it is set in the modern day, unlike the medieval-sounding aspect of Knights and Merchants. Sim City lets you build a town and generate revenue etc etc. If you play Sim City, I would recommend you NOT go for the latest version (Sim City 4) but instead go for the previous (Sim City 3000), if it can run on your computer's presumably much newer operating system. The reason for Sim City 3000 is: 1. it is really really hard to generate revenue in Sim City 4, but quite do-able in Sim City 3000. 2. Sim City 3000 allows you to build in older-style architecture like you see in some older European cities (it's not the default option but you can set it to that in your game settings). But even the older-style Sim City 3000 architecture is different and more modern than medieval-style architecture, so it may not be quite what you are after. Also, you still have to build 'modern' technology like power plants and roads.
Sorry I couldn't think of something closer to what you want, but hopefully Majesty or Sim City 3000 may prove to be enjoyable for you. Thanks so much for posing a great question that really made me think! It will also be interesting to see if any other readers comment with additional suggestions for you.
Hi Majesty sounds a better fit, I've also tried Black & White which my son and his friends all love now but again I have no interest in the fighting and I find it hard to control the animal I own in that one. Tried Portal for a while and got into that but when I got to the point where I had to jump through two portals at the same time I kept getting motion sickness LOL and had to give it up.
Hi Eileen, I would suggest trying The Guild 2 Renaissance, a historical commerce and role playing game.
Hi Mark, thanks so much for the recommendation for the previous commenter Eileen. Yes, I had not thought of the Guild 2 Renaissance - am I correct that it is a real-time strategy game? Anyhow yes this may be a closer fit to 'Knights and Merchants', thanks for bringing this up Mark, I wish I'd thought of Guild 2 Renaissance when I was responding to Eileen's question.
This is so wrong, no wonder we have so much gender bias and such nonsense in the video game industry. Girls don't like combat games and shooters? I happen to like combat and strategy games thank you very much. And Starcraft is awesome. The only worthwhile piece of advice I saw in this article was "get the game that matches her personality." Everything else is crap.
Cerulee, I didn't mean to imply that every last woman on the planet doesn't like combat games and shooters. I am glad that you enjoy those games. I just meant that there tend to be some games which more women tend to like playing, compared with some other games which less women tend to like playing (of which I believe battle strategy and first person shooters are in this category). I am not expecting everyone to agree with me on everything 100% of the time anyway. I graciously welcome those with opposing viewpoints such as yourself.
What?! Grand Theft Auto is awesome :) It was the first game I bought with my PS3 lol and that was because all my female friends wanted me to .. lol hey but apart of the game Majesty the list is good. Of course I would add other games such as Broken Sword and so
Lymond Level 1 Commenter 21 months ago
ha! SIMs comes no.1 hands down. My OH plays incessantly. I would have said you missed the main attraction - they get to control people absolutely.