The history of the PlayStation and online casinos is one that has run in parallel for over two decades now. 1994 saw the launch of the very first of the consoles and it was around this time that the original online casinos were starting to appear too. In the early days the games available on them both were far more basic than the ones that we play today.
For example some of the very first PlayStation games included Crash Bandicoot and a very basic version of Tomb Raider. Meanwhile, online casino games tended to be simple 2D versions of blackjack and craps with very little animation and distinctly simple production values. In the early days it was all about the novelty of the games themselves and being able to play them online.
But as both the online casino industry developed and newer versions of the PlayStation were released the games became more sophisticated and involving as well as more enjoyable to play.
There also started to be a distinct crossover between the two with online casinos starting to use gaming techniques and PlayStation games developers introducing casino-based titles too.
It’s hard to say who has benefited most from this cross-pollination of ideas but there’s no doubt that it has been the inspiration for some top online casino games and you’ll find some great examples here. With amazing graphics, very smooth game play and even classic techniques including mini games to make slots even more entertaining to play it’s certainly true that it’s a relationship that’s made a big difference.
In terms of PlayStation games there are a number that have used the device of a casino in the plot of the game itself. Rockstar Games seem to be particularly keen on using this technique. Not only is there a chance to win valuable cash playing poker in Red Dead Redemption 2, they also announced in June 2019 that they would be re-introducing a Vinewood-based casino in a forthcoming edition of GTA Online.
In addition to this, there’s also been a number of actual casino games available to play on PlayStation. The only difference, and some would say drawback, is that you can only play these for fun instead of for actual cash. On the plus-side, the gameplay is amazing when it’s at its best and can provide a really immersive and exciting experience.
Hard Rock Casino
One of the very first casino games to be released was created for the PlayStation 2 in 2005 and represented a tie-up between developers Mumbo Jumbo and the globally-famous Hard Rock Casino brand.
In it you are allowed to create an avatar who is issued with an initial $5,000 stake. The aim of the game is to grow this amount until you qualify to play on a high-rollers’ table. The games available include slot machines, poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat and pai gow – a Chinese gambling game like dominoes. There were four different casinos to play in, each one with slightly higher stakes than the last.
Unfortunately, the game wasn’t very well received with reviewers finding the game play slow and repetitive with the consensus of opinion being that it had been a good idea poorly executed.
The Four Kings Casino and Slots
Fast forward a couple of decades and we have the much more satisfying and sophisticated The Four Kings Casino and Slots. It’s popularity is obvious from the fact that it has over 12,000 ratings on the official PlayStation Store.
One of its real strengths is that it’s an MMO game that you can play along with others as you take on the casino, and each other, at roulette, craps, blackjack, bingo and poker – there are even slots to play and a bowling alley for a little extra R & R if you need it. To add some extra fun you can even choose some outrageous fashions for yourself and buy plenty of extra items with the virtual cash that you can win in the game.
The graphics are great, the gameplay’s varied and exciting so, in short, it’s the real deal.
Pure Hold’em
Texas Hold’em is, hands down, the single most popular variant of poker played in the world today and forms the backbone of all of the major tournaments that professionals compete in around the world.
So it’s no surprise that this is the game that Pure Hold’em concentrates on. As the name suggests, it really is a game for poker purists who want to test their skills either against up to seven other online opponents or against the game’s own built-in protagonists. There’s great multiplayer support and the graphics are so realistic that it’s easy to be totally immersed in the game.
For anyone wanting to sharpen up their tournament skills, there’s also this option too. So, all in all, it’s another winner from the people who also brought you Pure Pool.
Prominence Poker
Finally, Prominence Poker is a game that is arguably more ambitious in its scope than Pure Hold’em in that it includes a clear storyline too. In the game you are a lone player who is set the challenge of playing games in a series of decidedly shady locations like disused office sand empty laundromats against equally shady opponents. Your ultimate aim is to reach a showdown with “The Mayor”
You can personalise your character and there are multiple decision-making opportunities in the game to add to the narrative line. There’s also the opportunity to play it as a straightforward multiplayer poker game if you don’t fancy tangling with the underworld.
While all these games may not give you the chance to win any actual cash – Sony have shown no signs of introducing real casino games to date – all will give you a chance to sharpen your skills before you take on other players or casinos for real. So, in the longer run, you could even find yourself winning back far more than the games actually cost to buy. A great investment by anyone’s reckoning!
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