Console games have moved on significantly over the past decade or two. There was once a time when the very best games were all about the plot and deviated little from that.
In the modern era, games are now packed full of minigames, side quests, and optional targets for the player to complete. To finish the main plot only means part of a game has been conquered, with so much more put to one side for the dedicated fanbase to explore.
Often, minigames take the form of a card or casino games, looking to give the player a chance to win in-game bonuses to help them with the main quest. In some instances, these games become as exciting as the main story, as we explore here.
Fallout New Vegas
This release was always going to boast a strong minigame section – after all much of the action was conducted on the Strip, with its bright lights and glistening casinos. You can play Blackjack and a host of other casino games in this engrossing RPG.
Some of the casinos even related directly to those in the real world. The Vikki & Vance casino corresponds to Whiskey Pete's Hotel and Casino, with Vicki and Vance the game’s version of Bonnie and Clyde. A Primm article reveals how the real Bonnie and Clyde death car is on show at Whiskey Pete’s and it has become a real spectacle.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 looked to redefine the open-world genre once and for all. It was an epic release packed with little touches and interactions that set it aside from its contemporaries.
One of the more engrossing minigames saw you playing poker at your camp with the rest of the Van der Linde gang. It followed on from the same possibilities in the first game and offered a great chance to earn some in-game coin.
They preferred to play Texas Hold’em, fitting into the Wild West theme, introducing computer gamers to the poker variant. Some players new to cards may need to brush up on their skills, with plenty of online resources available.
The Witcher 3
Online resources are certainly not as easy to come by when playing Gwent, the bespoke card game created for CD Projekt’s critically acclaimed RPG. The world of Geralt of Rivia has been widely accepted as one of the most intricate and finest of any available to eighth-generation console owners.
One of the minigames featured a card battle game called Gwent which drew players in. Eurogamer report how it became so popular it earned its own standalone release, still played by fans of the game to this day.
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto came out in 2013 to positive reviews and is still as fresh today as the day it was released. Recently released as an add-on to the hugely popular GTA Online feature, the Diamond Casino and Resort in fictional Los Santos offers a new experience for players of the game.
GTA Online became a huge phenomenon, overshadowing the excellent storyline and allowing users to run riot across the city. PC Gamer details how the resort was left untouched on the map for six years, before finally being turned into new and exciting in-game content.
The ability to use slots and horse racing make this an exciting addition to the popular game mode.
