“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” After all, who among us hasn’t set aside a primary campaign to indulge in a few rounds of cards? It’s a relatable scenario for many gamers.
Open-world games typically emphasize player freedom, allowing for a range of activities within the vast game environment. This design often leads players to spend hours engrossed in optional card games, abandoning their main quests in the process.
Forgive me, Ciri, but I simply can’t let my Gwent deck gather dust. It would be downright cruel! In all seriousness, I find mini-games centered around collecting cards, building decks, and winning stakes to be irresistibly captivating. I might struggle against fierce bosses, but my poker skills are second to none.
With that in mind, let’s take a look back at some unforgettable card games found in open-world games that have captivated our attention and diverted us from our main objectives.
8 Casino – Coming 0
Plain and Simple
While not the quickest way to amass wealth in Yakuza 0, the Sotenbori casino offers an engaging way to gamble for coins. Given that money plays a central role in this game, players can never have too much!
Players can partake in three distinct card games: blackjack, poker, and baccarat—all faithfully adhering to real-world rules without unnecessary embellishments.
Each game is straightforward and designed for quick rounds, which can easily turn into hours of gameplay.
As long as your progress in the main story allows it, you can freely access the casino, making it an enticing distraction for fans of classic card games.
7 Three-Card Poker – Grand Theft Auto Online
An Online Carnival
In Grand Theft Auto Online, players can team up for heists, race against others, customize vehicles, or simply survive in public lobbies—oh, and they can also dive into the addictive world of Three-Card Poker.
This card game, found at the Diamond Casino & Resort, is often categorized as a “carnival game” where participants bet against the dealer rather than each other, aiming to create the superior three-card hand.
Though it may seem intimidating for newcomers, investing time to learn the ropes is worthwhile. Players can quickly earn around a million dollars in an hour, even without expert skills.
Rockstar Games excelled in crafting a virtual casino experience, making it dangerously alluring with piles of chips and the option to unlock a VIP membership. It’s a complete package of thrills.
6 Caravan – Fallout: New Vegas
Worth the Effort
Explaining the rules of Caravan from Fallout: New Vegas in a few sentences is a challenge, as this mini-game presents a variety of complexities. Let’s get straight to the point.
What you must know is that players who delve into its initially baffling but brilliant mechanics will find themselves rewarded with an incredibly enjoyable card game.
Yes, mastering the setup may take some hours, but the effort pays off, particularly as the game relies on skill rather than luck. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to accumulate caps.
I confess that I started playing Caravan solely for an achievement, but I soon found myself engrossed, carrying over 40, 000 caps, many acquired through this engaging card game.
5 Sabacc – Star Wars Outlaws
Cards From Space
In the expansive world of Star Wars Outlaws, Sabacc takes center stage as the ultimate card game where players aim to maintain the lowest score until the end of each round. The challenge is to avoid losing all chips.
The rules can appear intricate initially, involving drawing cards, utilizing swapping and discard piles, and applying special abilities to add excitement to gameplay. However, once you master them, the game becomes delightfully addictive.
During my time with Outlaws, I often found myself returning to the Sabacc table for just “one more match” whenever the opportunity arose—it’s captivating!
Now, I’m just curious—where can I get my hands on a real deck of Sabacc cards?
4 Texas Hold’em – Red Dead Redemption 2
Howdy, Partner
No lawman could drag me away from a poker table in Red Dead Redemption 2 while I’m in the midst of a daily Texas Hold’em round.
This alternate poker variation allows players to create the best five-card hand using two private “hole” cards and five community cards, with options to fold, call, or raise. It’s simple yet layered with strategic depth, appealing to both novices and seasoned players alike.
What I particularly enjoy about the poker variant in Red Dead Redemption 2 is that different towns require distinct strategies at the table. Some poker players are more susceptible to bluffs or underhanded tricks.
3 Texas Hold’em – Far Cry 3
Little More Poker
Far Cry 3 also features a variant of Texas Hold’em, but here it’s the no-limit style. This means players can wager any amount, up to their entire stack at any time, and even go “all-in” whenever they choose.
Poker plays an important role not just as a side activity, but as a key plot element in the story. Jason, the protagonist, uses poker as a means to draw closer to Hoyt, one of the game’s villains, ultimately leading to a trap. Their poker interactions showcase Hoyt’s cunning and foreshadow the perils that await, adding depth to the narrative.
Additionally, players can adjust the difficulty of poker by increasing their bets, encouraging opponents to adopt more strategic styles of play, raising the overall challenge.
2 Queen’s Blood – Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Blood, Sweat, and Cards
Debuting in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Queen’s Blood has quickly become one of my favorites. It features an addictive deck-building system paired with straightforward yet well-constructed rules.
The game is played on a 3×5 grid where players aim to control lanes by strategically placing cards to outscore their opponent and secure victory.
Each round is simple, but the game continuously evolves with diverse objectives through side quests and additional challenges, particularly those found at the Gold Saucer, beyond just traditional matches.
Rebirth also incentivizes players to engage with Queen’s Blood amid the main storyline, offering rewarding moments, including memorable scenes with Red XIII that players will undoubtedly cherish.
1 Gwent – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Toss a Coin to Your Gwent
It’s no surprise that Gwent from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt holds a special place in every gamer’s heart. I was genuinely amazed to discover that there’s a larger narrative quest centered on Ciri beyond just Gwent’s matches and tournaments.
In Gwent, players compete over three rounds, aiming to build a powerful deck featuring cards inspired by the series’ characters and monsters. The goal is to achieve the highest total strength in each round.
The concept may seem simple, yet it unfolds into an intricate experience with a myriad of cards, different types of units (close combat, ranged combat, or siege), and a range of special effects that enhance strategy and excitement.
The Witcher 3 masterfully keeps players engaged in Gwent, showcasing numerous adept NPCs ready to challenge you, each rewarding valuable cards upon defeat. Not to mention, the game’s music is catchy, and I’d wager you’re already humming it!
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