As technology evolves, video games gain a greater potential to impact human life. A shared love of gaming has created thousands of communities. These days, dedicated gamers have been able to make money from video games through activities like reviewing, coaching, streaming, and testing, as seen in our article here on Seriable. Technology has also been able to replicate the games so beloved that they continue to remain popular, such as solitaire, bingo, and, most notably, poker.
We’ve been seeing pretty sophisticated poker video games for about 25 years now. And while there are a ton to choose from, some individual games do ultimately stand out. From straightforward mobile games with massive player bases to simulations of real-world poker competitions to immersive games with 3D graphics, there’s a lot to take in. To help those interested in poker gaming narrow down the options, we’ve compiled the following list of what we consider to be the best in a busy and boundless category.
1. World Series of Poker (WSOP)
This delightful poker game is perfect for people who want to get a game in but are always on the go. It’s a simple process to log into the game through Facebook and use a continuous play on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Once you begin playing, a post on ReviewJournal informs us that WSOP gives out a plethora of free chips, and you get a chance to progress through events and ultimately win prizes like the bracelets the pros chase in real life. Another fun perk of this particular game is that you get the chance to virtually jump into tournaments that take place in famous poker destinations, from Las Vegas to Paris.
2. Governor of Poker 3
Between the chance to customize and improve your character and the challenge of advancing through different stages and challenges, this game actually feels a bit more like a sports game than most of its counterparts. In your quest to become top-dog on the in-game poker circuit, you’ll essentially build a character and career. You’ll also find yourself constantly switching between different styles of gameplay, like sit-and-go, multiplayer, and tournament mode. And for that matter, you’ll even wind up playing some blackjack as well. The game has a little bit of everything.
3. PlayWPT
PlayWPT gives players the chance to experience the excitement of the World Poker Tour from the comfort of their homes. According to Poker.org, this highly regarded poker app has been described as the “industry standard” for casual players. And given that it’s been around for some 15 years without losing steam, it’s no wonder it’s consistently considered to be among the top poker apps. Players who use the PlayWPT app get an authentic poker experience competing against seasoned players in Las Vegas-style tournaments. It’s simply an easy game for enthusiasts to pick up and play at any time with full confidence that a realistic Texas Hold’em experience awaits. Many also appreciate that the game takes a fairly straightforward approach, with few of the frills of some of its counterparts.
4. Stacked
Inarguably one of the best poker players of all time, Daniel Negreanu backed his own video poker game –– Stacked –– nearly two decades ago. Designed at the height of the poker boom, this PC and console experience is basically designed to give you a sense of what it’s like to make it in pro poker. You can play through massive multi-table tournaments with in-depth statistical tracking, such that if you pay close enough attention you’ll be able to improve your game. For that matter, you can even get some tutorials from the legend himself via the game’s built-in AI system. The game is a little bit dated at this point from a graphics standpoint, but it remains one of the more fully realized poker sims out there.
5. Poker Championship
This renowned Texas Hold’em app is described by some poker players as a “fun competition” game. It gives the players an authentic poker atmosphere in a competitive tournament environment. The multi-table poker tournaments are huge, with up to 500 players at a time, and are held every day. Players are given rankings, which are updated weekly. In short, if you like to be competitive about your game, this is an ideal app to dive into.
6. Poker Club
Poker Club rounds out our list and may offer the purest gaming quality of any title we’ve mentioned–even though The Gaming Review points out some reviews that are less positive. This PC and console poker experience gives players the chance to feel what it would be like to live the life of a professional poker player. If you feel like sitting down at a table with friends, you can choose to join a club. If you want serious competition, you can join a tournament. And if you want to play alone, you can play with bots. Across all these modes, you also have the chance to customize your in-game player and enjoy the most engaging visuals you’ll find in any modern poker game.
Poker video games have evolved through the years, and for the most part, they just keep getting better. By this point, there are almost too many apps and games to reasonably keep track of. But the selections above are certainly among the best of them.
