What is a good starter video game for a middle aged man who has never really played before?

Getting into gaming later in life is actually pretty cool, especially since the modern stuff is way more intuitive than the old-school arcade games. If he's a total beginner, I'd suggest starting with something like Stardew Valley. It's super chill, there's no pressure to have fast reflexes, and you basically just manage a farm at your own pace. It's honestly a great way to get used to how controllers or mouse and keyboard inputs work without getting stressed out.

Another solid pick would be Portal. It's a puzzle game that teaches you how to navigate 3D environments really well. The mechanics are simple, but it feels super rewarding when you solve a room. Plus, it has a bit of dark humor that usually lands pretty well with our demographic. If he wants something more story-driven, maybe throw him into a narrative game like Firewatch, where the focus is just exploring and making choices instead of twitchy combat.

Avoid those super competitive online shooters for now, because those lobbies can be a nightmare and the learning curve is steep. Stick to single-player experiences where he can pause whenever he wants. Once he gets the hang of moving a character around and interacting with objects, he can branch out to literally anything else. It's all about making sure it stays fun and not like another chore to finish after a long day.