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The History of Poker in Videogames

Videogames are great. But do you know what’s even better? Finding a mini-game inside your favorite game. It’s like unlocking a valuable treasure. This is especially true when the mini-game is unrelated to the main story.

Think of poker in Red Dead Redemption. The mini-game is fun because it gives you a break from the storyline. It’s also compulsory. You need to win the games to complete RDR2.
Poker isn’t the only mini-game idea out there. But in this article, we’ll focus on the card game. You can learn more about how to play online poker by reading this guide prepared by casinos.us. For now, let’s delve deeper into the history of poker in videogames.

5-Card Draw in Super Mario

Before Texas Hold’em became the most famous poker game, 5-card draw reigned supreme. That’s why it’s the game Nintendo chose to include in Super Mario Bros and Super Mario 64DS as a mini-game.

Truth be told, Super Mario doesn't use the word 5-card draw in its game. It calls it Picture Poker even though it uses the same rules as 5-Card Draw. The explanation is that Picture Poker features images of Super Mario characters.

You must beat Luigi to earn stars you can leverage to play high-stake games. The higher you bet the more money you can win. In real life, 5-card draw works like video poker. It starts with a round of betting. Then everyone receives five cards facing down.

You can fold your cards, call the blinds or raise the bet. The next stage is called drawing. Players get a chance to discard some or all of their cards. Players go through one more round of betting before they reveal their hands.

Texas Hold’em in Red Dead Redemption 2

When Red Dead Redemption 2 launched in 2018, it was one of the biggest games in the world. It's an open-world videogame that gives you the experience of living like a cowboy during the Wild West.

While the main storyline is intriguing, poker fans will enjoy one of the game's six mini-games. You can access the game at the Blackwater, Tumbleweed, Valentine, or Flatneck Station.

Texas Hold’em is a multiplayer game, meaning you need to find a group of NPCs to play with. It’s a straightforward game although you need great skills to win consistently.
At the start of each Hold’em game, each player receives two cards facing down. In the next round, the dealer hands out three community cards to each player. Then there are two more rounds.

At each stage of the game, you have a chance to fold your cards, call or raise your bets. You can also go all-in, which means to bet your entire pot.

Three Card Poker in GTA V

Grand Theft Auto V isn't just about fancy cars, crime, and racing. The online game also features a casino called the Diamond Resort. It’s a fully-fledged gambling establishment, meaning it’s packed with slots and table games.

The Diamond Resort also features a poker mini-game — three card poker. It’s a little bit surprising that Rockstar chose three-card poker and not Omaha or Texas Hold’em (the more popular options).

Nonetheless, here’s how to play the game. First, you place an ante bet. You can also place a special “Pair Plus.” It’s a bet that you will produce a pair or better hand.

Next, the dealer hands each player three cards facing down. If you want to continue with the game, you must place another bet matching your initial ante. If you don’t want to play, you can fold your cards.

At the end of this round, the dealer checks everyone’s hand. The dealer needs a Queen hand or higher to win. If one of the players has a better hand, the game ends and the player wins. Three-card poker pays 1 to 1.

Texas Hold’em in Far Cry 3

It’s been more than a decade since Ubisoft released Far Cry 3. The open-world shooter game was one of the best-rated videogames of 2012. And that's not just because it was unique and thrilling.

Ubisoft sort of let down their fans with the releases between Far Cry Primal and Far Cry New Dawn. But they later redeemed themselves with Far Cry 6. In Far Cry 3, Ubisoft included an exciting Texas Hold’em mini-game although it’s not the only mini-game in the title. You can also play Dominoes or cockfights.

Video Poker in Tales of Vesperia

Tales of Vesperia is centered on Terca Lumireis, a place where people rely on a powerful energy called Blastia. The game follows the story of Yuri Lowell, a young rebellious warrior who hates how the emperor treats the city’s citizens.

The game has nine playable characters. It's immersive, has a rich plot, and a few interesting mini-games. Video poker is one of them. For the uninitiated, video poker combines elements of poker and slots.

As we also mentioned, it looks a lot similar to 5-card draw. It starts with a betting round. You can play one to five coins or their multiples in Jacks or Better. Next, the computer draws five random cards on the screen.

Based on your knowledge of poker, you can keep some cards or discard them. Next, the RNG software replaces your cards. If you have a real poker hand, say a straight or flush, you win money.

Omaha in Yakuza Kiwami

Sega’s Yakuza is exactly what you would imagine. It’s a game about the Yakuza’s reign of terror in a fictional version of Tokyo. It’s an action RPG, meaning you’ll encounter countless foes while roaming the city.

That’s why it’s a good idea to take breaks by playing one of the few mini-games in Yakuza. It features both Texas Hold’em and Omaha. The latter comes in two types: Pot Limit and Hi-Lo. It has a few different rules compared to Texas Hold’em. And in Hi-Lo, you can win with a low-ranked hand.