written by Ron Middleton
You can be almost anything you want to be thanks to video games these days. Whether you want to be a football player, a soldier from any number of eras or even a biker fighting a zombie apocalypse, there is a title waiting to make it a reality. Even things seemingly mundane to many, such as fishing and farming, have been given strong simulations that resonate with fans.
Oddly, one aspect of real-life gaming that has not been fully covered within the video game sector is bingo. It is odd because, in the real world, bingo is a hugely popular pastime with many fans of all ages, yet when it comes to playing on your console at home, the options are limited. One game that does loom to incorporate bingo, in a fashion, is Yakuza Kiwami 2 which features a golf bingo hybrid. Outside of that rather quirky attempt, you are hard pushed to find an accurate representation of the age-old game in any title.
There are a few reasons that we do not see bingo in games much; firstly, as a standalone title, bingo would not have the depth modern games require. It would have to be a mini-game within a bigger title to adequately keep gamers entertained without being too repetitive. Many 3D roaming titles are set in the US or in different eras where perhaps bingo was not as popular.
That is not to say it is not easy to adapt though. The 75-ball games on Foxy Bingo represent how this version of the game can be easily adapted to fit a variety of themes, which in turn will attract different demographics. Developers need the right setting and era to work with, but there is no real reason why we will not see another title reworking bingo as Yakuza has very soon.
If you are a console owner and are still dead set on playing bingo at home, there is a clutch of titles that might just satisfy your thirst. They are not quite mainstream, and in some instances, you may struggle to lay your hands on them, but these three titles all have elements of bingo contained within.
Vegas Party
Vegas Party is one of the few games to have a dedicated bingo section contained within. The main element of the gameplay is based around a board game, with you competing against other players in a variety of Vegas-themed games, with bingo included as one.
The game didn’t get strong reviews based on its longevity and as it was released in 2009, it does feel dated, but for a dedicated bingo experience, it is perhaps as close as you’ll get on a home console.
The Four Kings Casino and Slots
Rather than being a hardcopy title, the Four Kings Casino and Slots is a social experience, a massively multiplayer online (MMO) that delivers you a simulated casino experience in your living room. Contained within that experience is a dedicated bingo hall, where you can indulge to your heart’s content.
As with any MMO, you start off by creating a personalized 3D avatar to depict you in the world, whilst playing regularly and successfully unlocks more extravagant and prestigious items to add to your character.
Fruitakia 2
The fact Fruitakia 2 is included on the list only serves to demonstrate how rare the bingo experience is on consoles; it is a bingo and slot machine hybrid which introduces elements of both, rather than focusing on one style. The main interface is a slot machine, but you can move the reels any way you desire to try to get lines, just like in bingo.
It is essentially a puzzler and bears only a passing resemblance to the dedicated bingo experience, which proves the gap in the market which some developers are sure to pick up on soon.