Rolled up kitchen foil or a bit of string or ribbon with several knots in the end.
He may not want to play too much at first, it could take a couple of weeks but he will soon have you properly trained to open his food on demand, where he best likes to sleep and when he fancies a cuddle and how.
I seem to recall he is a bit feral? With time they can be the most loving ever. My boy is my shadow.
He's a lucky boy. And he'll realise it in time. But in his time.
Maybe something with cat nip in it? Might make him aggressive though, turns our cat into a lightweight drunk (only gets one at Christmas because it does my eyes in).
Felliway plug-ins are good for calming nervous cats. I used it when little Tigs was born and there were loads of people in my house. The cats were scared and would only appear after guests had left but with the felliway they would come out and mingle :o)