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.
Not because she hated gaming or anything, she just wasn’t into it the way I was.
But now?
- She has her own PlayStation 5
- 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.
Some links may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. But these are games and gear I trust, or wish I’d known about sooner.
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.
If you’re starting here, this is still one of the best entry points for non-gamers. I Went Back to Uncharted 4 and It’s Still Amazing.
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
If you’re trying to get someone into gaming, this is probably the safest bet.
After she devoured Uncharted, I figured, let’s see what else she might like.
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, I had officially created a gamer.
Step 3: Let Them Play on Their Own
Once she got into Tomb Raider, 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 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.
You don’t need anything crazy, just enough to make it feel like their space.:
- PlayStation 5 → Check price on Amazon
- Headset → Check price on Amazon
- Controller → Check price on Amazon
Now? She’s gaming whenever she wants, without me needing to convince her.
Gaming Setups don’t have to be expensive. My Gaming Setup Isn’t Impressive (and that’s why it works).
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 pro.
- 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 favorite wife (this will tell us if she actually read this lol).
What Actually Worked (If You Skip Everything Else)
- Start with story-driven games
- Avoid stress-heavy multiplayer early
- Let them find their own style
- Give them their own setup
- Don’t rush it
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.