I'm a big fan of 'old school' games so there are three which always go down a treat whenever I have people round:
**WindJammers (1994)**This title was stuck in Arcades and the often forgotten Neo-Geo home console for the longest time before Sony ported it to PS4+Vita in 2017. Frisbee meets Pong, it is a game that is simple to understand and hard to master with different characters' stats giving them advantages over different maps - but that is not to say each player doesn't still have a fighting chance at winning against the odds.
There have been too many near miss and clutch wins in this game for me to count. I only wish there were a more active online community for this game. I joined too late to catch that wave
**NBA Jam (2011)**Taking shooting hoops to the extreme with a trash talking announcer, flaming dunks, acrobatic leaps, and politicians? Yep back in 2011, you could play as your favourite senator, commander-in-chief, or first Lady against their political rivals to settle the score on the courts. Although it's an arcade game there was strategy in how to play and running through co-op mode with a buddy in online multiplayer was incredibly fun.
Alas this title is stuck on the previous generation though I don't think the world today could take Biden dunking on Trump or vice versa before cancelling this game.
**Nidhogg (2014)**My unusual pick. Named after the Norse Leviathan, Nidhogg can be best described as Fencing meets American Football. Defeating your opponent in combat allows you to advance further into their territory until you reach their goal line, first one to the goal wins. However you have to contend with your opponent re-spawning, the pits and narrow hallways forcing you into combat, and of course, whether you fight or run.
Nidhogg 2 ups the ante with more interesting levels, and more weapons including more ranged weapons such as a bow and throwing dagger. Like, WindJammers it's easy to understand and pick up so a perfect party game when you get your buddies round.