It all started with the video slot and the release of the first console in the 70s, casinos, and video games have kept somewhat of a history that is intertwined. From 1978’s Casino on the Atari 2600, through to online casino games that were based around console blockbusters, developers of the games have included the crossover that lives between both famous forms of gaming.
In the early years, casino console games predated their online real-money equivalents by a number of years, with developers often changing table favorites onto the small screen as fully-functional casino sims. At the time, games such as Beat the House type games dominated the genre, with players being able to play fun games like blackjack, roulette, craps, and poker in the convenience of their own home.
After the introduction of high-speed internet connections, we saw such games fall a little by the wayside as online casinos, which was able to give players the experience to stake real money on their favorite games, became more popular. Today, online casino such as Casinovibez offers a wide selection of games which are more successful than ever, with hundreds of varieties of popular classics at your disposal.
But games on consoles have not fallen entirely out of favor, however. Video game developers have extended to recognize the charm of gambling games while supporting the demand for featured ‘casino sims’ isn’t what it once was. Alternatively, studios have frequently looked to support the appeal of online casinos by incorporating gambling-type mini-games within otherwise mostly unrelated games, ordinarily giving players with welcome part-time relief and the chance to earn some items or in-game cash in between their initial game missions.
Here we are going to take a look at five of the most loved casino mini-games in console gaming history:
It took 8 years to finish the game, Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2 was released to broad critical acclaim in 2018 and it is the most loved game right now. It is an action-adventure Western classic, RDR2 received recognition for its engaging narrative, interesting open-world environments, and diverse gameplay. Following the plunders of gang member Arthur Morgan, Rockstar’s Game of the Year featured heists, bank robberies, fishing, hunting, horse riding, and a number of gambling mini-games.
Blackjack, dominoes, five finger filet are all there for your fun and if you fancy a break between shootouts, but RDR2 especially shines when it comes to Texas Hold’em poker. A returning favorite from the game’s predecessor, Red Dead 2’s joining of the casino classic is amongst the most genuine and immersive we’ve seen in console gaming so far and it is quite gripping as well. Players, as Arthur, must learn to read their foe’s tells, whilst learning the basics of the game, in order to win here, with huge amounts of in-game cash often at stake and also some of the challenges.
Rockstars Grand Theft Auto Online also earns a spot on our list. It may have only unlocked its doors to the public last summer, after years of rumor and talks, but many admit that GTA V’s Diamond Casino & Resort was worth all the wait. Less of a mini-game and more of a complete casino sim within Rockstar’s growing open world, the Vinewood resort presents players with the capacity to bet in-game chips on horse racing, table games, and also an awesome lucky wheel.
The high-end area goes beyond simply being a gaming center; it’s the context of one of the game’s biggest heists, while players can also buy on-site penthouses and VIP memberships, which gives access to features such as big tables, valet and even the in-game concierge services.
The handheld games that released a multi-billion-pound gaming franchise, 1998’s Pokémon Red and Blue were globally praised for their remarkable characters, as well as their open RPG battling and trading game mechanics which made these games all awesome and evergreen. RNG (random number generation) plays a huge role in several of the games’ mechanics, spreading even to a virtual ‘game corner’, a cross between a Japanese pachinko parlor, a gaming arcade, and a casino. In Celadon City’s Game Corner, gamers can try their hand at a number of games, placing bets on pay lines in an effort to win in-game coins. These, in turn, can be purchased for prizes that involve rare or valuable things in the game, Pokémon and moves that is.
Iconic developer Sega has a very long history with casino games than you might think. In 1983, the company released Pachinko for its Japan-only SG-1000 console, which comes with the 1989 collection Sega Casino Games for the Master System.
The achievement of such games, alongside the demand of the genre in general, may well have encouraged the developers of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on the Sega Mega Drive. Sonic 2, generally considered one of Mega Drive’s most famous games, incorporated a full casino-themed zone, Casino Night Zone, into its level choice section, it comes with neon lights, glitz, and glamour, and even basic fruit machine mechanics. Sonic Team takes it even further in sequel Sonic 3 & Knuckles, with a whole bonus round based on a slot game, in which players can bet their Rings to take a short break from the game.
CD Projekt Red the developers of The Witcher has never been one to shy away from betting, with the first two games in the famous action RPG series featuring dice poker, a somewhat rudimentary and mostly forgettable gambling mini-game. However, come the series’ finest game till now, The all-mighty The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CDPR did away with dice in favor of cards, building one of the best all-time mini-games to date. A game so successful and famous in its own right that it encouraged a standalone release and eSports event, GWENT is a turn-based game that pays skill rather than chance. In its debut in The Witcher 3, the game also added an interesting collectible element, with players having to accomplish quests and master their gameplay to open rare and high-value cards.
These are the 5 mini-games that we like on the consoles games these days if we missed any please do let us know in the comments.