Poker is considered by many to be the ultimate combination of skill, luck, and holding your nerve. Analysis of the impact on the brain of regular poker players has shown there are many varied benefits to indulging in a few hands, some of which might surprise you.
Your favorite online casino, helps you to keep your mind sharp, when it comes to some strategic games, like poker. According to a report, senior day care centers have been setting up ‘mini Las Vegas’ facilities, to help older people stay sharp. Even if you’re not too worried about the long-term future, there are immediate and valuable benefits to unlock by playing card games, particularly for your mental health. And it’s not necessarily about online games: you can spend time with friends, leaving your phone aside for a few minutes.
The shot of serotonin when we win, the meditative-like concentration during a round and the ability to disconnect from the stresses of every day are all reasons that the BBC believes playing games like this is good for us. Thankfully there are more ways than ever before to perfect your poker game without leaving home. Indeed, with the rising popularity of poker among a wider audience, some developers have started adapting the game to be played on various console platforms too. Here are some of the best options for the PlayStation 5 right now.
1. Poker Club
One of the most popular and well-played PS5 poker games is Poker Club. It’s been around since the PS4 and is incredibly slick and effortlessly playable. The realistic graphics and animations make it a pleasure to play, with an element of immersive attraction that is hard to beat. There are loads of different characters to play, and plenty of customization to make your avatar your own.
If you’re new to the game, you’ll find a surprisingly in-depth tutorial to help you grasp the basics. Those who are more experienced at poker will enjoy the addictive gameplay loop and pleasantly relaxed atmosphere on the tables. This is one game where most players are in it for the joy of the game, not just to go all in on every hand because the money isn’t real. The downside is that the game costs in the region of £20/$25 to purchase.
2. Prominence Poker
If the cost of Poker Club puts you off, Prominence Poker is a good alternative to consider. Free to download, the game is set in the fictitious city of Prominence, where players must progress through a gaming backstory to combat the crooked villains in charge of the town. The game culminates in reaching the final villain of the story, the town Mayor, who must be beaten to regain control of the poker empire.
The graphics on this game are great, even though it was originally for the PS4. You can play single player and multiplayer, and the addition of in-game currencies makes for some added excitement, although being careful while dealing with them. The downside is that it doesn’t support cross-platform gaming, so if you’re keen to play with a friend who is using the Steam platform or even a PS4, you can’t. That aside, for a freebie, it’s a solid option.
3. Four Kings Casino and Slots
Another free-to-download option is the Four Kings Casino, which brands itself as a ‘social MMO’. You can play with up to 32 friends and connections, and it is so much more than a poker game. Based on a real-world casino club, you can wander around the digital world, enjoying everything from blackjack to slots and much more. If you love casinos, check out our list of more casino games you can play on PS5 here.
The poker built into the game is nicely designed, although not as flashy as Poker Club. It’s free to play, and there’s a variation of the game that doesn’t require any chips either – a great option if you want to avoid paying for additional chips. Win enough and you’ll get items to customize your character and could earn VIP status to give you additional freebies and goodies.
4. Texas Holdem Poker: Pokerist
As the name suggests, this is a poker game with one type of poker available – Texas Hold’em. To be fair, what other type of poker do you want to play? It’s another one that was developed for the PS4 but has since migrated to the PS5, so the graphics aren’t quite up to that of Poker Club. On the upside, it’s free to download.
At its most basic, this game is a pretty good platform for playing with thousands of players from all over the world. It has multiple language support and is available on PC, mobile and other consoles, so you never know whom you’re going to get at your table. It’s a bit too easy to burn through your chips, but you can go back every day for more free chips, so it’s not essential to indulge in in-game purchases.
More to come
There are a bunch of options available to play poker via your PS5 console today. While none of them offer real money play at present, the big gaming companies are certainly watching with interest, so we can imagine some cash games will eventually migrate to the PlayStation world. In the meantime, there’s no need to pay to play – you can get your practice in and your poker fixes without spending a penny.