In the billion-dollar global market for video games, the best-selling titles include not only modern genres like first-person shooters (FPS) and battle royale but also traditional games, such as poker.
A bloomberg.com article notes that the poker video game Balatro sold more than 500,000 copies two weeks after its release in February 2024, making it one of the most popular indie titles in the previous year.
Although Balatro can also be considered a rogue-like deckbuilding game, its use of poker hands and terminology point to the idea that poker remains popular in the video game industry. More than just a card game that generates millions of dollars of revenue for both land-based and online casinos, poker’s familiarity and historical roots across different cultures make it appealing to the continuously growing population of gamers.
Below, we highlight what makes poker popular in video games—whether as a standalone game, as inspiration for gameplay, or as a mini-game—and why this will continue for years to come.
Interactive multiplayer opportunities
While video games like The Last of Us and The Legend of Zelda are popular as single-player, lore-heavy games, having the option to play with other players in real time can boost audience engagement and the game’s overall success. Considering poker involves playing against opponents to win the pot, it provides multiplayer opportunities when translated into a video game. Such is the case for the computer game Chris Moneymaker’s World Poker Championship, which was released after the eponymous poker pro, Chris Moneymaker, won the 2003 World Series of Poker.
Since Moneymaker qualified at an online poker site and was hence a catalyst to the online poker boom in the early 2000s, the video game’s in-game tutorials, multiplayer mode, and overall gameplay are practical, straightforward, and relevant to those learning the ins and outs of poker tournaments. To this day, Moneymaker continues to play online multiplayer poker through his partnership with the platform americascardroom.eu. In addition to promoting poker as one of the official team pros, the poker champ runs the website’s weekly Sunday Moneymaker tourney.
Familiar and flexible gameplay
As previously mentioned, central to poker’s success in the video game world is its familiar gameplay, from its basic terminology and hand rankings to common strategies and play styles. As such, its video game format can attract broad audiences, from young gamers looking for a popular pastime to seasoned players who want to enjoy the card game from the comfort of their own rooms.
In light of the wide range of poker variants that have emerged throughout the years, its gameplay can also be considered flexible. This makes it easier for video game developers to draw inspiration from the game and reimagine its rules for a different setting. For example, a previously published post on game-wisdom.com discussed how the aforementioned indie game Balatro incorporates poker hands, terms, and the 52-card deck, but winning the game entails embracing its rogue-like design and using the jokers as wildcards. In essence, poker may be traditionally familiar, but its adaptability means it can be reintroduced as different formats to sustain its popularity.
Integration into progression and worldbuilding
Whereas poker is used to develop characters and drive the plot forward in popular Hollywood movies like Casino Royale, it can be integrated into video games as a mini-game that contributes to player progression and worldbuilding.
For example, in the action-adventure game Red Dead Redemption cbr.com states that players can try their luck at tables to make money and unlock outfits and achievements along the way. Poker is also associated with bars and underground playrooms, so it fits right into RDR’s setting and immerses players further into the outlaw experience. Meanwhile, since poker is also a popular game in Las Vegas casinos, it’s a suitable mini-game that grounds players in the geographical setting of Fallout: New Vegas.
In summary, poker is and will continue to be popular in video games due to its interactive, familiar, and narrative elements. Continue reading game-wisdom.com for more exciting content on video games and game design.
