Casinos are a common backdrop in film and television, However, it’s not just crime capers and mob dramas that utilize this rich setting. With video games becoming increasingly sophisticated, many titles have embraced the high stakes, glitz, and glamor of the casino world. Read on for five of the best video games to feature casino levels.
5. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas (2006)
With a title like this, it would have been shade if Ubisoft had decided not to include a casino level. Thankfully, players don’t have to wait very long to enjoy it. During the second mission of the game, players are forced to deal with a particularly challenging hostage situation at the Calypso Casino.
As well as being beautifully realized, the Calypso Casino offers some of the best gameplay in Rainbow Six Vegas. In fact, it’s so popular with the playing community that it formed the basis of a multiplier map in the follow-up.
Rockstar Games didn’t have anything to prove upon the release of Red Dead Redemption in 2010. The company had already struck gold with the Grand Theft Auto series, while other titles like Manhunt and Bully remain popular to this day. Initially billed as a western-inspired GTA, Red Dead Redemption proved to be so much more. Players take on the role of John Marston, a former con looking to enjoy a quiet life on his ranch. Sadly, his past catches up with, and Marston is forced to hunt down his former criminal comrades.
As well as raising the bar when it came to storytelling and open-world design, Red Dead Redemption included a host of casino mini-games. Alongside classic card games like Texas Hold ‘em and blackjack, players can earn a little extra cash by taking on strangers in dice games and arm wrestling contests. Red Dead Redemption 2 would take this gambling mechanics to a whole new level. However, it’s the casino riverboard heist section that really stands out.
Although it’s not a casino in the traditional sense, the Waluigi Pinball level of Mario Kart DS deserves a mention. This unique level is the third to be unlocked, with the course taking inspiration from pinball games. It proved an instant hit with players, with new versions of the course being added to Mario Kart 7 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
In Obsidian Entertainment’s Fallout: New Vegas, players are free to explore a post-apocalyptic version of the Vegas Strip. Although the open world of New Vegas might seem a little on the small side today, it was a revelation when the game first hit shelves back in 2010. Players can choose between six different casino venues, with a host of games available. What’s more, Fallout’s casinos aren’t just there to play host minigames. In fact, several main storyline quests revolve around them.
Do you enjoy playing roulette and slots at Fallout’s Lucky 38 casino? Why not place a wager for real at an internet casino platform. Most operators offer a full range of online blackjack games and live dealer poker tables, not to mention thousands of video slots.
GTA Online has never enjoyed the same success as GTA V. Released in 2013, many fans complained about a lack of unique content and mission updates. It wasn’t until 2019 that Rockstar Games would introduce Casino Story Missions to the game. Now considered some of the best levels of the game, players are tasked with protecting the interests of the Diamond City Casino.
