You’ve probably heard of the phrase Triple-A, or AAA. It is the name given to big-budget titles that have been published by major publishers and have had a significant impact on the video game industry in recent years. Think of them as the blockbusters of the video game world. Examples include Red Dead Redemption, The Witcher, and Grand Theft Auto. Over time, the game of poker has continued to influence the ways in which these games are designed and marketed to the masses. Continue reading to find out how.

Battle games

For poker players looking to enter the world of gaming, battle games may be the best place to start. Despite similar themes, there are a number of similarities between the two domains. By providing a tournament structure, a knock-out round, and several rounds of training, a number of battle-based video games can be accused of drawing inspiration from the game of poker. One of the most notable Triple-A examples is Fortnite. The game was an overnight success when it was launched in 2017 and continues to transfix players all over the globe today. The similarities may go unnoticed by most players but for those familiar with the rules of poker, they are simply undeniable.

Fantasy games?

As well as battle games, there are a number of key similarities between fantasy games and poker. Most of these come from the strategic elements involved during gameplay. For example, Hearthstone players must pay attention to their mana to increase every turn as well as the remaining cards yet to be dealt from their pack. This is comparable to poker players calculating the odds of their pots and the number of outs they have to make a poker hand unbeatable. By making the connection between fantasy games and live and online poker, such as GGPoker, you can start to notice a number of key similarities between the two. Many professional poker players, such as Daniel Negreanu and Bertrand Grospellier, have even admitted to playing this Triple-A game between live tournaments.

Card games

Aside from battle and fantasy games, Triple-A also has a number of card-based games in their roster. One particular example is Gwent. Released in 2016 as a derivation of the game of the same name featured in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, it has gone on to achieve cultural status as a standalone game. One of the latest additions to the fantasy card game scene, players championed for the game to be released as a separate video game and soon made a number of parallels between it and the game of poker. Much like poker, it is a game of skill that relies on both tactics and knowledge. Players of both games must also familiarise themselves with each card and what they do.

Minigames

While some video games borrow elements from the game of poker, a growing number now include poker as an additional side mission or minigame within the larger gameplay. This attracts players with previous live or online poker experience or those just looking to learn the ropes of the game. Several Triple-A game franchises include this feature including Red Dead Redemption, The Witcher, Far Cry, Fallout, and Assassins Creed. Minigames are no longer a luxury when it comes to designing a brand-new Triple-A video game. With a growing number of players drawn to them in an attempt to take a break from the story, poker can be a great way to captivate their attention.

Whether video games include direct instances of poker or just borrow similar gameplay elements, there are a number of key similarities between these two seemingly distinct modes of entertainment. From Triple-A battle games, fantasy games, and card games, the links between the two are clear to see.