Holidays are just around the corner, and while most of us will inevitably have to spend some time preparing for celebrations, there will still be a lot of downtime for relaxing with cozy and engaging games. Traditionally, card-based games are some of the easiest to hop on and grasp right away — and they also don’t require investing too much time to have your bit of fun.
However, with hundreds of titles to choose from, how can you ensure that you won’t waste that time on something dull and uninspired? Here are some of the best card-based games you can try out during the next few weeks.
Balatro
Balatro is a roguelike poker deckbuilder that uses the standard 52-card deck in combination with some unique Joker mechanics to deliver an absolute blast of experience. There’s a reason why the game was nominated for multiple Game of the Year awards and even won one of them. In fact, there are several reasons behind its success. First of all, just as most other successful card-based video games, Balatro is very easy to understand, yet offers incredible depth and replayability. The player is provided with a standard deck of cards, with 8 in their hand. The goal is to lay out poker combinations on the table, which are then rewarded with points based on the rarity of the combination as well as several other modifiers. Sounds simple, right? Now, what if you could change or upgrade some of the cards in your deck? What if you could start with a unique deck entirely — let’s say, one with no face cards at all? What if you could make some combinations more valuable than others by upgrading their yields, resulting in a pair of cards being the greatest hand you could dream of? The possibilities Balatro provides feel almost infinite, and there is something incredibly exciting in the process of coming up with new ways to beat the previous record. No playthrough feels the same, and it would take you at least a hundred hours to truly uncover all of the game’s secrets. As Sophia Novakivska, author at DashTickets NZ online casino magazine , notes, Balatro is a single-player poker on steroids, and it’s just as engaging. At the same time, you can quit it at any point and come back later, and the roguelike runs are short enough not to feel too time-consuming. It is also a perfect cozy game for holidays, thanks to the familiar CRT fuzz style of an old poker machine, the overall low-pressure atmosphere, and high replayability. If there is one game you want to dedicate your holidays to, choose this one, and you won’t regret it.
Zoeti
Zoeti is another unique take on poker — with a full-on story mode, fantasy setting, and multiple combat encounters decided by your ability to strategize as well as your luck. Here’s how it works. Whenever a battle begins, you can use your skills, just like in any other game of that type. However, instead of being single-card effects, your skills are separate decks based on classic and familiar playing cards. The result of your attack correlates directly with the rarity of the poker hands you get, and managing your resources is important if you expect to reach the end goal. The rest is exactly the same as usual — you fight your opponent until one of you loses the battle, and then move on to the next opponent carrying some new upgrades. Zoeti’s storyline is compelling and well-written, but it’s mostly visuals that might lure you in on holidays: whimsical, soft, warm, and hand-drawn, they create the perfect atmosphere for playing right beside the fireplace. The soundtrack is varied and epic enough to make you invested in the story, but not aggressive enough to make you feel nervous at any point. Overall, Zoeti is a perfect game that you can spend multiple hours in and then forget about right after the holidays are over — or keep returning to it from time to time to complete just one more run.
A Solitaire Mystery
Let’s get real: playing solitaire on your own at home has been one of the definitive ways to pass some time on holidays for as long as card games have existed. Now, what if you can get 20 of the most unique and unusual solitaire games by purchasing just one title?
A Solitaire Mystery is a varied collection: you can expect anything from somewhat standard rulesets with a traditional deck of cards to completely unexpected takes on the genre, or even entirely different games reimagined as solitaire. If that’s not enough, A Solitaire Mystery also lets you grow plants, perform alchemy, defeat eldritch monsters, and play poker — because why wouldn’t it, after all?
Simple controls, cozy and minimalistic style, and the incredible range of opportunities provided by the game make it extremely appealing for holiday players. It is worth noting that the games range in difficulty quite significantly, meaning that even the most hardcore gamers will find the challenge they’re looking for.
Regicide
Regicide is a game that makes you truly appreciate the genius design behind the classic deck of cards. A game that can be enjoyed on your own or in company, Regicide is a challenging run with a goal of purging the darkness from a fantasy kingdom. The game uses the basic deck in truly unique ways to create a compelling video game-like experience, even though it is played on an actual physical table with actual physical cards.
The player will be able to hire warriors, fight enemies, protect themselves, heal allies, and more. Card management becomes somewhat similar to an RPG experience, and multiple unusual mechanics provide the most devastating or satisfying outcomes a player can expect. In short, Regicide uses minimum resources to provide a memorable experience that can be shared with others, and that alone makes it worth at least trying out. Although it is very likely that you won’t stop at that and will start a new run right away.
To make the gameplay even more straightforward and intuitive, players can use an official mobile companion app that deals with all the maths while also providing some atmospheric imagery to set up the stage. The best part is that you don’t even have to purchase a special deck to play the game, although it is highly recommended for immersion.
Pokerstars
If you’re okay with spending some money on gameplay, classic online poker is as popular as ever. As Sophia Novakivska adds, Pokerstars is probably the most recognizable name in the scene, so it makes sense to choose it first. More competitive and mostly based on strategizing and reading your opponents, poker can be a fun way to spend some time during a lazy day that you would like to spice up a bit.
The game is quite flexible too, offering short sessions or whole tournaments depending on players’ preferences, and it’s easy to jump in and out of matches when needed. Cross-platform play makes it accessible at all times, and the overall simplicity and convenience provided by a smooth interface help you focus on gameplay rather than navigating menus. If you add seasonal promotions in the mix, the experience becomes even more rewarding.
What sets Pokerstars apart is that it is a competitive multiplayer card game that allows you to get into action right away, thanks to the popularity of the app and an efficient matchmaking system. If you were always curious about poker strategies, the platform also provides multiple opportunities to learn the basics before trying more high-stakes scenarios.
