The gaming industry has come a long way since Nolan Bushnell, dubbed the father of electronic gaming, and Ted Dabney created the first arcade game in 1971. Modern technologies have transformed the industry, turning it into a fast-growing billion-dollar market.
Technologies like virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and live streaming have not only allowed the online gaming industry, which includes online gambling and video games, to see unfathomably high revenue, but they have also allowed games to become more immersive. For instance, live casino games allow players to be present in a non-physical world by interacting with real dealers while playing online at home. Virtual reality video games like The Climb do the same thing, surrounding individuals with sounds, images, and other stimuli to create a captivating total environment.
Mini-games are another example of how modern technologies have created immersive and unique gaming experiences. Mini-games are short video games within another video game that usually have different gameplay components than the main game. Mini-games have become so popular that some have become stand-alone releases, but they are primarily known for blurring the lines between casino games and video games. As such, we are going to explore the best video games with casino mini-games in them.
The Best Video Games With Casino Mini-Games
Watch Dogs
There are several mini-games in the action-adventure video game Watch Dogs. Most of the gameplay in Watch Dogs focuses on driving and stealth, with occasional role-playing elements, so getting to play poker is a welcome break from the main video game action. Individuals can play poker in Texas Hold’em style at four levels in the game: low stakes, medium stakes, high stakes, and super stakes poker.
Red Dead Redemption I and II
Both Red Dead Redemption I and II offer players the chance to play gambling mini-games, all of which are realistically woven into the game’s setting. Individuals exploring the open world in the action-adventure game set in 1911 during the fall of the Wild West can take a break from the main gameplay action to try their luck in traditional casino games like poker and blackjack. These games can be found in several of the saloons placed throughout Red Dead Redemption.
Fallout: New Vegas
Released in 2010, the game Fallout: New Vegas is a popular post-apocalyptic action role-playing video game set in Las Vegas in 2281. Most of the game takes place on the Las Vegas Strip, where players can take on quests and play several casino mini-games, including blackjack, slots, and roulette.
The global gaming industry has been on the incline over the last few years. Much of its success boils down to innovations like virtual reality and artificial intelligence. Further, entire sectors shifting their attention online, such as the rise of online casinos, has added to the industry’s growth. As such, it is no surprise the industry is forecasted to exceed $200 billion in revenue in 2023. Modern technologies have created sub-genres in the industry and allowed individuals to have unique and more immersive gameplay experiences.