If you told me a few years ago that Katie would be running through Tomb Raider, carrying the kids in Fortnite Zero Build, and voluntarily picking up a controller in her free time, I probably would’ve laughed.
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Not because she hated gaming or anything, she just wasn’t into it the way I was. (Check out How Gaming Helped me Grow as a Person and Entrepreneur)
But now?
- She has her own PS5
- She’s beating full single-player games on her own
- She’s getting scary good at Fortnite
And honestly? This is one of my greatest achievements. Forget ranked play and starting a business; this is what peak success looks like.
Step 1: Start with a Story-Driven Game
Here’s where most guys go wrong: They try to get their partner into gaming by throwing them into a fast-paced shooter.
“Just play Call of Duty with me, it’s fun!” No. It’s stressful.
Instead, I figured I’d start with something more immersive, with a great story and fun gameplay.
Enter the G.O.A.T. Uncharted 4.
This game completely hooked Katie. The story, the action, the characters, she was all in.
And then it happened… she went back and played Uncharted 1, 2, and 3.
This is when I knew… There was no turning back.
Step 2: Find More of What They Love
After she devoured Uncharted, I figured, let’s see what else she might like. (Just like life, gaming is all about balance for me. Check out Balancing Gaming, Business & Family: Making it Work)
So we played It Takes Two together, which turned out to be one of the most fun co-op experiences we’ve had.
From there, she naturally found her way into Tomb Raider.
- The story? She loved it.
- The puzzles? She was all over it.
- The gameplay? She was getting scary good at headshots.
At this point, Katie wasn’t just playing games; I had officially created a gamer.
Step 3: Let Them Play on Their Own
Once she got into Tomb Raider, something amazing happened: she started playing games on her own, without me suggesting them.
Then came LEGO Fortnite.
Katie’s the kind of person who loves to Speedrun and Win Fights, while I’m usually the one trying to build, explore, and create.
So she ended up absolutely loving LEGO Fortnite, building entire villages, setting up full-on factories, and bossing me around like the CEO of our virtual town.
I won’t lie, I was low-key impressed.
Then came the biggest plot twist of all…
She started playing Fortnite Zero Build with the kids.
And not just playing, getting GOOD.
Now, she’s dropping in with them, getting eliminations, and low-key carrying the squad.
Step 4: Get Them Their Own Setup
Look, if you want your partner actually to enjoy gaming, don’t make them use your backup controller in your setup.
Invest in their experience.
Katie’s setup:
- Her own PlayStation 5 (so she doesn’t have to wait on me)
- A good headset (so she can game when the kids are asleep)
- A comfortable spot to play (so she actually enjoys it)
Now? She’s gaming whenever she wants, without me needing to convince her.
She’s got her own PS5 and Controller Skin for late-night sessions.
Step 5: Embrace the Wins (and Laugh at the Fails)
Now that Katie plays, we have a whole new thing we bond over.
Some of my favorite gaming moments now involve her:
- Laughing as she gets third-partied in Fortnite and starts rage-laughing.
- Her flexing about headshots in Tomb Raider like she’s a professional.
- Her casually running me over in LEGO Fortnite like I’m not the one who taught her to drive.
And let me tell you, there’s no better feeling than introducing your favorite hobby to your future wife.
Final Thoughts: You Can Convert Them, But Don’t Force It
If you want to get your partner into gaming, the biggest thing to remember is:
- Make it about them, not you.
- Find games they actually enjoy.
- Make it fun, not frustrating.
- Give them space to get better.
And most importantly, be patient.
Because one day, they might just be yelling at the TV next to you, winning their own Fortnite matches, and wondering why they didn’t start gaming sooner. (Check out my post on Why Gaming Became a Family Tradition at Our House)